Children's Home run by Broadlands Hall Limited in Suffolk

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 sustained effectiveness . The children continue to make individualised progress from their respective starting points. Some of the children improve their skills in cooking and self-care. This helps to promote and develop the children’s confidence. Other children develop their ability to use verbal communication significantly. For example, one child previously using single words now can speak using full sentences. This means that he can verbally communicate his views, wishes and feelings. One child said, ‘My move to this home has been productive, and I can see that I have made progress educationally and emotionally.’ One placing local authority social worker said, ‘Our child is making excellent progress, and I think that all of his needs are being met.’ Incidents of challenging behaviour in the home continue. The staff use a range of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

strategies and techniques to help the children to self-regulate and to modify their behaviour. As a result, the frequency of incidents is decreasing. The numbers of physical interventions had been high, but in recent months have been decreasing. Two of the children have recently moved on from the home. One child moved carefully and sensitively to a planned placement. This was because the leaders recognised that the service could no longer meet his needs. Another child has returned to live with his family. Of the written records of physical intervention sampled, no regulatory shortfalls were identified. One child said, ‘Sometimes the staff have restrained me. At the time, I am angry with them, but, afterwards, I can see that they do this to keep me safe.’ Children, including those with previous histories of absconding, do not go missing. On the few occasions when one child has left the building without permission, the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff have followed him. The result was his safe and expedient return to the home. This approach, combined with good working relationships with the relevant agencies, helps to ensure the children’s safety. The children are registered with local health services. In partnership with the individual children’s placing local authority, the registered manager and responsible individual are currently re-evaluating their service, offering to ensure that children’s mental health needs are appropriately met. A number of the children receive medication. This inspection did not identify any shortfalls in relation to the process of administration. However, the system for the appropriate disposal of any refused medication falls short. This has no direct impact on any children, but, to reduce the likelihood of mistakes being made, all the staff should follow the same agreed and recorded procedure. The children’s written records and files have become disjointed and disorganised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the files sampled, paperwork was missing, not up to date, and had not been signed or dated. This shortfall has no immediate impact on children, but could result in mistakes or important information being missed. When there are written risk assessments, the majority sampled are of poor quality and fail to clearly outline the key issues for the staff to be aware of. Furthermore, there was no evidence to demonstrate that the written risk assessments had been read by anyone other than the author. While this shortfall has had no immediate impact for the children, it highlights that the staff have not shared an in-depth understanding of the potential behavioural risk factors. In the context of the change in some of the staff, alongside two very recent admissions, this could lead to a significant incident. Additionally, the permanent staff are increasingly providing verbal handovers to the agency staff. This shortfall could lead to inconsistencies in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

approach and requires a formal system being in place. The requirements made at the last full inspection are partially met. For example, the provider could demonstrate that the complaints policy has been implemented. However, the shortfall in leadership and management is not met and is therefore repeated. This is because the training available for the staff does not yet go far enough to support the staff to fulfil their roles in providing care and support to the children who have complex learning needs. The location and setting of this home mean that the children benefit from the environment. For example, the garden has play equipment including a second trampoline. Improvements to one of the communal living areas have resulted in a pool table and table football. More than one child said that they like the home and that the staff are nice. The children continue to be busy and to take an active part in the local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For example, with the staff, they go out for meals and use the local leisure facilities. This means that the children have fun. All of the children continue to attend education in the school adjacent to the home. The working relationship between education staff and social care staff continues to strengthen. This is of significant benefit to the children and ensures that their attendance is excellent. One child said, ‘One day I did not feel like getting up to go to school, and the staff came over and got me out of bed and got me into school. I did not like it much at the time, but I know it is what I needed.’ The manager is now registered with Ofsted and has been in post for approximately nine months. He recognises that there is still much work to do in the home to improve standards. He is confident that the plans that he, the senior staff and the senior managers are working towards will result in tangible positive difference for

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care, accommodation and education for up to 11 children who have learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties. There is a large education building, inspected by Ofsted, in the grounds of the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/05/2015 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must: (2)(g)(i) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met, with specific reference to, but not exhaustively, behaviour management and attachment. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that case records for each child are kept up to date and are signed and dated by the author of each entry (Regulation 36(b)(c)) 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 recommendations:  Ensure that staff involved in medication administration and disposal refresh on ‘managing medicines in care homes.’ (March 2014) (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.2)  Ensure that care is provided by taking into account each child’s assessed needs, previous experiences and relevant plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.17) This is with specific reference to sharing information with agency 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

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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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