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Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 The home reopened in January 2017, following a period of closure after the previous full inspection to undertake refurbishment and staff training.  Since reopening, the organisation took a significant, but considered decision to admit a young person while the home was still judged as inadequate. Despite staff members’ efforts, the overall outcomes for the young person have not improved significantly since he was admitted to the home.  The young person has continued to engage in high-risk behaviours, such as substance misuse and going missing. The manager and staff team have recognised that they are not able to meet this young person’s needs and reduce the high-risk behaviours. As a result, the manager and responsible individual have taken swift action to review the placement.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 Although the young person’s outcomes remain poor, the acting manager has worked effectively with a wide range of agencies to identify ways to best support the young person. This has included good collaborative work with other agencies and attending weekly ‘team around the child’ (TAC) meetings.

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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

In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

(1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that healthcare agencies are actively involved in relation to drug and alcohol misuse. 16/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard In order to meet the positive relationships standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) (i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (v) communicate with each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding (ix) understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children (xi) de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children 16/03/2017 (xii) understand and communicate with or between children that

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Requirement Due date

bullying is unacceptable. 12: The protection of children standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (2)(a) (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that historical information is requested from the placing authority to enable the manager to undertake a comprehensive assessment to determine admission decisions. 16/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm; 16/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event 16/03/2017 The registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(4) notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if: (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4e))

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to five young people who may have emotional/and or behavioural difficulties. The service is operated by a charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/10/2016 Full Inadequate 20/07/2016 Full Inadequate 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/10/2015 Full Good

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Requires improvement

Following the last full inspection in October 2016, when the home was judged as inadequate for the second time, a decision was made by the provider to close the home temporarily. During the closure period, the staff team received additional training, a new manager was appointed and essential maintenance works were completed on the premises.

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Requires improvement

The home reopened in January 2017. The manager was approached by the local authority and asked to place a young person, initially for four weeks, as a sole occupant. The manager was made aware of some of the young person’s complex needs. After reviewing the referral information that was provided, a decision was made to accommodate the young person. However, the information used to inform the admission decision lacked critical and current information about the young person’s needs.

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Requires improvement

Within days of moving in, the young person’s behaviour gave the manager significant cause for concern. The young person often refused to engage with the staff team and left the home regularly, frequently not returning until the early hours of the morning. Subsequently, the young person soon established connections with unsuitable people in the local community and high-risk behaviours occurred.

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Requires improvement

The manager and staff team have exhibited determination and resilience to positively influence, guide and engage the young person. Although not successful, they have been proactive and persistent in trying to help the young person to stay safe. This has included following the young person when he has been out in the local community, trying to disrupt some high-risk behaviours and sharing valuable intelligence with the police.

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Requires improvement

A visiting family member contributed to the inspection. She told the inspector that the manager and staff have been amazing, that they have, in a short space of time, identified the best way to manage and respond to the young person’s changing needs and behaviours. She said: ‘I wish he had been placed here years ago. I know he is still engaging in high-risk activities, but he is looking healthier than I have seen him in a long time.’

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Requires improvement

The manager recognised quickly that the staff team does not have the required skills and expertise to meet the current young person’s needs effectively. As a result, the manager promptly identified and organised training for the staff team in relation to substance and alcohol misuse. This training helped the staff team to understand some of the young person’s behaviours and how they would respond to them. In addition, she has provided detailed reports and shared important information with the young person’s social worker and all other professionals during the weekly TAC meetings.

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Requires improvement

The manager and staff team have been transparent in sharing their concerns regarding the young person’s safety and well-being. They recognised that they are unable to keep the young person safe. As a result, they have given notice to the placing authority to end the young person’s placement.

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Requires improvement

In general, the manager has responded effectively to a number of safeguarding concerns that have occurred during the young person’s placement. An action point arising from one of these concerns related to a referral being made to the local safeguarding hub. The manager was informed that this action had taken place; however, she could not confirm to the inspector specific details of the information that had been referred or the outcome of this referral.

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Requires improvement

The manager regularly reviews the young person’s risk assessments. As a result, the staff team are well informed about how to manage and respond to the risks. Although trained in this area, staff are directed not to use physical interventions when the young person is presenting unpredictable or high-risk behaviours. Missing from home incidents occur frequently. The manager has ensured that following every missing from home episode the young person receives an independent return to home interview. However, information gained from these interviews is not routinely shared with the manager, and therefore does not assist her and the staff team in helping to reduce the risk of these incidents happening again.

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Requires improvement

Since the last full inspection in October 2016, when the home was judged inadequate for the second time, a new manager has been appointed. Her application to register with Ofsted is under way.

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Requires improvement

Since her appointment, she has undertaken a full review of the home’s reporting and recording systems, and provided individual and group training sessions to the staff team. New monitoring systems have proved to be effective. Records clearly demonstrate that when deficiencies are identified the manager works hard to ensure that they are quickly remedied.

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Requires improvement

Ofsted undertook a monitoring visit on 1 December 2016 to assess the progress that the home was making to meet the requirements set at the last inspection. At that visit, the new reporting and recording systems could not be assessed as effective or sustainable. However, since the admission of a new placement in January 2017, the new reporting and recording systems have been fully tested out and have proved to be effective.

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Requires improvement

The manager and staff team have demonstrated their determination and commitment to improve the services that they provide. Reflective practice discussions are now a daily activity. This approach has enabled the manager and team to recognise that they could not meet the needs of the current young person placed. The manager said that she recognises that she should have requested additional information from the placing authority prior to agreeing to the placement.

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Requires improvement

The manager and staff team work exceptionally closely and effectively with the local police and the placing authority regarding the young person’s offending behaviour and substance misuse. Despite this positive and collaborative work, the manager has failed to ensure that she knows the outcome of all referrals made to the safeguarding hub, and has not notified Ofsted of all potential safeguarding concerns since the home reopened.

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Requires improvement

A number of staff have left since the last full inspection. Shortfalls in meeting the rota are filled by the core staff and the manager. The recruitment of three new staff has been slow. This is as a result of the manager’s determination to appoint staff who have the required skills, experience and qualifications to join the team.

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Requires improvement

The manager is an experienced and skilled childcare practitioner who is undertaking her level 5 qualification in leadership and management. She is determined to improve the services provided for young people. Since her appointment, she has provided the staff team with strong leadership and support through challenging times. Members of staff speak highly of her; they say that she is supportive and works inclusively. Staff meetings are now well attended; they focus on reflective discussions and sharing practice. In addition, staff confirm that they can approach the manager with any concerns they have, within or outside of formal supervision sessions.

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Requires improvement

Despite the number of incidents that have resulted in damage caused to the home, the manager has ensured that maintenance work has been completed without delay. As a result, the home is warm, welcoming and clean and provides a pleasant and relaxing environment for young people.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people, and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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