Children's home run by Somerset Council in Somerset

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 . Children and young people using this short stay service are referred by a panel of professionals, who decide which of the local authority’s three children’s homes for children who have disabilities best meets their needs. The registered manager conducts a thorough assessment of needs, which includes consultation with the young person, families, placing social workers, schools and health professionals. The manager makes visits to the family home and school, and the young person has numerous visits to the home. This gives them the opportunity to meet with staff and the other young people living in the home and decide if they want to come. After this assessment, a decision is made about the suitability of placement. This process prepares young people for living away from home and helps to ensure

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that placements will be stable and long term. The home constructs a placement plan, which details young people’s needs and how these needs will be met. Key workers in the home demonstrate a good knowledge of these plans and participate in reviews of the plan to ensure that the wishes and feelings of the young person are considered. As stated, placements in the home are generally stable and long term. Young people reaching the age of 18 generally move on to adult care services. Suitable plans are put in place to support the young person with the move, and the home prepares items such as a ‘memory book’ and ‘memory box’ that the young person can take with them to remind them of the time they have spent in the home. There are systems in place to support the internal monitoring of the quality of care. An independent visitor visits the home on a monthly basis and produces written reports on these visits. Additionally, the registered manager conducts a six-monthly

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

review of the quality of care in consultation with young people, families, social workers, schools and health professionals. Recommendations made in these reports have been seen to have been implemented, including improvements to the garden and interior décor, and improvements to the fire safety systems. This improves the quality of care for the young people living in the home. There are good systems in place to ensure that children and young people are effectively safeguarded, and any measures to support behaviour management are properly recorded. There have been no instances since the last inspection where physical restraint has been necessary, no children and young people have gone missing and, although there are monthly house meetings where children and young people are asked their view of their care, no complaints have been raised. The home annually reviews a locality risk assessment. The local authority safeguarding

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

officer states that there are no current or recent safeguarding concerns about this home. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the previous inspection, and none have been made at this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children who may have learning and/or physical disabilities. It has specialist facilities to provide for children who have complex care needs. The home is owned and managed by a local government authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

19/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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 at: 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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