Children's home run by Bournemouth Borough Council in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged to require improvement 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

Leaders have taken action to remedy the shortfalls that were identified at the previous inspection in respect of the leadership of the home. The one requirement and three recommendations that were made at the previous inspection have been satisfactorily met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual, who was appointed to this permanent position by the local authority last year, is registered with Ofsted. This arrangement is providing stability and continuity to the leadership of this home. The responsible individual demonstrates a good understanding of the responsibilities and accountabilities of their leadership role as the registered person for the authority. Leaders take action to harness local resources and improve social work support and practice within the local authority and the home in order to enhance and safeguard the lives of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The responsible individual regularly visits the home and demonstrates a current knowledge of the needs, experiences and progress of the young people living here. The registered manager receives regular supervision from the responsible individual. Together they are establishing a positive working partnership that includes effective communication, good support and appropriate challenge.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has been unsuccessful in his attempts to obtain an up-to- date copy of the fire plan for the children’s home, despite the fact that he has made a number of requests to the borough fire officer. The responsible individual is now aware of this difficulty and will also take steps to access the fire plan. This matter has been identified and monitored at previous inspections of the home, with the expectation that the request was being progressed to remedy this shortfall. The fire plan is required following the completion of the building work that was undertaken in early 2016. The building work was carried out in order to provide care leavers with independent living accommodation on the second floor of the house. In the absence of an accurate, current fire plan, it has not been possible for the registered manager to update the home’s written fire risk assessment. The fire risk assessment was last updated in September 2014. This length of delay is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

unacceptable, as this shortfall could potentially place the young people and staff at risk of harm in the event of a fire. The registered manager has taken measures to minimise fire risks by ensuring that suitable fire safety equipment is in place, regular fire drills have been undertaken and staff have received updated fire safety training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The three young people who are resident came to live in their home over recent months. They frequently experience difficulties in managing their changing personal relationships and do not always live harmoniously together as a group. At times, their individual welfare and safety is of serious concern both to staff and their families. Young people have chosen to take part in risk-taking behaviours, such as consumption of alcohol and cannabis. Some young people have gone missing from the home or have returned home late. These poor choices have contributed to some negative experiences for individuals. The registered persons and staff team appropriately seek and access specialist help in order to ensure that the young people receive the particular support and advice that will promote their well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour management within the home is strong. Staff usually find effective ways of de-escalating behavioural issues; no restraints have been undertaken in order to manage episodes of challenging behaviour. Staff work closely with young people to help them to better understand the impact of their unacceptable and unsafe behaviours. The home’s systems of key-work sessions, the giving of suitable sanctions for misdemeanours, and the giving of rewards and compliments for positive behaviour, all facilitate young people’s understanding of how to behave in a socially acceptable way. The registered manager is working collaboratively with the local police force to trial the ‘consequence ladder’ initiative. This method of working aims to help young people to better manage unacceptable behaviours; reduce the involvement of the police; and prevent the possible criminalisation of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people are going missing from their home and placing themselves at possible risk of harm. Staff make every effort to find young people who are missing and report appropriately to the police if they cannot be found. The staff act swiftly to ensure that the young people return home safely. Since the previous inspection, the registered manager has worked with senior managers and leaders to consider the current protocols and policies that are in place for dealing with young people who have gone missing from home and to review the provision of return home interviews. An agreement has been reached that every young person who goes missing from this home will be provided with a return home interview, which will be carried out by an independent person from outside of the home. Since this system has been implemented, there has been a significant increase in the number of return home interviews that have been undertaken. This improvement contributes

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to increasing the protection of these young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the young people’s individual care needs and the implementation of their care plans. However, a significant error occurred in the administration of a prescribed medication to a young person. Furthermore, this inspection found that there are omissions in the home’s records and guidance sheets regarding the administration of medication to this young person. These include: allergies are not noted/highlighted; the reason for the medication being given is not noted; the directions for how to take the medicine are not noted; changes in dosage are entered, but these are written on the guidance sheet and do not clearly stand out for staff to note; staff have made errors when completing the record; and on the day prior to this inspection, no entry at all was made to show whether or not the medication was given or refused. Leaders and managers were seriously concerned

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

about this error in the administration of medication. Action has been/is being taken to fully investigate the error and to identify a robust system for the administration of medication in the home. Further training is being arranged for the staff in handling medication, administering medication to young people and recording the administration of medication.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Significant events and incidents are notified to the relevant persons and agencies by the staff and manager. The registered persons and the practice manager understand safeguarding issues and follow the local authority’s policies and procedures. There is good communication within the local authority to fieldwork teams. However, one incident was not promptly notified to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, as is required by the regulations. The home’s delay in gathering all the relevant information prior to notification reduced the timely response of any external scrutiny; thus weakening the protection of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are ambitious for the young people who are in their care. Leaders and managers monitor the progress that the young people are making. Priority is given to helping the young people to achieve and to enjoy their lives. Staff realise that the young people’s attendance at school has reduced and understand the reasons for this. To help the young people succeed in their education, the home has purchased private tuition in specific subjects in order to help individuals to catch up. The registered manager has forged effective links with the headteacher of the virtual school in order to capture additional funding for tuition and in order to access the educational support that each young person could benefit from.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and the practice manager provide regular supervision to the staff team. Regular team meetings provide a group forum through which practice development matters and arising practice issues are robustly addressed by managers with the staff team. The regular inclusion of child and mental health service professionals at the home’s meetings provides staff with guidance on the effective implementation of the young people’s care plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although there have been some absences within the team, the home has been staffed satisfactorily through the use of sessional workers. Staff morale is good. The registered persons are vigilant in ensuring that staff have access to training opportunities and secondment opportunities in order to enhance the quality of their work with young people. The majority of staff have the required qualifications. Only two members of permanent staff have not yet achieved the requisite level 3 national award qualification and they are expected to complete this award in the next two months. Similarly, the sessional workers also complete this award and currently two sessional workers are studying for their awards.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring practice in the home is excellent. Data collection and its analysis and evaluation are thorough. The registered manager’s six-monthly monitoring reports, the monthly independent visitor’s reports and the councillor’s reports are informative and valuable documents. They identify areas for improvement that inform the development of this home and raise care standards in order to enhance young people’s lives.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 06/10/2015 Full Outstanding 24/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/12/2014 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take adequate precautions against the risk of fire. In particular, the registered person must provide an up-to-date fire risk assessment for the home. (Regulation 25(1)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording and safe administration of medicines that are received into the children’s home. In particular, the registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed. (Regulation 23(2)(b)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(b)) 16/02/2017

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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 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

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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