Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Kent

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 improved in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The sole requirement made at the previous inspection related to ensuring that eligible staff complete the level 3 diploma training. The manager has enrolled the relevant staff onto the course. The requirement is restated because they have still to attain these qualifications.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The group of children living in the home remains largely unchanged. The children are continuing to develop increased levels of independence. A parent said of her child, „He is progressing really well. He has improved a lot, especially his social skills. He is well cared for and he is safe.‟ When asked who he would tell if he felt unsafe, a child said, „I would tell everybody and [keyworker].‟ This demonstrates that he feels comfortable speaking to any staff member.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A child said, „I am happy here, soon be leaving and going to a new house when I am 17. I am 13. They [names of the three eldest children] are all going, and then I will be the eldest.‟ Although none of the children are due to move imminently, it is evident that the staff have ongoing discussions with the children about the life skills that they are learning and how these will help them as they prepare for adult life and moving out of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved in and is now settling in well. The manager completed a thorough compatibility assessment prior to the child moving in. This process ensures that the manager has considered any potential risks and the strategies that the staff should utilise to minimise the level of risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the children have excellent levels of school and college attendance. The children‟s achievements are celebrated. One child proudly said, „I got 100% attendance.‟ Staff reward the children who receive certificates of excellence from school. Recent rewards have included treats such as meals out. The rewards are having a motivating effect and are creating a degree of healthy competition between the children to see who can get the next certificate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are pictures of the children all around the house. These pictures evidence the ways in which the children are learning life skills and are participating in a wide range of extra-curricular activities. One of the children had just collected his new bike, and he was planning to go riding with staff and another child. The children are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and a good level of physical exercise.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff also use the children‟s pictures to personalise the children‟s monthly record books and to create a monthly report of events and achievements. The report for December showed the staff, children and their families enjoying celebrations during the Christmas period. There were also pictures of one child‟s family cooking and celebrating his birthday in the home. This level of inclusion of the family members demonstrates that the staff support the children to build and maintain positive relationships with their families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have a good working knowledge of how to raise any concerns. Following an incident, the investigation report, conducted by a senior manager, identifies that the manager took all the expected actions and that he managed the matter effectively. It also highlighted actions to be taken to avoid a similar situation arising.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager prides himself on his upskilling of the staff team. The staff members are becoming increasingly comfortable using the person-centred approach that the manager is incorporating into all aspects of the home. He continues to encourage staff members to take ownership of individual aspects of work, such as menus and activity planning.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Parents are positive about the care that their children receive and said that they felt that the staff work well with them as co-parents. A parent said, „It was nice being there for the party, and we enjoyed some more time there on Saturday. The staff are very welcoming and [child] greets me happily, saying, “Mum, Mum, Mum”. It is a family home.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals continue to have a positive view of the home and the staff team. They said that they receive regular updates and that they felt well informed. A social worker said positively, „I visit announced and unannounced, and it is always the same.‟

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned children‟s home is registered to provide care for up to six children who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/11/2016 Full Good 15/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/12/2015 Full Good 17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) („the level 3 diploma‟), or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32 (4)(5)) 16/08/2017

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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 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

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

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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