Children's Home run by Suffolk County Council in Suffolk

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as good 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

The children have begun to make some progress since the last inspection. The home went through a difficult time late last year. The staff have been proactive in working with the children, and there has been a decrease in self-harming incidents and violent outbursts.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have the opportunity to participate in activities within the community; however, due to their ages, they prefer to spend time with friends.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a stable, experienced and dedicated staff team in place. The manager is currently recruiting for the vacant posts, and the current staff team or relief workers are covering gaps in the rota. This ensures that there are staff working in the home who know and understand the children’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has the relevant experience and qualifications to manage the home and is supported by two deputy managers. There were two requirements from the last inspection, one of which has been met. There were also eight recommendations, of which five have been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff understand the importance of education and actively encourage and support the children to attend education provisions. The staff source alternative education for any children who struggle within an education environment. The staff have also supported a child to get a part-time job. Although she did not continue with this job, the staff supported and encouraged her to look for something else, and she has since been successful. Another child is due to start work experience with a local retailer. The staff have been proactive in supporting him to understand what to expect and how to behave. This shows the children that the staff not only understand that starting work can be difficult, but also that they want help them to prepare for this new experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A child has recently moved from the home into a semi-independent flat. This was managed well; the needs of the child were taken into account and in consultation with the social worker. The staff provide support to the child on a weekly basis in order to ensure that the placement is a success. A new child is in the process of transitioning into the home. The manager has had good communication with her current placement in order to begin her placement plan and risk assessments. The child has had four visits to the home, including overnight stays. She arrived during the inspection for another overnight stay and commented that she was happy to move into the home and that the staff and the children had been welcoming. She has picked the decor for her room, which is in the process of being painted. The children had given her a card on her first visit to welcome her to their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An interactive welcome booklet for children who are moving into the home has been complied and will be given to the new child during her transition. The booklet is child-friendly and children can complete it during their visits to give them a better understanding of the home, including the support that is available from staff and the expectations with regard to conduct of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s guide has not been amended since the last inspection and still does not give children details of the day-to-day routine of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have completed child sexual exploitation and safeguarding training since the last inspection. However, fire training still needs to be undertaken by the majority of staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff receive regular, good-quality supervision, which supports them in working with the children. All the annual appraisals have been completed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are attending regular house meetings; these are led by a senior member of staff to ensure continuity. The children have the opportunity to have their say about the running of the home. This allows them to contribute to decisions that are made about the decor and purchasing of items, as well as house rules and behaviours. A response is given to the children in writing and a copy is put on the children’s notice board. This enables them to see that their views are listened to and that action is taken as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints regarding the home since the last inspection. However, the manager has supported a child in writing a complaint about their contact arrangements, with support from the advocate. This shows that staff listen to and support the children when they are unhappy about aspects of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been recent concerns regarding a vulnerable child who goes missing from the home. The manager has written a new protocol that allows him some free time in the community, due to his age. A copy of the protocol has been sent to the social worker and to the police, and both these agencies have signed it off. However, the manager needs to ensure that Ofsted is notified of significant events, including incidents of vulnerable children going missing from home and there are concerns about child sexual exploitation or other risks involved. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. These are comprehensive and support the staff’s work with the children. However, the staff are not signing the risk assessments to confirm that they have read and understood them, in order to safeguard the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff understand the importance of the children learning independence skills in accordance with their age, understanding and ability. The staff are not risk averse and they support the children to understand and manage risks according to their ability and in consultation with their social workers. There is a two-bedded independence flat within the home. The staff have developed a ‘Welcome to the independence flat’ booklet that outlines areas such as home care, personal care, safe care, education and employment, in order to support the children in furthering their independence skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have detailed individualised placement plans in place; these support the staff in working with the children to achieve their best outcomes. There is evidence that the social workers are aware of and in agreement with the plans. However, the children do not comment on or sign the plans to confirm that they understand or agree with the plan.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children receive well-structured key-work sessions from the staff that cover all aspects of their lives. However, the children do not comment on or sign these to confirm that they have understood or benefited from the session. There is no evidence that the children have the opportunity to comment on and sign records regarding their care or after an incident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is clean and tidy and has undergone some redecoration since the last inspection. There are pictures, plants and ornaments around the home, which give it a warm and inviting feel. The children have chosen the decor for their bedrooms.

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides medium- and long-term placements for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A local authority owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Full Good 22/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Good 26/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must after consultation with the fire and rescue authority— (c) make arrangements for persons working in the home to receive suitable training in fire prevention. (Regulation 25(1)(c)) 30/03/17

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard with particular reference to records in the home, the registered provider must ensure that staff— (2)(f) help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. 30/03/17

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the registered person notifies HMCI without delay of any relevant, serious event. (Regulation 40(4)) 07/03/17

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The children’s guide should help children to understand what the day-to-day routines of the home are. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5). In particular, there should be evidence that the staff are aware of the content of risk assessments, and that they understand them and agree with them.

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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 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

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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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