Children's home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited in Wokingham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last 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

From their starting points, young people have made effective and sustained progress. Staff’s care and support ensure that young people feel safe and secure, and nurture their confidence and independence. As a result, young people are committed to their individual plans of care and are maturing. They are taking responsibility for themselves, making safer decisions and progressing in their education and social relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are now engaged in education or employment. This is a significant achievement for each young person and a testament to staff’s efforts and challenge to relevant authorities, which have ensured that appropriate placements commensurate with each young person’s ability and needs have been found. As a result, young people are gaining in confidence, and have the opportunity to enhance their future prospects.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are developing a greater awareness of safety and understanding of danger. Staff provide education and support to young people on issues such as smoking, substance misuse, missing incidents, sexual health and safe use of social media and the internet. As a result, young people are making informed choices to reduce harmful behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers recognise the importance of young people’s emotional health and have provided young people with access to the organisation’s therapy team. Therapeutic input is enabling young people to gain a more positive self-view and develop stronger emotional resilience. One young person does not currently attend therapy sessions. Managers and staff are working creatively with the organisation’s therapist to provide ‘indirect’ therapy to support the young person to become more open and better equipped to take on new challenges.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective placement planning ensures that young people are only admitted to the home if they are compatible with existing residents, and staff have the skills necessary to meet their needs. The manager works collaboratively with others to ensure that a thorough assessment is completed detailing how each young person’s behaviours and risks might interact and affect one another. This in-depth analysis ensures that strategies are in place at admission to enable staff to minimise any impact and promote a successful transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people express themselves openly and with confidence. Staff continually encourage young people to share their views in group and individual meetings. The manager has introduced a ‘fabulous dream’ template to help identify young people’s wishes. This template was used effectively to help young people think about how they would like to personalise their bedrooms. Changes within the home, as a result of consultation, have included brighter décor and improvements to the garden.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Any issues of a child protection nature are managed appropriately; managers act on concerns swiftly with substantial investigation and exploration. Managers and staff work closely with other professionals to monitor young people’s progress and provide a collective approach and responsibility in ensuring young people’s safety. Staff work with professionals such as social workers, therapists and the police to share information and devise strategies to minimise risk factors.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective risk management and regular reviews minimise young people’s risks. Risk assessments are up to date and reflect young people’s circumstances. Staff understand each young person’s vulnerabilities and work proactively to reduce them. While staff’s priority is risk reduction, careful planning and support has resulted in young people learning to maintain their own safety.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are vigilant to the signs, symptoms and risk of child sexual exploitation. They are well informed and engage with young people in meaningful discussions. Staff manage the risk by cooperating with the police, undertaking training, and helping the young people access supportive services.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a reduction in the frequency that young people go missing. Should a young person go missing, staff respond immediately and follow the young person’s individualised plan. Staff are proactive in attempting to find the young person quickly and care for them appropriately on their return, allowing staff and other relevant professionals to explore reasons why the young person absented him or herself from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use their positive relationships with the young people to underpin behavioural expectations in the home. Young people are rewarded for positive behaviour and are encouraged to reflect on the impact of negative behaviour. This approach has had a positive effect on young people’s behaviour. As a result, there has been no need for staff to implement a physical intervention since the previous inspection. Staff do not impose many sanctions, and those that are imposed are fair and proportionate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has been in post since July 2016 and is now registered with Ofsted. She has a good oversight of the service and has implemented monitoring systems to inform herself where improvements need to be made. The manager has made progress in addressing the recommendation made at the previous inspection regarding the recruitment of new staff. The manager has ensured that a full employment history has been obtained, and the reasons for a prospective employee leaving their previous employment with vulnerable adults or children has been verified. However, a review of recruitment files at this inspection found that the provider does not seek to obtain a certificate of good conduct from the relevant authority for prospective employees who have spent significant time out of the country. The provider does not have a policy to guide managers on this. As a result, the provider cannot be confident that it has carried out the required checks

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

To cover any shortfalls on the rota the manager employs regular bank and agency staff. However, the manager does not obtain evidence that agency staff have undertaken the necessary qualification.

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered for up to four young people, and is owned and managed by a private organisation. The home caters for young people who may have a range of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/09/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Good 13/03/2015 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 recommendations:  The registered person(s) must ensure that external agency staff's qualifications are taken into account before they commence work (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 54, paragraph 10.16)

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Recommendations

 The registered person(s) must ensure that they can demonstrate that they consistently follow good recruitment practice. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards, page 61, paragraph 13.1) This specifically relates to devising and implementing a policy to obtain good conduct certificates for prospective employers who have spent significant time abroad.

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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, 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

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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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