Children's Home run by The Beeches UK limited in Peterborough

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

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

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

One regulatory requirement, in relation to staff qualifications, was set at the last inspection. Staff are now completing the coursework needed to obtain their diploma-level qualifications. Although the coursework is not yet complete, due to the timescale of the course, there is a clear plan in place for completion. The manager is monitoring the progress that the staff are making towards completion. This requirement is restated.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager is reviewing the statement of purpose, with input from the staff, to ensure that it reflects the lone working arrangements currently in place. Staff read the lone working protocol and complete an assessment of the child’s needs when lone working is required. In one example reviewed during the inspection, it was clear that liaison had taken place with the placing authority ahead of the decision to lone work, to determine their views and to agree the plan. The child concerned has good relationships with the staff group and has thrived on the one-to-one attention that they are receiving. The social worker for the child commented, ‘The child has good relationships with staff. The staff do everything they can to support this child. The staff have arranged for teachers to come out to visit the home to support the child’s education plans. This child is getting all the support that they need and, in particular, following contact, which can be distressing for the child.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The staff will intervene to ensure that the child is safe during contact.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Children have made positive transitions on to independent living placements. The transition plans help the children to develop the skills that they require to budget and to take care of themselves without the support of staff. Other children have pathway or independent living plans in place. These plans have specific goals that have supported the children to learn to safely use public transport and to improve budgeting abilities and self-care skills. As a result, the children are building confidence in these areas ahead of their moves towards living in the community. One child commented, ‘I am happy in the home. I enjoy cooking cupcakes and I have learned to catch the bus and take myself to school.’

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Some children have been absent from the home without staff permission or knowledge of where they are. When children do go missing there is effective joint work with the police and multi-agency partners to ensure that information is shared. This has supported the children to return to the home safely. Staff have received training which has focused on the reasons why children may be absent from the home. This training has helped the staff to respond appropriately and to reduce the risk of exploitation of the children. There has been direct work completed with the children following absences from the home. This means that the children have had the opportunity to reflect on the situation with a trusted adult.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Trained staff intervene to prevent children from harming themselves or others. Since the last inspection, there have been 20 incidents of physical restraint. The manager has reviewed the incident records to ensure that the use of the restraint was justified and proportionate. This reflection and close examination of the reports identified that there was a significant increase in incidents at the end of 2016. This was identified as a period when one child was beginning to explore the plan for independence. Reflection led to the staff using a different approach to managing the independence plan. This has helped to reduce the incidents of restraint. A review of the records at this inspection highlighted the quality of the notes made after the events. After each incident staff talk with the child, which ensures that the child’s views are heard and recorded.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff work well with the in-house education provider. The school has developed a creative and flexible curriculum for the children. This has enabled the children to maintain and achieve their education targets. In particular, the children have learned practical skills, such as shopping and budgeting, as well as functional English. These skills will prepare them for further education or work placements.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The home is calm and welcoming. Regular meetings between the staff and the children help to manage issues between the children as they arise. These meetings also help the children to arrange activities, such as trips to the cinema or into town for a shopping trip, which they enjoy.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager and staff meet to reflect on how they are able to work together to meet the needs of the children. At these meetings, and at shift handovers, staff review the risk assessments and care plans to ensure that they have the most up- to-date information to work with. These assessments are updated following significant incidents or if a child has made suitable progress, which reduces the risk.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Staff receive regular supervision. These meetings support the staff to focus on safe-care practice. The meetings also provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on how they can develop the children’s individual care plans, to help the children to make as much progress as possible.

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Information about this children's home

A private company operates this home. It is registered to accommodate up to three children, aged between 10 and 18 years, who have learning difficulties and/or emotional and/or behavioural difficulties .

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 08/11/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/08/2015 Full Requires improvement 24/02/2015 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) 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 may only employ an individual to work at the children's home if the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) ('the level 3 diploma') or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma. The relevant date is, in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home or, in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(3)(b)(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Keep the statement of purpose under review. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5.) This is with particular regard to lone working arrangements.

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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

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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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