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 good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two planned moves and two admissions mean that there have been changes in the group. The new children are settling well and they say that they like living in this home, and that they like the manager. During the inspection the children demonstrated that they feel comfortable seeking the manager out to ask him for his advice and company. The manager dedicates individual time to and takes an active role with each of the children, such as taking individuals on activities or playing games. This helps the manager to build relationships with the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children receive good help and support to see their families and to maintain important relationships. This helps to ease the emotional impact of the transition into a residential setting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no complaints. Children do not go missing. Incidents in the home continue but are reducing. The staff do a good job of explaining things to the children and encouraging them to take responsibility for their actions. There are times when the staff use physical intervention. Records show that following any restrictive physical intervention the registered manager spends time talking to each child and to the staff involved. This approach helps to ensure that there is learning for all involved. The result is, as with the incidents, a reduction in the frequency of physical intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has met two of the four requirements raised at the last inspection. The induction process for new staff is more consistent and the location risk assessment has been updated. There has been some improvement to risk assessments because the template used to record information is clearer. However, the regulation linked to this shortfall is repeated. This is because the risk assessments sampled have not been reviewed effectively to demonstrate that staff have taken into account the significance of some incidents, such as a child being restrained in the community. Additionally, a failure to complete an impact risk assessment in relation to the dynamics of the new group demonstrates that staff do not consistently record their evaluation of aspects of the children’s behaviour. Although there is no immediate impact because this is a small home and the registered manager is visibly involved with the children, as placements continue

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

this shortfall could result in mistakes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All children make progress from their starting points. One placing local authority social worker said, ‘Our child has absolutely blossomed.’ Some children increase their self-confidence and others develop their social skills. All of the children attend the school that is run by the provider, which is located a short car journey away. Attendance is excellent and the children’s skills and abilities in subjects including English and maths improves. The registered manager said, ‘One of our children has improved in school by three levels in just six months. Along with school, we are rewarding his great progress.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All children are encouraged to personalise and individualise their bedrooms. Some of the children have chosen to have small pets. The home has a large garden and offers generous space for the children to play and enjoy outdoor games. The interior offers ample communal space for the children to relax together or individually. However, some aspects of the upper hallway require a refresh, particularly the exterior of two of the children’s bedroom doors, which have become scuffed and marked. This minor shortfall detracts from an otherwise homely and welcoming environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff help and encourage the children to take an active role in the home. They encourage the children to develop their skills in cooking, meal planning and laundry. This helps to promote the skills that children need when moving into adulthood and for living independently in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has been using agency staff to cover some shifts. The arrangements do not fall short but one agency staff member who has worked in children’s residential care for over two years does not hold the required level 3 diploma. This currently has minimal impact on the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A change of some staff means that new people have come to join the team. This includes new senior workers who bring relevant experience from similar settings. This is beneficial to those staff who are building their experience and confidence in working with children who have learning disabilities. Due to the changes in the team, the registered manager has not needed to complete any annual appraisals, therefore the previous recommendation is repeated.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home, registered to provide care for up to four children who have complex learning and social difficulties, including autism spectrum disorder. Children can access the school run by the provider, which is situated a short drive from the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/06/2016 Full Good 24/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/06/2015 Full Good 09/02/2015 Interim Improved 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to written risk assessments, the registered provider must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) ensure that staff assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each individual who works in the home in a care role has by the relevant date 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. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that staff seek to meet the child's basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met. Doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. This is with specific reference to wear and tear in the upper hallway and the woodwork. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.7)  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 the children in the home's

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Recommendations

care. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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

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