Children's Home run by Gloucestershire County Council in Gloucestershire

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

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

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

At the previous inspection, three recommendations were made. Two of the recommendations have been met. Although there has been some improvement in the other recommendation, this remains unmet.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The first recommendation relates to providing a homely and domestic environment for the young people. This recommendation is restated as some of the window restrictors are of an institutionalised style. The second recommendation was for records of interviews to include an explanation of the scoring system used to decide whether to employ an applicant. Although there have been no new staff members since the full inspection on 27 October 2016, the system for recording interviews has been developed to contain this information.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The recommendation that remains unmet relates to how staff record information on young people. There has been an improvement, but there are still examples of staff not evidencing how they are supporting young people and meeting their identified needs.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort. The records of these interventions are insufficient. Four entries did not record the duration of the restrain used, one was not signed by the author and another did not record if the social worker had been informed.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Some young people’s records are not up to date. This home provided short breaks for 12 young people. Four of these were previously accessing their short breaks from the local authority’s other service which has now closed. The majority of these young people’s essential documents still refer to their previous placement. For one young person, this included the consents for medical treatment and their personal evacuation plan. In addition, there is a lack of evidence of young people’s ‘My Journey’ record not being reviewed frequently. Another young person’s smart target monitoring form had not been completed since March 2016. There is a failure to provide evidence of the young people’s progress.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Since the last inspection, the manager has successfully completed her registration with Ofsted. She is experienced and appropriately qualified for this role. The registered manager is aware of the strengths and areas for improvement. She acknowledged that there is still work to do and has undertaken training with the team in these areas, with more scheduled. Staff meetings are being used to develop staff’s skills including their understanding of the regulations and how these are incorporated into the home’s policies and procedures. Young people benefit from being cared for by an experienced and stable staff team. They ensure that young people’s views are sought by using a variety of communication methods.

p.2

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The major building work continues and this is being well managed to ensure young people’s and staff’s safety. This work will enhance the young people’s environment, which will include a spacious playroom and lounge. The registered manager hopes that this will be completed by the end of February 2017.

p.3

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home’s safeguarding policies and procedures are suitable and adhered to in practice. The registered manager has a good working relationship with external professionals that ensures information is effectively shared, which protects young people.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people, irrespective of gender, who have physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities. The children’s and young people's placements are made under short-break arrangements, and the service is delivered and managed by a local authority.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/10/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/12/2015 Full Requires improvement 16/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes: the name of the child; details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (‘the user’), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)) 28/02/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. In addition, the registered person needs to ensure that the documents held on young people refer to the current home that they are living in and not previous homes. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 28/02/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

p.5

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI. In particular, the copy sent to HMCI needs to contain the responses to the report from the registered manager and the responsible individual. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 31/03/2017

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff should be familiar with the home's policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, staff should not use vague or emotive language when recording. Staff should ensure that work undertaken with the young people is represented within the records maintained and this should include an evaluation of the work. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)  For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety

p.6

Recommendations

legislations (alarms, food hygiene and so on). However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. In particular, the institutional window restrictors need to be replaced. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

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’.

p.7

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 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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

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

p.8