Children's home SC367737

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people say that they like living at the home and that staff have helped them to make progress with their individual goals. One young person said that, ‘staff give me the right amount of space and support’ and, ‘living here has sorted out my physical and mental health’. Another young person told the inspector that his family are now proud of him and his recent educational achievements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff are good at helping young people to achieve positive outcomes with their education and employment. One young person is working hard on an accountancy apprenticeship, another on a carpentry apprenticeship and another on a motor mechanics course. There is a strong ethos on young people learning independence skills to help prepare them to support themselves. All three young people say that they appreciate the opportunity they have been given, and it is evident that they have good aspirations for their future careers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support the young people with their plans for leaving the home. All young people can cook and shop for themselves. Driving lessons are provided for the young people; one young person has recently passed the driving theory test.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have improved their knowledge on how to keep themselves healthy. Substance misuse has decreased, and young people are confident to talk to staff about sexual health and relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since coming to live in this home, the negative involvement that young people previously had with the police has significantly decreased. Staff provide advice and guidance to help young people to have more positive interactions with the police. Young people recognise that staff’s feelings are genuine towards them, and take their advice. One young person said that if he got into trouble with the police now, then he would be letting the staff and manager down.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed the majority of the requirements made at the previous inspection. The requirement that remains in place is for the manager to have professional supervision. This has been arranged, but has yet to start. In response to the last inspection, staff provide improved personalised care that supports the needs of the young people. Staff monitor the young people’s whereabouts when they are on unsupervised time away from the home. The manager uses monitoring systems to make improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. The quality of the content and recording of staff supervision is of an improved standard. An independent person visits the home every month to provide external scrutiny of the service provided to young people. The manager has updated the home’s location risk assessment to include collaboration with other local children’s homes in response to any serious safeguarding issues that become apparent in the area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that the home is tidy and well maintained.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been two recorded episodes of a young person being reported as missing from the home to the police. On both occasions staff tried to contact the young person, searched the local area and reported the matter to the local authority. However, independent return-to-home interviews were not provided in the necessary timeframe, being completed six and eight weeks after the two events. This delay does not help staff and the placing authorities to understand the reasons why a young person has gone missing, and prevents action being taken to stop it happening again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have responded well to the supportive and nurturing care provided by the staff. They all speak positively about living at the home and how it has helped them in their lives.

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, or a learning disability.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 20/04/2016 Full Inadequate 08/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/06/2015 Full Requires improvement

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees: (4) (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and relevant training 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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 0300123 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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children 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

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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