Children's home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

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

The manager has successfully addressed the areas for improvement that were identified at the last inspection, in November 2016. Restraint records now include the necessary information, in line with the Children’s Homes Regulations (2015). The home’s statement of purpose has been updated to include information on the ways in which staff provide individualised care to meet the needs of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides care to children who have previously experienced placement breakdown. Staff’s training provides them with the skills to support children who have suffered severe neglect and abuse, have attachment disorders or have experienced childhood trauma. The manager’s aim is to provide early intervention to children between the ages of 6 and 11, and to reintegrate them into a family environment. The home is also equipped to provide respite care, as part of a child’s transition out of the home and into a new placement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive a good level of support to help them to understand the negative experiences that children encountered before they moved into the home. This support includes group supervisions with the home’s therapist, as well as individual therapy sessions. These help the staff to manage their own emotions when they are in the complex situations that they face while supporting children who have been abused. Staff say that they find their work challenging, but rewarding.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been 29 restraints used in the three months since the previous inspection. Six of these restraints involved staff holding a child on the floor. The use of this technique needs reviewing, because it does not ensure that staff support the child’s head as they are lowered to the floor, which means that there is an increased risk that the child will be injured. Managers and staff are required to look at alternative ways of managing challenging behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Every month, the manager monitors the number of times that restraint has been used with each child. This data is also overseen by the company’s compliance manager. The manager can demonstrate that the use of restraint has reduced for certain children since they moved in and explain why there are spikes in its use for other children. All children have an individual crisis management plan, which provides staff with strategies for responding to children when they are in crisis.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

For the most part, staff are sensitive to the needs of children and work with them to address some very difficult issues. They are led well by the manager, who is knowledgeable and experienced. Staff follow an agreed ‘safe care protocol’ to ensure that a child’s personal care needs are met. The manager ensures that the same staff members are on duty when children go to bed and when they wake up, to provide them with reassurance that is more like a family home. Staff spend time with children following their therapy sessions. This time is spent on doing things that the children enjoy, such as reading a favourite story. Staff do not rush children back into a routine after their therapy sessions; instead, they give the children time to deal with and adjust to the feelings they experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed a complaint that was made by a child about a staff member. The matter was investigated by the social worker and the outcome was passed to the designated officer. The learning that has taken place as a consequence of this complaint has led to additional training for staff; it has also resulted in updates to the strategies that are used to support a child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff’s use of positive measures for good behaviour and personal achievements far outweighs their use of negative consequences. The children can choose from an instant reward box that contains games and books, or they can save up tokens for bigger rewards. Staff like to take children on fun days out together, rather than always rewarding them with material possessions. The small number of negative measures that have been recorded are fair and not excessive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well equipped and is maintained to a good standard. Children have personalised their bedrooms and have lots of different spaces to play in. There is a games room and a soft-play room, as well as a lounge. The garden has AstroTurf and football posts so that the children can play outside all year round.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The feedback on children’s placements that has been obtained by the manager is all positive. One social worker stated that, ‘It is the best placement I have ever used.’ Another social worker commented that, ‘I could not have picked anywhere better for (name); in fact there is nowhere better.’

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children or young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 29/11/2016 Full Good 22/10/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/05/2015 Full Good 23/03/2015 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) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Requirement Due date

(2) Restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate, with particular reference to identifying alternative strategies to support children. 31/03/2017

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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 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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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