Children's home 1241843

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:

 This inspection identified shortfalls in risk assessments for children prior to admission to the home and post admission. This particularly relates to situations where children who may present a risk of sexually harmful behaviours are placed alongside children who may be vulnerable to sexually harmful behaviours.  Staff are not provided with sufficient training on working with children and young people who are vulnerable to or present risks related to sexually harmful behaviours.  Management monitoring and review of children’s records does not ensure that all records, including restraint records, accurately reflect children’s risks and needs.  Managers do not ensure that they have the right information about children from the start. Some children’s records do not have up-to-date plans or have gaps in information. Managers do not sufficiently challenge placing local authorities when they do not receive up-to-date information to inform

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

children’s placement plans.  Staff do not have sufficient understanding of children’s education plans to support their progress. Staff are not consistently contributing to children’s progress by supporting them with homework.  Children should be encouraged to contribute to their records and should be involved in reviewing their placement plans.

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The children's home strengths

 Children are making progress and are reducing risk-taking behaviours as a result of building positive relationships with staff and peers. They are responding to good routines and structured care arrangements.  Children’s emotional needs have been identified. Staff are benefiting from consultation with the child and adolescent mental health service and are developing skills and strategies to meet children’s emotional needs.

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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

(2)(a)(i) The registered person must ensure that staff 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 harm to the child. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c) The registered person must ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 28/07/2017

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) The registered person must use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 The registered person must challenge (under Regulation 5 (c)) any placing authority that asks them to accept a child in the absence of a complete and relevant plan, as the expectation that a placement of a child without the necessary information would go ahead (in circumstances other than an emergency) is inadequate in relation to their role. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.5)

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Recommendations

 Staff need to have the knowledge and skills to understand each child's education and training targets and their next steps for learning. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.11)

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Recommendations

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any trends or issues emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure that it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as 'living documents' supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to five children and young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement N/A No previous inspections N/A

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Requires improvement

This children’s home was registered in August 2016. This is the home’s first inspection. The management team has planned and implemented a phased introduction of children to the home. Care and placement planning requires a number of improvements so that staff have a comprehensive understanding of the needs, risks and objectives of each young person. Home managers have not ensured that all essential information is obtained or shared with staff as part of the admission process. The progress and experience of young people is hindered because staff do not fully understand their care needs. Overall, there has been an increase in children’s and young people’s attendance and engagement in education since moving into the home. However, the education plans for two children are unhelpful in explaining their levels of attainment. Current education targets are not aspirational enough to promote good progress. Staff

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Requires improvement

attending planning meetings do not influence the plans to make them more aspirational. It is difficult to ascertain the progress that some young people have made in their learning. One education plan recommended that staff support a child with reading and writing at home. There was no evidence that staff had done this. One child does not have a full-time education placement and is receiving part-time alternative education with a tutor visiting the home. This child has experienced a lot of change and has a range of complex needs. The education lead for the provider and the registered manager are liaising with the virtual school head to identify full-time provision that is able to meet her needs in order to limit any further disruption. Children are encouraged to be active and eat healthily. They each have health plans based on the information shared at admission and subsequent assessments. One child has a specific health need. Staff were trained in meeting this need prior

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Requires improvement

to his admission. However, his health plan lacks detail. This has contributed to the fact that he has not been referred for preventative dental treatment or speech and language assessment. The manager is now addressing this with the case responsible social worker. Some areas of practice are effective. The staff group has established structured daily routines with the children. These routines have supported children to engage better in education, take part in activities and develop new interests. Children are attending community youth clubs and army cadets. They also attend gymnastics and dance classes. One child has recently joined a rugby club. As a result, children have developed social skills and enhanced their self-esteem. One child recently joined his school council, which demonstrates his growing confidence. Residents’ meetings work well as a forum for young people to make requests and share their views about their home. Staff and managers take action to improve the

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Requires improvement

home as a result. Children receive a welcome pack that includes information about complaints and advocacy services. Children know how to raise concerns, and confirmed that they have access to confidential telephone helplines. However, they commented that they would prefer to talk to the manager or a member of staff. This reflects the generally positive relationships that children have with staff. Staff build on these good relationships to reinforce good behaviours and use incentive schemes well to reduce challenging behaviours. Over time, children have responded positively to consistent and constructive care. There is a strong working relationship with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service that provides consultation for staff and managers. This means that children’s emotional needs are being assessed and staff receive professional advice on how best to meet them. The link professional for the service said that staff are

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Requires improvement

All children have risk assessments and behaviour management plans. However, managers do not consistently ensure that children are made aware of the concerns that staff and other agencies have. This does not fully support children to develop safer behaviours or develop their own understanding of risk. Following concerns about the potentially harmful behaviour of one young person, there have been multi-agency strategy meetings and a safety plan has been agreed and implemented. However, in one instance, managers did not carry out a thorough risk assessment. Some known risks and vulnerabilities, particularly in relation to sexually harmful behaviour, have been underestimated by managers. Robust risk management plans have not been developed or implemented. This has the potential to place children at risk. In addition, when specific risks have been identified, staff have not been provided with training in how to manage these risks

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Requires improvement

and support the young people concerned. Some children have demonstrated a range of challenging behaviours, presenting risks to themselves and to staff. Staff try to de-escalate these behaviours. There have been occasions when physical interventions have been used to prevent harm to children and staff. However, this inspection found that procedures have not been consistently adhered to in the completion of records by staff. This makes it difficult to evaluate the suitability or effectiveness of restraints. In addition, managers have not reviewed records within timescales. These shortfalls have also been identified by the independent visitor. The managers have now reviewed all of the records and are in the process of implementing an action plan, which includes refresher training with all staff about the completion of records. Incidents of challenging behaviours are decreasing, as children and young people respond to

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Requires improvement

structured care and positive relationships with staff. There were significant concerns that one young person was placing herself at risk by not returning to the home at agreed times and not sharing information about where she was. In response, the staff followed going missing and unauthorised absence procedures, carried out searches, contacted the young person’s friends and associates and reported to the police and social care as necessary. However, when the local authority has not promptly arranged an independent return interview, the manager has not been effective in challenging and addressing this issue. Despite this, the young person’s going missing behaviours have reduced over time. Staff discuss children and young people at handover, team meetings and in supervision, in order to understand and make sense of their needs and behaviours. However, a number of needs and vulnerabilities in respect of one child have not

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Requires improvement

been given sufficient weight. This child has some personal care needs due to complex health issues. His records did not include a risk assessment for personal care. In addition, he did not have a risk assessment in respect of his particular vulnerability to harmful behaviours displayed by another resident. Staff proactively support and facilitate contact arrangements for children with their family and friends. However, potential risks related to contact have not been assessed for each child. The manager should ensure that if there is limited information to inform risk assessments that this is challenged prior to admission. Children receive information about risks such as bullying and the use of digital technology. Key work sessions provide advice about keeping safe, and there are agreements in place that support children and young people to use their phones and computers safely and appropriately. Children are encouraged to discuss and

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Requires improvement

report any concerns. The managers and staff have a good understanding of policy and procedures regarding allegations against adults who work with children. There has been one referral discussed with the local authority designated officer that has been concluded and there are no concerns about the safety and welfare of the children.

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Requires improvement

The home has an experienced and qualified registered manager. The manager and her deputy are child-centred and resilient. They have spent time building and developing the team, as staff were appointed prior to the home taking admissions. Staff have received an induction and have had opportunities to shadow experienced staff in other children’s homes. The leadership and management of the home require improvement to address the weaknesses in risk assessment, care planning and recording identified during the inspection. Managers need to ensure that the information that they hold regarding children’s needs and risks is robust from the start. They should challenge placing local authorities if records and new information are not received in a timely way. In addition, records in the home need to accurately reflect emerging information and ongoing assessment of children’s needs, in order to prevent or reduce incidents

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Requires improvement

and concerns. For example, some physical intervention records had not been completed by staff or reviewed by the manager within prescribed timescales. The monitoring and review of safeguarding information requires improvement. The manager believes that lessons have been learned about the assessment of children moving into the home, so that all risks and vulnerabilities are fully recognised. There are a range of quality assurance mechanisms in place to assess outcomes and drive improvement. However, as referred to above, the manager needs to ensure that information is reviewed in a timely way. The manager and deputy manager are developing an action plan to improve monitoring systems and they are reviewing all children’s records to ensure that information is up to date, reflects their needs and informs the placement plans. Staff report that they receive supportive supervision, have regular team meetings

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Requires improvement

and have opportunities for training. The staff team is diverse, has a good gender mix and is made up of experienced, qualified staff as well as staff who are undertaking the relevant care qualification. All newly appointed staff members are subject to safe recruitment checks and a probationary period. The management team is aware of the strengths of the home and the areas for development. It is building positive team functioning and staff confidence. Staff are child-focused, and children benefit from good routines and structured care arrangements.

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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 looked after children 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 who 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 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

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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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