Children's home run by Cambridgeshire County Council in Cambridge

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has met two of the three requirements and both of the recommendations that were made at the last inspection. Recording on case files has improved. Care plans and risk assessments are up to date and now provide a more complete record of the child’s progress. The registered manager has started their level 5 national vocational qualification (NVQ) and is due to finish mid-2018. All other staff have either already obtained their level 3 diploma, are on the course or are due to enrol once they have completed their probation. The registered manager has developed a training matrix which provides a clear record of the training that staff have completed. Senior staff have started scrutinising staff files, to ensure that they are compliant with regulation; however, this work has not been completed. Therefore, this requirement is restated.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children make limited progress in their education. Some children have a full-time education programme but the majority only access part-time hours. Staff work hard to encourage the children to follow a purposeful day. In particular, the staff promote daily routines during which the children develop some independence skills. Staff and managers have been diligent in helping children to access specialist education assessments. However, there are significant delays in identifying and providing full-time education resources which can meet the children’s challenging needs. This means that the children lose confidence in their ability to sustain a place in school or college.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children have left the home because of planned moves. A number of new children have come to the home. The registered manager works closely with senior managers to ensure that potential admissions are suitable for the home. He scrutinises all referrals to ensure that he has all of the necessary information about the individual needs and potential risks and, in particular, whether the child is accessing education. This is critical in identifying any gaps in the child’s care plan immediately and what action is required by whom. Because of this purposeful approach, children make a good start in the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager provides a weekly report to the senior management team, summarising the progress in education, life skills and negative incidents for all of the children. This ensures that senior managers are aware of the significant issues affecting the home, the links with education and health services and how this has an impact on the home’s capacity to take admissions. External monitoring reports do not make an explicit statement about whether children are safeguarded or if the home is promoting the children’s well-being. This does not provide clarity about the safeguarding arrangements in the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of negative incidents indicates that this has been a difficult time for children. However, staff and managers hold the safety of children as their primary concern. They have worked persistently and creatively along with social workers and police to develop plans that stipulate who a child will have contact with and when. Staff have shown considerable skill in developing a rapport with families. Children observe this and understand that there is a working partnership between adults. The father of one child said, ‘There have been some changes recently; he comes to stay with me at weekends. Staff who came with him were polite. They stayed and chatted and had a cup of tea. They showed respect for me.’ This can help to reduce any pressure or conflict a child might be experiencing. As a result, the number of missing from home episodes has dropped significantly and children are safeguarded.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are encouraged to make healthy choices and to keep themselves safe and healthy. They benefit from well-prepared and attractive meals which staff and children share together. Staff are skilled at building relationships with the children who respond well to the staff’s low-key and gentle approach. One social worker commented, ‘They keep him safe. They listen to him and are creative in how they build relationships.’

p.3

Information about this children's home

This home is run by the local authority. The home is registered to provide residential care for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 04/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 09/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual is of integrity and good character, the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform and full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (2) (3) (a) (b) (d)) 17/04/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)) 17/04/2017

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that when children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child's needs under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met). (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15) This is with particular reference to providing a full-time education programme for a child with minimum delay.

p.5

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’.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7