Children's home SC429242

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness . The manager has met the three requirements that were made at the last inspection. The staff are now familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection and safeguarding policy. The staff have taken the issues raised at the last inspection seriously and they have used their learning to inform and improve their practice. The manager has worked hard to address the issues. As a result, the staff are mindful of complacency and how their decisions have an impact on the care of the children. The staff have benefited from a significant amount of training since the last inspection. This has included ‘dip knowledge testing’ of the safeguarding procedures and behaviour management policy refreshers. The staff are completing reflective practice sheets and engaging with additional training, which is provided

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

by the regional managers. The staff are committed to delivering a high quality of care and protection to the children. The senior managers are working alongside placing authorities effectively. The managers are able to evidence this progress. The care provided is consistent, ensuring that the children are safe, secure and well monitored. There have been no further incidents of concern since the last inspection. The manager has met the requirement to ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. The staffing structure remains the same, with an additional post now in place, providing 40 sessional hours to support the team. The previous concern was primarily in relation to staff making decisions, while on shift, that compromised the care of the children. The staff have revisited the lone- working policy and the group dynamic risk assessments for the children. The manager undertook a thorough investigation in respect of the decisions that had

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

been made on a shift when an incident occurred. The manager discussed the outcome and the impact of this with the staff team. Consequently, staff are mindful of their own roles and responsibilities when on shift, which improves their care for the children. The independent person’s monitoring reports now include their opinion about how well the children are safeguarded. This gives a clear and concise outline of any issues and helps to drive improvement in the care provided. The manager is proactive in assessing whether the home is continuing to meet the needs of the children. Transitions have been well planned, and the manager has explored all options when looking at whether children can remain in the home safely. Two children have left the home since the last inspection. The management team is realistic about the level of support that children require and it is committed to ensuring that children achieve good outcomes. The primary focus of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

managers and staff is the well-being of all of the children. Effective measures are in place to minimise risky behaviours. The management team completes robust impact assessments, which take account of the behaviours of the child and the group dynamics. This is a clear and careful process that ensures that the children’s needs are compatible with each other as far as possible. The diverse staff team is successful in helping the children to find individual staff that they identify with and can form relationships with. The staff promote the individual needs of the children and encourage them to follow their aspirations. The children are happy and settled. One child said, ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It feels like a family; they don’t feel like staff.’ Children know how to complain and they are confident to do so if they need to. They have good relationships with all of the staff and they feel listened to and valued. The children

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have a clear sense of belonging and they describe the staff as ‘really supportive’. They talk to the staff about what they would like to do educationally or as an activity, and the staff help them to explore this. Another child said, ‘I have no worries at all. If I want to do something, then all I need to do is ask and this won’t be a problem.’ This supports the children’s emotional needs and resilience and creates a safe and supportive environment. Support is in place for staff, and they have learned from a past incident in the home. They described the staff team as a ‘family’ and said that they have a positive guide from the management team that listens to staff and values their opinions. Supervision is consistent and meaningful to the staff. The staff embrace all aspects of their roles and work well together. There is support for staff to progress their professional development. A staff member said, ‘He is the best

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager I have ever had. He will speak to all of us and he values our opinion.’ Support is in place for children when they arrive at the home, and every effort is made to ensure that they have the opportunity to settle in. Visits prior to the children arriving at the home contribute to smooth transitions. There is good liaison between the manager and staff and with other professionals, to further promote this. Incentives promote positive behaviours in the home. There is good management of allegations and complaints, and the staff have a positive relationship with the designated officer. The management team communicates well and seeks advice when needed. Thorough internal investigations are completed and recorded well. The staff understand the whistleblowing procedure. These safeguarding practices ensure that children’s safety and well-being are promoted. The manager has addressed recommendations raised by the independent visitor in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

relation to sanctions. The improvements have been effective, with the focus on reparation work with the children. This is successful and is having a positive impact. The staff have a good knowledge of the children’s individual needs and they form good relationships with them. The children understand the boundaries in the home and they said that the staff are fair with them. Both the external monitoring system and the manager’s internal monitoring are regular and effective. The manager has a development plan in place and he completes regular audits of the care provided. However, the manager’s monitoring does not include the views of the parents and children. There is good multi-agency working with the virtual school headteacher, social workers and professionals. The police are very positive about the care. They said that the children are safe and that the home acts effectively and quickly when a child goes missing. A police officer said, ‘They [the staff] do everything that they

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

can.’ An external professional said, ‘I love to come here. It is one of the better homes.’ When children are absent without consent, the staff follow the protocols and make clear and detailed records. The staff take immediate action to locate the child and they work closely with the police. There are clear and comprehensive strategies in place to explore the potential risk of child sexual exploitation after every episode of a child going missing. A social worker said, ‘[The child] has significantly reduced the number of missing-from-care incidents. She was a prolific absconder and she was missing all of the time at home. This has really reduced.’

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private organisation owns and operates this home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the registered person has a system in place, which allows them to monitor the matters set out in the regulation at least once every six months. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2) This is with particular reference to ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff.

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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 whom 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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