Children's home run by Leicester City Council

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to provide a good level of care and support to the young people who live here. A parent stated, ‘They have been absolutely brilliant. They are straight with my child and give support.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, three requirements and one recommendation were made. All three requirements are met and practice has improved in these areas. The management team reviews the effectiveness and consequences of any measure of control used at the home, such as sanctions, on a regular basis. This arrangement will be further strengthened by the redesign of the sanction recording log which the manager is intending to implement. Use of physical intervention is rare. At the last inspection, a requirement was made to ensure that young people have the opportunity to speak to an authorised person about any restraint. The manager has considered how to ensure that this happens in the event of physical intervention being used. This will help ensure that young people have the opportunity to give their views and have them recorded. Ofsted has received a copy of the home’s statement of purpose. This enables the regulator to monitor any changes to the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendation related to the six-monthly review of care that the registered provider is required to carry out and submit to Ofsted is repeated, as it has not been six months since the last report was submitted; therefore the registered provider has not been required to complete a report since the last inspection. The manager has considered the recommendation and has plans in place to address it when the report is due.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety is a priority. Staff are confident when implementing procedures to keep young people safe. Where young people’s safety is at risk, managers ensure that there is information sharing. Multi-agency meetings are held, when needed, to discuss the risk and ensure that there is a consistent plan in place. Young people occasionally go missing from care. Staff know what to do if this happens and these episodes are managed well. On their return, young people are given the opportunity to speak to a person independent of the home. Young people’s records are generally well kept. Young people’s progress is regularly reviewed by the management team and young people’s key workers. Detailed risk assessments provide staff with information on how to manage and reduce risks for young people. In the event of any incidents or changes, risk assessments are updated quickly so that all members of staff understand how to help ensure young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people’s safety. However, on one case file, an updated risk assessment was not signed or dated. This could be misleading for staff accessing the file.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are strong and effective partnership relationships between managers, members of staff and external agencies, especially with children’s mental health services. Successful partnership working ensures that all relevant services are accessed in order to meet a young person’s needs, and that the support they receive is consistent. Young people’s health needs are generally well met. They have access to services such as a general practitioner and optician. However, for one young person, where the need for significant dental treatment has been identified, staff have not been proactive in ensuring that the treatment is carried out promptly.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has good systems in place to ensure that she has oversight of the home. The manager reviews staff practice and, where improvements need to be made, these are addressed for the benefit of young people. Managers also recognise the need for staff to be reminded regularly of the core tasks that underpin their practice, such as managing physical intervention and filling in records correctly. Well-organised and implemented induction arrangements help ensure that new staff are confident and knowledgeable when they start working at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people are considering moving out of the home to independent living, they benefit from using the home’s semi-independence flat. This enables them to get used to living alone and being responsible for their own accommodation. When they are ready to move on, support plans are in place so that young people’s transition to their new living arrangements is smooth. Some young people remain in contact with staff for several months after they have moved out, demonstrating the strength of relationship that they have.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Improvements are planned for the main home. The manager has architect’s plans in place to help improve the home’s layout by making the front door area more welcoming, and adding an extension to create more space. Since the last inspection, worktops in the kitchen have been replaced. This further demonstrates the ongoing commitment to improving the home environment.

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Information about this children’s home

 The home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to seven children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/11/2016 Full Good 03/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/06/2015 Full Requires improvement 19/02/2015 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) 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

10. In order to meet the health and well-being standard, the registered provider must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1) (c) that each child has access to such dental advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. 27/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64 and 65, paragraph 15.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that all children’s case records are kept up to date and signed and dated, with particular reference to risk assessment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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

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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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