Children's home run by SES Avocet Limited

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as 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

The children continue to make exceptional progress. This is because they have positive relationships with the staff and peers, alongside detailed and effective care planning. This ensures the children’s safety and promotes their well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the children have left as the result of planned moves. The staff and managers advocate for the children vigorously to ensure that they have the best possible support when they leave. The children develop robust life skills and access the community with confidence. Some of the children who have left remain in contact with the home. For instance, a group of staff went to see one child, now living independently, who was appearing in a local pantomime at Christmas. The child appreciated the ongoing contact with the staff who knew them well, and this greatly enhanced their self-esteem.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff and managers approach new additions to the group conscientiously. They subject all new referrals to a comprehensive assessment that compiles all information, including specialist medical assessments. An extremely rigorous plan is devised, matching risks with management strategies and planning immediate goals, with a particular emphasis on education. The managers visit any new children in advance, and they come for a series of visits before moving in fully to the home. The current group of children are included in this process and volunteer to show new children around. As a result of this meticulous approach, even those children with a history of school refusal settle quickly into purposeful routines based around the school day. One social worker said, ‘He has told me that he really likes it there. He has only been there two weeks, but I have noticed an improvement. He is speaking to staff. He feels secure.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers in the home are highly ambitious and review the service continually. They have introduced a new streamlined system for recording that combines all information about a child, including education, behaviour management and life skills into one report. This has been a major undertaking, but the response from staff has been positive. The staff feel that it improves the flow of information between different parts of the service, and it makes it clearer to see how a child is progressing against all their targets. There are some minor gaps in the recording on case files, which means that they are not complete. There is no indication that this shortfall has an impact on the safety or well-being of children. The managers are introducing new therapeutic approaches, to meet the needs of traumatised children in the home. This positive and dynamic approach underpins the drive for improvement in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s safety lies at the heart of all practice. Safeguarding concerns are dealt with promptly and firmly. This means that the children are protected. While negative incidents are rare, the managers reflect on them to reinforce the ethos of the home. For instance, an incident of bullying was followed up comprehensively with the child concerned, the other children involved and with the staff team. The key message, that bullying of any form was not acceptable, was repeated in these forums. The managers reinforced their expectation that the staff needed to be purposeful in dealing with it. As a result of this highly integrated approach, the overall health of vulnerable children is promoted and their sense of security greatly enhanced. The children are lively and energetic and can challenge the staff who remain attentive and in control. This means that the children relax in an environment that supports them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents comment very positively on the partnership approach from the staff and the managers. The father of one child said, ‘We see him every other week at the home. This is important as he is a bit manipulative and he sees us with staff. I know how to handle him better, it has really worked.’ Information about this children’s home. This privately owned home is registered for up to eight boys aged eight to 14 years on admission. It is registered as a children’s home because it provides 52-week placements. Education and administration facilities are on-site and separate from the living areas. There is also a separate building that is used for two older boys who are learning to be more independent.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/04/2016 Full Outstanding 29/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/05/2015 Full Outstanding 17/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is with particular reference to avoiding gaps in case notes and compiling a complete record for that child.

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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 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, 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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