Children's home run by Reading Borough Council in Reading

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

Children make friends, extend their social network and develop their social skills during their time at the home. The staff are thoughtful about the children who use the service together. The staff now complete impact risk assessments to consider the children’s needs, cognitive ability, communication needs, energy levels and interests to inform what would be a positive match. However, this assessment does not state how the chosen groups have been identified for a new child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that children experience a positive introduction to the service. Introductions are done at the child’s pace to lessen anxieties. Children are able to visit the service prior to staying overnight, allowing them to get to know the staff and other children to promote a successful stay.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children enjoy their time at this service. They are comfortable and relaxed during their stays and know each other and the staff very well. Staff have excellent relationships with parents, schools and social workers and use these relationships effectively to obtain information and guidance to inform children’s care plans. This ensures that strategies are consistent to help children feel settled and at ease.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Personalised care plans, combined with staff members’ excellent knowledge of each child, ensure that children are cared for in the way that they prefer. Care plans demonstrate a clear understanding of the children’s needs, their routines and the activities they like to do. This makes children’s stays comfortable and enjoyable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In conjunction with children’s educational establishments, children are set achievable targets. Staff provide a consistent approach, and using small steps enable children to reach their goals. As a result, children are learning new skills and making excellent progress. This builds on their confidence and sense of achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff provide a consistent and predictable environment where children feel safe and secure. This predictable environment helps to reduce children’s anxieties and has a positive impact on behaviour. As a result, there has only been one incident that required a physical intervention and the staff have not implemented any sanctions. The record of the one physical intervention was completed appropriately and the manager evaluated its use and appropriateness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Systems in the home for recording and managing safeguarding concerns and complaints are robust. Staff and managers act on concerns swiftly with substantial investigation and exploration. Concerns are recorded, reported and referred to others, when required. The evidence trail, from instigation through investigation, to completion, is maintained in the home. This has allowed the manager to oversee and monitor incidents, and when necessary, take action to improve practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are extremely vigilant and aware of each child’s vulnerabilities. There is a high staffing ratio in place, and this, along with the actions taken by staff to minimise risks, has ensured that no incidents of children going missing have occurred.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In general, risk assessments for children’s individual needs are comprehensive, and staff consult relevant professionals, such as the occupational therapist, to inform safe practice. However, risk assessments do not demonstrate staff members’ consideration of the risk of child exploitation, radicalisation and online safety and how these risks can be minimised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No new staff have been employed since the previous inspection. The manager has taken action to review employment checks to ensure that recruitment practices follow regulation and safe practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager continues to have an excellent oversight of this service. She understands its strengths and weakness and has a comprehensive development plan in place to address any shortfalls. The manager is in the process of reviewing staff members’ training needs; this includes training in online safety, which staff are yet to undertake. However, the manager has taken action to arrange training to ensure that the staff have the knowledge to successfully support children to keep safe online.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority and is registered to provide short-break care for up to six young people who have a learning disability, physical disability and/or sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/06/2016 Full Outstanding 20/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/08/2015 Full Outstanding 19/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  When considering new placements, the registered manager should fully consider the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children and evidence their judgement supporting compatibility with existing residents. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate that a child is in any way at risk of harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12) In particular, ensuring that the staff have undertaken training in online safety.

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Recommendations

 The service should demonstrate how staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) This includes consideration of the risks of child exploitation, radicalisation and online safety.

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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

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

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

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