Children's home run by Bramley Care Limited

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . The majority of young people continue to make excellent progress. Young people’s trajectory of growth and development may not be smooth, but the manager and staff provide the appropriate levels of support, advice and challenge that enable them to address setbacks. One parent commented in feedback given to the home: ‘I feel my son is incredibly fortunate to be here and has every opportunity to successfully change the direction of his life.’ It is undoubtedly true that the potential for young people’s life chances is greatly enhanced as a result of placement with this provider. For some, this is the only alternative to custody. Young people often have histories of committing offences, not attending school and/or frequently going missing. Many have had several placement breakdowns.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has helped them all to make significant improvements in these areas. In particular, over the period since the last inspection, no young person has gone missing and the placement for a recent admission has been maintained despite a history of successive moves. Progress is attained through a combination of therapeutic, educational and residential provision, which is remarkably well integrated to ensure a holistic approach. The ‘good lives model’ underpins the work. In the home, key-work sessions and daily handover meetings with the young people and staff are important elements in the work. Records of the meetings now demonstrate how they are used to address young people’s emotional, cognitive, practical and behavioural issues. There is a clear record of what young people want to discuss, often in ad hoc conversations, and of actions arising from sessions. Both key workers and young people are now routinely signing them.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

‘Key-work notes’, written by therapists, are good summaries of their work with young people, but do not record outcomes or who the author is and are not signed. Other important documents such as placement plans and risk assessments occasionally lack the name of the author and are frequently unsigned. Young people and others such as social workers and parents are not asked to sign them either. Consequently, it is not always possible to identify who is responsible for setting out the strategies employed and the actions to be taken with young people, or if they and other stakeholders agree with them. ICON (identifying current and ongoing needs) assessments are excellent working documents, detailing objectives across a range of developmental areas, what young people have achieved and how staff can further assist them. In one example seen, the key worker had kept the document up to date with handwritten notes,

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

making helpful observations about progress and suggestions for next steps; in another, the paperwork was blank even though the young person had been in placement for over four months. Assessment weeks are held for newly referred young people to experience what life is like in the home before final decisions about placements are made. Records made of the week provide detailed information on which managers can base conclusions about suitability. The manager now routinely draws up impact risk assessments for new admissions, with identified issues followed through in more detailed individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans. One young person suggested that a visit from a member of staff prior to him going to see the home would have been helpful so that he could ask questions and know at least one adult there beforehand. The manager has agreed to explore this idea with her colleagues as a way of improving young people’s experience.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Measures of control, including sanctions and physical interventions, are almost always well logged. However, one account of a young person being escorted from a school classroom did not give sufficient information as to why this was necessary, which was to avoid damage to property. The manager was able to explain why she believed that the action was proportionate, but it is important to evidence this in written records. In addition, logs do not record that the manager has spoken to staff members about the imposition of a sanction. In response to a previous requirement, the manager has ensured that regulatory timescales are evidenced in logs of restraints, but these remain unrecorded for sanctions. The manager contacts the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) when there is an apparent need, but the provider has no formal links through which it can either contribute to the board’s work or regularly benefit from it.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of the job interview process has led to the strengthening of questions about safeguarding, meaning that managers base appointment decisions on a thorough knowledge of candidates’ understanding and practice in this essential area. The provider has appointed a new independent person to carry out regulation 44 visits. The manager and staff have responded positively to recommendations made in the reports, including those regarding the procedure for and monitoring of the administration of medication. The independent person has observed that house meeting minutes rarely include issues other than young people’s behaviour: this is essential to the work undertaken and is often at the instigation of young people. However, the meetings are not used as an opportunity to obtain or record young people’s contributions to the life of the home, on such issues as menus, activities and changes to the fabric and decor of the building.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regulation 44 reports have not been submitted promptly to HMCI and do not record when the independent person has attempted to make contact with a family member but has been unsuccessful. The home routinely seeks feedback from professionals and parents following statutory reviews. Those seen during the inspection are universally positive with many appreciative comments about the care provided by staff and young people’s progress.

p.4

Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to accommodate nine young males who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. It uses the ‘good lives model’ to help them address these problems. The home is privately owned and is one of four run by the service provider. All young people have access to the organisation’s specialist therapeutic service and to the school run from the same premises.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.5

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, the 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: (a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint a record is made (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so: (i) has spoken to the user about the measure, and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (c) within five days of the use of the measure an addition is made to the record that the child has been spoken to about the measure. In particular, records must show that these timescales have been adhered to. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 13/04/2017

p.6

Recommendations

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

p.6

Recommendations

 The home should take the initiative in identifying others, including the LSCB, which must play a part for their children, and engage with those relevant people proactively, advocating for the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.7)  Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the general principles for behaviour management in children’s homes are respected. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) When the home’s manager has

p.6

Recommendations

implemented such a measure, a senior manager should scrutinise the practice.  Records of restraint should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice. 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)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home, including under regulation 44 – the reports of which should be produced in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

p.7

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’.

p.8

Information about this inspection

Inspectors 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

p.8

Information about this inspection

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 .

p.8

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,

p.9

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

p.9