Children's home run by Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited in West Suffolk

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

A new manager has been appointed and is registered with Ofsted. He was promoted from within the team and therefore he knows the young people and longer-serving members of the team well. This inspires confidence in parents and staff. One member of the team said, ‘Things have changed and he is a good manager. I know that he would not ask any of us to do anything that he has not either already done, or would be willing to do himself.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Seven requirements and three recommendations were raised at the last inspection. The manager has met four of the requirements and two of the recommendations. Three of the requirements and one recommendation are repeated.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager is implementing change. There is an emphasis on visual prompts in and around the home, which remind the young people of their daily routine. This helps them to have confidence and to understand what is happening next. This improvement is resulting in progress in their skills in communication and sociability. One parent said, ‘Since my son has been here he has come on in every way.’ However, change is not sufficiently embedded and does not yet go far enough. The registered manager cannot yet demonstrate how feedback from the young people and key stakeholders is used to show continuous improvement.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Human error has resulted in mistakes. On one occasion a member of staff who had seen another member of the team handle a young person inappropriately failed to report the incident in the correct way. The policies for the protection of children, specifically the whistleblowing policy, are not fully understood by every member of the team. This does not keep these particularly vulnerable young people safe at all times.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When one young person made an allegation about a member of staff, the provider failed to make a prompt referral to the responsible local authority. Although the registered manager did attempt to put safeguards in place at the time, the delay in reporting and taking effective action following the investigation reflects inadequate management. The responsible individual has accepted responsibility and has since taken corrective action. The parents are now fully aware and remain entirely satisfied with the service that their son receives. The placing local authority is aware of the concern. Nonetheless, on this occasion the provider failed to implement the home’s child protection policy. The initial response to this allegation does not reflect a competent, professional or partnership approach to managing allegations. This regulatory shortfall is repeated from the last inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care plans vary in content and quality. This inspection identified that staff approach the written reviews of the plans inconsistently. Some plans say that there has been ‘no change’ across a number of months. This approach does not go far enough to demonstrate that children who cannot or choose not to verbalise are as involved in their placement reviews as they could be.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has not had the opportunity to complete staff appraisals, which means that the recommendation raised at last inspection is not met. There have been only a few changes to the team, and the reliance on agency staff has been reducing. However, this inspection identified that one agency staff member who has worked in children’s homes for over two years does not hold the required level 3 qualification. This does not meet regulatory requirements and does not demonstrate that each member of the team has the necessary qualifications required for their role.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are currently cared for on a ratio of one to one. All of the young people are in an excellent weekday routine. Those who have family contact receive help and support to see their families regularly, and families routinely visit the home. This provides another layer of protection in relation to safeguarding. One parent said, ‘My son is definitely happy in the home. The manager has been fantastic and has understood my son’s character from day one.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people are often busy and are involved in community activities, including swimming and bowling. Those of school age go to the school run by the provider, which is located a short car journey from the home. The young people have excellent attendance rates and benefit significantly from their experiences at school, which include going to fun after-school clubs. This helps young people to reach their potential.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do not go missing from this home. Physical intervention is used very occasionally and for short periods. Records and discussions with parents and placing social workers demonstrate that the key individuals are informed when physical intervention is used to manage challenging or dangerous behaviours.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people have left the home. One returned to his family home and another made a planned transition to adult services. There have been no new young people admitted to the home. This means that the registered manager and responsible individual, who are both aware and accept that there is a need to go further to improve, have more time to address the current shortfalls in regulation and practice.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This privately run home is one of a small group operated by the same provider. Accommodation is provided for up to six males who have moderate to severe learning difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/06/2016 Full Requires improvement 19/01/2016 Full Good 14/07/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/01/2015 Full Adequate

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the whistleblowing policy, the registered provider must ensure:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2)(e) that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. 28/04/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered manager must:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2)(g)(ii) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 28/04/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, 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, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32 (4)(5)) 28/04/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must implement a policy which sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34 (1)(b)) 28/04/2017

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children who cannot or choose not to verbalise, have the right to have their views, wishes and feelings heard and respected in the same way as other children. This is with particular reference to updating care plans effectively and consistently. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.24)  Ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children and vulnerable adults in the home's care. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

p.6

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.7

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

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.8

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

p.8