Children's home run by Living Life (UK) Limited in North Northamptonshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Exceptional care is a continuing aspect of the service provided by this home. Highly effective leadership and management ensure that children’s safety and well-being are always at the centre of service arrangements. Effective care planning has resulted in notable progress being made by children and young people. For example, a child’s improved self-regulation of emotions and behaviours has led to a reduced number of behavioural incidents. The child has recognised the progress made, saying that: ‘I used to get restrained and now I don’t.’ Educational professionals and social workers report that joint working is highly effective. As a result, good placement planning is understood by external agencies and all parties work together to promote improved outcomes for children and young people. A social worker spoke very highly about the positive impact of the quality of care and support provided, noting that this has helped a child to be able to talk about

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

previous experiences for the first time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most of the children and young people are extremely settled and happy in long- term placements. They have developed strong attachments with staff and are very confident in the care that they receive. Children and young people feel safe and are very comfortable speaking to staff about personal anxieties. Four individuals separately identified the staff as the ‘best thing about the home’. However, one young person has not felt able to accept the very nurturing care provided since the time of his admission in autumn 2016. This young person was missing at the time of the inspection. Feedback from the placing social worker confirms that the staff have worked extremely hard to support this young person to be able to accept the care on offer to him, saying: ‘They have been absolutely brilliant.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Broad and frequent opportunities are provided for children and young people to engage in exciting and purposeful activities. As a result, they grow in self- confidence and are developing new skills. Two children play for football clubs, which involves games and training each week. There are frequent trips out, including swimming, the cinema and a local trampolining activity centre. A young person was taken to Birmingham for an overnight stay and trip to the theatre to celebrate a birthday. Children and young people with historically poor school attendance now attend every day and are progressing well with their education. To support educational attainment further, the provider has recently contacted a tutor to work with each child on a weekly basis. This means that children are given every opportunity to reach their potential within education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Internal and external monitoring systems are highly effective. The organisation has developed a variety of monitoring processes, including gathering key indicator statistics; information which the manager evaluates and utilises to develop practice within the home further. Every opportunity is taken up to consider areas for service improvement. Recent developments include responding to an identified need for direct work for children in relation to emotional well-being. To reduce delay, this is being funded by the organisation and accessed through an external agency. Staff are enthusiastic about the imminent introduction of a more focused way of working with children and young people, based on a methodology called ‘Great Dreams’. This aims to promote happiness and positivity by building resilience among other focus areas. No shortfalls were identified on the previous inspection or this latest visit.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young children or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service is one of two registered children’s homes operated by a small private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/09/2016 Full Outstanding 15/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/06/2015 Full Good

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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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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