Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection there were some staff vacancies. Vacant posts were covered by a small team of core staff undertaking extra shifts and the use of staff from other homes. Since then, the manager has recruited new staff to the home and the vacancy situation is much improved. Consequently, young people receive care and support from a more consistent staff team. In addition, the two requirements made at the last inspection have been met, resulting in improved staff recruitment and supervision practices. Recruitment files for new members of staff demonstrate that all the appropriate checks and references have been taken up and verified prior to employment, thereby ensuring that, as far as possible, staff are suitable and safe to work with children. Supervision is now taking place at the required frequency, to ensure that staff have the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their practice. This promotes good and consistent care and support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has also had the opportunity to demonstrate how it implements its safeguarding procedures in practice. Until recently, young people did not go missing or have unauthorised absences from this home. One such recent incident was managed very well, demonstrating robust safeguarding practice. The social worker for one of the young people involved said: ‘The staff were fantastic over the weekend. I am very happy with the way it was dealt with.’ Staff liaised promptly and effectively with all the relevant agencies, and facilitated the girls’ return using two cars and four staff members, in order to keep them separate on the journey home. In response to this incident, risk assessments have been amended and there is a very robust safety plan, of which all staff are aware. Return interviews have been, or are in the process of being, carried out, and strategy meetings are planned. This multi-agency agency approach ensures that relevant information is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

shared and future actions to safeguard young people are identified in a decision- making forum.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress and have positive experiences that improve their life chances as a result of living in this home. All the young people attend the company’s school, and for the two young people who have lived at the home for some time, their attendance and progress are excellent. From not attending school at all, their attendance is now 90% and their engagement is also good. The other young person is newly admitted to the home, but already is engaging well with a tutor provided by the school. The headteacher said: ‘The home is good at actively pushing and promoting attendance and they are on board with what I am trying to do.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people also have the opportunity to engage with leisure pursuits such as horse riding, going to the cinema, ice skating, and shopping. Staff know the young people well and take time to understand their needs. A placement officer said: ‘They have a good understanding of the young person already and have been proactive in arranging a service to meet her needs.’ A social worker commented: ‘Staff are brilliant. They have got time for the young people and they are interested.’ Staff undertake direct work with young people to address issues such as keeping safe and relationships. They are also proactive in promoting contact with people who are important to the young people. This promotes positive relationships as well as enabling them to maintain their sense of identity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour is well managed. Physical intervention and sanctions are rarely used. There has been one instance of each since the last inspection, both of which were appropriate, proportionate and recorded correctly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one young person has been discharged from the home and one young person has been recently admitted. Both were planned transitions. The manager decided that another admission was now appropriate. The other young people and staff team were also consulted and asked for their views. There was a clear impact risk assessment and thorough information sharing to ensure that, as far as possible, the home could meet the young person’s needs and not at the detriment of the other young people in placement. Although the young person could not visit the home prior to the admission, she said that she was made welcome and that the staff were very nice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is effective in promoting good outcomes. Communication and information sharing are good. The home has access to in-house therapists who provide regular therapeutic support for the young people and consultations for staff. The home is also able to access community resources, such as specialist drug and alcohol workers and the child and adolescent mental health service. Regular care team meetings ensure that all involved professionals meet together to discuss outcomes and progress, share any concerns, and consider how the various agencies can address shortfalls. For example, as a result of feedback from another professional, staff now use social stories and visual planners to assist a young person with her routines.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has effective systems for monitoring, which are used to make further improvements to the home. She collects data on young people’s behaviour and targets regularly, which is then used to inform future plans. Consultation with young people is also given a high priority and it is clear that their views influence how the home operates. They now go food shopping with staff rather than staff completing an online order, so that the young people can make choices while they are out shopping. They have chosen the colour scheme and accessories for their bathroom.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work well together as a team. There are good opportunities for sharing information and ideas, through handovers and team meetings. The manager provides effective, inspirational leadership, which has a positive impact on outcomes for young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to care for up to four children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/10/2016 Full Good

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children’s home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference that adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children’s home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. the guidance ‘Raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted’, which is available from Ofsted’s website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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