Children's home run by Inmind Childrens Services Limited in Wokingham

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

Since the last inspection, there has been one young person arrive at the home and one young person leave. Transitions are subject to extensive planning to help support young people either to arrive at the home or leave successfully. The registered manager and staff understand that partnership working with other agencies is fundamentally important to helping young people during times of change. The manager and staff have meetings with local authorities and other agencies. They ensure that plans relating to young people contain sufficient detail and allocated resources to help young people to continue making progress across all areas of their lives. An independent reviewing officer reported: ‘This is a home that works in partnership with all professionals to ensure high levels of care are delivered.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff demonstrate perseverance and determination to improve the educational prospects of young people. Some young people have experienced significantly disrupted educational provision. This continues for one young person who regularly refuses to attend education. This has affected his attendance and prospects, with his current GCSE programme particularly disrupted. The manager and staff have received the support of the educational attendance officer who visits the home regularly and collaborates with the staff to try to improve the situation. In addition, the staff have completed very regular individual key work sessions with the young person, had monthly meetings with school and the local authority, and tried to understand the barriers to education for this young person. The manager and staff demonstrate determination to improve the educational attendance and attainment for this young person, as they understand the importance and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

implications this could have for his future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff members’ skills, knowledge and experience help them keep young people safe. The staff understand the vulnerabilities of young people and act decisively when needed. For example, when young people go missing the staff will search for them, contact known addresses and friends, and contact the police and other agencies immediately. The manager escalates any concerns regarding young people to the local authority and other relevant agencies. The manager completes and regularly reviews young people’s risk assessments, ensuring that these are up to date and that all those working with young people fully understand and are able to implement these assessments. There have been a number of significant incidents that have taken place since the last inspection. These incidents have been managed effectively, with staff using discussion, negotiation and compromise with the young people, as well as acting in accordance with the procedures of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

organisation. On the occasions when young people’s behaviours have not been acceptable, staff have implemented sanctions and completed work with young people on the reasons for such actions. This helps young people to understand what constitutes positive and negative behaviour. This will also help young people understand socially acceptable behaviour when they come to leave care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff quickly build trusting, nurturing and positive relationships with young people. Young people trust staff and confide in them, confident in knowing that the staff want what’s best for them. Staff members have a high level of emotional intelligence developed through their ability to empathise with young people and nurture relationships. One social worker spoken to said: ‘I have observed staff interact with young people, and staff showed empathy and remained calm when faced with difficult behaviour.’ Consequently, young people receive a high level of care and protection from a skilled and committed staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and staff benefit from a highly motivated and skilled registered manager. The manager is confident, experienced, and places the young people and staff as central to everything she does. The staff respect the manager and have confidence in her abilities and support. The staff receive regular professional supervision and professional development through regular training and developmental opportunities. This enables the staff to provide good and effective care to young people. New staff to the home are provided with an effective and helpful induction. One new member of staff spoken to stated: ‘I am very happy with the training provided and this reinforces previous learning; I feel well prepared.’ The manager understands that staff training, support, and continuity of staffing are fundamental building blocks to successful placements for young people.

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is privately owned and managed, providing services mainly to local authorities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/05/2016 Full Good 09/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/05/2015 Full Good

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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 whom 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: 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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