Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

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 .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to provide a good service to young people and there is evidence of improvement in many aspects of the service. However, shortfalls in relation to how the home consults with young people and acts on their feedback have been identified, as well as weaknesses in recording of measures of control. These shortfalls have not had an impact on the safety and well-being of young people or on the standard of practical care provided by staff.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers have addressed two requirements set at the last inspection, with a resulting positive impact on the quality of care within the home. In response to young people smoking in their bedrooms, staff have completed a range of work to raise awareness of the significant risk that this poses to themselves and others. This has been successful. Young people now smoke less, and very rarely smoke in their bedrooms. As a result, they are safer. Staff supervision now occurs regularly, providing staff with the opportunity to reflect more frequently on their practice and the needs of the young people whom they are caring for.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

From their starting points, young people’s progress and experiences continue to be good. Of significance, young people enjoy stability in their placements. This is because they are cared for by a committed and consistent staff team. One professional said: ‘Staff are strong advocates for young people. They stick by them during difficult times. They give them unconditional positive regard, no matter what challenges young people present. Staff use a nurturing approach and encourage young people to engage and achieve.’ A young person commented: ‘This is a good home. I get to do lots of activities and the staff are nice. They are there for me, they sort things out for me and they make sure that I go to school.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is well developed. Each young person receives an individualised package of multi-agency support that is reviewed regularly. A social worker said: ‘The multi-agency approach is really benefiting this young person. There is good joined-up working between the home, the in-house therapist, the school, the youth offending worker, the local police community support officer and the child and adolescent mental health service. He is getting the right package of support to address his complex needs.’ A well-planned and carefully considered transition into the home enabled a new young person to settle quickly and successfully. The pre-placement matching process was comprehensive. A social worker commented: ‘The manager arranged for me to speak with the social workers for the other young people living in the home, and she involved the home’s therapist in the planning to ensure that there would be a good match between the young people, and between staff skills and

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the young person’s needs.’ Prior to the admission, pictures of the home and information about it were provided to the young person so that he would know what to expect upon arrival. Work undertaken with the existing young people resulted in them playing a positive role in welcoming the new young person into their home.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant reduction in incidents of young people going missing or spending time away from the home without permission. It is evident that the positive relationships that young people have with staff, high levels of supervision, the work undertaken about relationships and personal safety, and the effective risk management plans all contribute to providing young people with a good level of protection in this area.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff manage challenging behaviours well through the use of positive and proactive behaviour management strategies such as praise, incentives and rewards. Physical interventions and measures of control are used infrequently, and only as a last resort. When physical interventions or measures of control are used, staff record young people’s views about this. However, records do not evidence that staff are routinely debriefed following incidents. This is a regulatory shortfall. Incomplete records and a lack of reflection hinder the effective monitoring of incidents. This has the potential to limit the capacity to improve practice in this area.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although staff and managers report that young people are very regularly consulted and asked for feedback about the quality of their care and how it could be improved, there is a lack of written evidence to demonstrate how the voices of young people are being heard or responded to. Young people have not been willing to engage in house meetings for some months, and alternative methods of ascertaining and recording their views are still under development. Involving young people in the running of the home is empowering. It helps them to feel valued, and establishing new and creative ways to engage young people in house meetings and provide feedback about their experiences is an area for further improvement.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Full Good

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

7: The children's views, wishes and feelings standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard the registered person must: (2)(a)(iv) ensure that staff regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home's care. 05/04/2017

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure within 48 hours of the use of any measure of control, that they, or a person who is authorised by registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’), have spoken to the user about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(i) 05/04/2017

p.5

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.6

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.

p.6

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.6

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 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.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

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.7

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.7