Children's Home run by Bramley Care Limited in West Sussex

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

At the full inspection in October 2016, four requirements and one recommendation were made.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three of the requirements have been met and one is repeated. The repeated requirement is in relation to ensuring that there is a record of qualifications kept when a member of staff is appointed to a role. In this case, the organisation has failed to provide documentary evidence of verification of the qualifications of the Regulation 44 visitor, despite this being the subject of a requirement made during the October inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements addressed have included an improvement of monitoring of key documents, such as care plans and risk assessments. This ensures that their quality and effectiveness are assessed by the registered manager. All members of staff, including agency and bank staff, who work in the home or for the organisation, on a regular basis, now receive supervision. This means that their practice can be reflected upon and that there is a formal process in place to measure and assess their performance. Since the last inspection, visits by the independent visitor, as required under Regulation 44, have occurred on a regular basis. The reports are submitted to the registered manager in a timely manner and this means that she can rectify any shortfalls identified during the visits. This further ensures that the young people’s safety and well-being are being monitored and promoted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation made at the last inspection has also been addressed. This was in relation to ensuring that members of staff with qualifications gained abroad either have the training verified or complete training recognised in the United Kingdom. As a result of this, a member of staff has commenced a relevant qualification. This means that all members of staff are trained appropriately in line with expectations outlined in the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to benefit from living at this home. Good-quality programmes of care ensure that they receive the support they need. Some attend college and have made strides in their personal development, for example gaining part-time jobs and being able to have independent free time in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from visiting professionals is unanimously full of praise. Both parents and placing officers are highly complementary about the positive impact that the home has had on the young people’s progress. Young people also endorse this feedback. ‘We’ve all moved on since we came to live here, things get sorted, I would give it nine out of ten’, said one young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One new recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection. This relates to ensuring that risk assessments, especially those regarding the monitoring of young people if they are at risk of self-harm, are specific as to the frequency that they need to be checked when they are alone. Practice in this area is thorough and diligent but the risk assessment lacks specific detail. This recording shortfall could lead to confusion if agency staff or staff who are not totally familiar with the young people are working in the home and rely on written risk assessments to inform their practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Behaviour of the young people continues to be of a good standard. There have been no incidents of restraint and sanctions are rarely imposed. When sanctions are used, they are pertinent to the misdemeanour, and records include the young people’s comments as well as showing that the registered manager has checked them and recorded their effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An emphasis on group living and open communication ensures that any issues can be openly discussed by the young people. This ensures that there is open dialogue and a culture where all young people feel that they have a voice in the running of the home and are confident in expressing how they feel.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a privately owned therapeutic unit and provides care and accommodation for up to six boys who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

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

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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

Ensure that all the information required in Schedule 2 is in place before a member of staff starts work. In particular, ensure that there is: 1. Proof of identity, including a photograph; and 5. Documentary evidence of any qualifications which the person considers relevant for the position. (Regulation 32 (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is in particular reference to recording that the Regulation 44 visitor’s qualifications have been verified. 30/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is with reference to ensuring that risk assessments are specific and detailed in guiding staff how to minimise risks.

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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 whom 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 0300 123 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, work- based 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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