Children's home run by Dorset County Council

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement 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

Leaders and managers have made a good effort to remedy the shortfalls in care planning and practice identified during the previous inspection of the home. New protocols, guidance and systems have been developed to meet regulatory requirements and support best-practice standards.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most of the devised action plan has been satisfactorily implemented. However, two issues requiring improvement have not been embedded effectively within the home’s care practice. Work is still in progress to provide staff with written guidance about how they can escalate their concerns to senior managers should a young person not be offered an independent return home interview following being missing from the home. This guidance for the staff team will provide increased protection to safeguard the young people.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition, although a system has been put in place to track whether or not a young person has been offered, completed or refused to take part in a return home interview, the process has not been implemented effectively within the home. The home’s records do not provide this required information for the three incidents of young people going missing in the two-week period prior to this inspection. It is unclear if this undue delay in completing recording is in response to return home interviews not being undertaken, or is solely because of ineffective communication and recording. Consequently, staff on shift do not know whether or not these interviews have taken place, and are unaware of any pertinent information gleaned from such interviews that may guide them in safely looking after individuals. The safeguarding of the young people is therefore weakened.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers undertake regular monitoring of practice and the standard of care provided to the young people to ensure they are being looked after well. However, for at least one week prior to the inspection, the registered manager and the deputy manager had not been working in the home. This inspection’s findings show that the maintenance of robust practice oversight relies heavily on the presence of managers within the home. The home’s operation does not ensure that staff members on shift are clear about the expectations of their roles, their delegated duties and their levels of accountability and responsibility. This shortfall highlights a weakness in the daily running of the home that could adversely impact on the quality of care provided to the young people.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Suitable interim management arrangements have been made to provide leadership within the home during the registered manager’s absence. The responsible individual provides regular support and guidance to staff, and demonstrates a good understanding of the needs and progress of the young people living in this home. Recent staffing shortages have been managed by staff working additional hours and the deployment of suitable staff from within the local authority.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young people’s progress and their experiences of living in the home have been variable. Recent emergency admissions of young people coming to live in this home have highlighted how such arrangements can disrupt and negatively affect the progress and experiences of the young people already living here.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Complaints raised by individuals about how other young people’s behaviour impacts upon them have been listened to by staff and leaders, and acted upon. The home’s completed action plan shows that a more robust consideration will be given to the individual needs of the young people and the mix of young people living together. The action plan also highlights that any associated risks identified within the young people’s compatibility impact assessments will be taken into account, by identifying what is in young people’s best interests and what constitutes a suitable placement. This is likely to improve the stability and quality of young people’s time living in the home, and reduce the number of placement moves for individual young people.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have stoically managed incidents of young people’s challenging behaviour, and have called on police involvement appropriately to ensure everyone within the home is kept safe. Key-work meetings, the use of the home’s consequences and rewards system, and young people’s access to specialist support, all help individuals to better deal with their behavioural issues. The continuing incidents of bullying between young people have been dealt with robustly by staff, resulting in a significant reduction in such unacceptable behaviour, and young people are now living together more happily.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff implement young people’s plans and encourage them to take part in positive leisure pursuits. Focused attention is given to the health and welfare of the young people, and they receive good support in managing their health, hygiene and nutrition. Staff are successfully encouraging young people to eat healthily, take exercise and have sufficient sleep.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Strong partnerships with other professionals support the young people to make progress in their lives. Staff work closely with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, the virtual school team, and schools and colleges. These working arrangements have helped young people to improve their attendance at their educational settings.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have part-time education provision in place. Insufficient arrangements have been made for educational support and study for these young people during the remaining school hours they spend under the home’s supervision. Staff encourage young people to take part in activities during the afternoons, but this time lacks structure and focused educational input. This reduces young people’s potential to master key areas of learning. It diminishes their chances of reaching expected educational targets and of gaining national qualifications that will support them in adulthood.

p.3

Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority. It provides long-term placements for up to five young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 22/07/2015 Full Good 21/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/10/2014 Full Adequate

p.5

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.6

Requirements Due date

In order to meet the education standard, with particular reference to helping young people to achieve their potential, the registered person must ensure that staff:

p.6

Requirements Due date

(2)(a)(ii) support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study. 31/03/2017

p.6

Requirements Due date

The registered person must maintain records (case records) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. In particular, in relation to Schedule 3, point 14 – keep a record of return home interviews, including any information relating to the child's whereabouts during the period of absence. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 31/03/2017

p.6

Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  3. The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home's policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home's care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability. Each home must have clear arrangements in place to maintain effective management when the manager is off duty or on leave. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

p.6

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.7

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.

p.7

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 .

p.7

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,

p.8

Information about this inspection

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

p.8

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.8

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

p.8