Children's home run by Milton Keynes 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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Four requirements and five recommendations were set at the last inspection. The registered manager has failed to meet a previous requirement to ensure that the staff receive regular supervision. Some staff receive supervision regularly, but other staff, including the registered manager and new staff, do not. One member of staff has not received supervision since the last inspection. As a result, not all staff are provided with formal time during which they can raise any concerns, discuss the children on an individual basis or consider their own professional development. The registered manager has met a previous requirement regarding the administration of medication. Two members of staff now sign the record following medication administration, in line with the home’s medication policy. However, during this inspection further concerns regarding children’s medication were identified. Some of the children’s medication has been misplaced, and, on one

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

occasion, medication that was out of date was administered to a child. The provider has taken action to address these concerns by conducting an investigation. However, during this inspection period children’s medication has not been kept sufficiently safe and it has not always been administered in accordance with their prescriptions and the home’s policy. A previous requirement regarding the monitoring of the quality of care and seeking the opinion of children, parents and placing authorities is repeated. This is due to the fact that the inspection occurred within the timescale that was set for the implementation of this requirement. The registered manager has failed to meet two of the recommendations that were made at the last inspection. The manager has not updated the children’s guide to the home. The children’s guide fails to provide children with information that reflects the different (long-term and respite) services available. In addition, the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

guide fails to inform children of how to make a complaint. This is raised as a requirement. The registered manager has failed to report all significant incidents to Ofsted in a timely manner. This prevents Ofsted from monitoring the significant incidents, and the action that was taken, in order to reduce the risk of recurrences. This is raised as a requirement. During the inspection, two further shortfalls were identified. The management team failed to implement the home’s safeguarding policy. Following an allegation, the management team failed to contact the designated officer within the timescales that are set out in the home’s policy. The registered manager informed the designated officer of the allegation. However, this was done five days after the allegation was made, when the registered manager returned from annual leave. The records are unclear and lack details about all of the action that was taken, and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the interviews with staff have not been consistently recorded. This fails to ensure that sufficient action is being taken to reduce the risk of incidents recurring and fails to promote children’s welfare consistently. The staff have taken some photographs of special moments. These have been added to the children’s memory boxes. However, there is still some work to be done in relation to how this is presented. This recommendation is repeated. The staff are flexible and they cover additional shifts when possible to ensure that the children receive care from staff who they know. However, on occasion no cover can be found. In addition, two senior managers are currently absent from the home. This has led to the registered manager covering shifts and being on call constantly while managing the home. On occasion, the management team has needed to cancel some of children’s respite stays. This is a direct outcome of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home’s insufficient staffing. The management team has made improvements to records of physical intervention. The records are now comprehensive, clear and detailed. As a result, the staff are able to identify triggers, ensure that they respond promptly and recognise and implement successful de-escalation strategies. The staff continue to show an in-depth understanding of the children’s likes and dislikes. They ensure that the children spend quality time enjoying interesting activities, such as arts and crafts, and trips out to local parks. The staff have received specific training to enhance their work with individual children. This has included autistic spectrum disorder awareness and mental health training. The staff who were spoken with during this inspection were very positive about the quality of the training that is provided and how it influences and improves their work with the children. The registered manager has addressed a previous requirement regarding behaviour

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

management in the home. The manager has sought external advice to identify appropriate behavioural management strategies in order to ensure that the least restrictive approach is taken when managing a child’s behaviour. The staff consistently implement identified procedures and have made significant improvements in this area with a particular child. This has resulted in a reduction in the number of negative incidents. The accommodation is homely and comfortable for the children. The home is well maintained and the rooms are equipped to meet the specific needs of the children. The home provides a safe physical environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the children that access short breaks at this home attend the adjoining school. Staff in the home work alongside teaching staff to support the children with their education. Communication between the home and school is effective. The children benefit from the home’s staff being close by, as they are able to support them in the classroom when necessary.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and the staff team have remained consistently committed, and they continue to provide nurturing care to the children. Staff are very complimentary about the manager and all are clearly very passionate about promoting good outcomes for the children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a residential special school registered as a children’s home. The home provides short breaks and 52-week placements for up to 24 young people who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/11/2016 Full Good 15/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 07/01/2015 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) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care for each child. 03/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, safekeeping and safe administration of medicines received into the home. (Regulation 23(1)) 03/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) In particular, ensure that supervision occurs regularly. 03/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must implement a policy which sets out the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 34(1)(b)) 03/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there and if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40(4)(c)(e)) 03/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided to children and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45(2)(a)(c)(5)) 22/03/2017

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the children’s guide helps children to understand what happens in the home, how to make a complaint and how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff understand their important role in encouraging children to reflect on and understand their history according to their age and understanding. Staff should keep and encourage children to keep appropriate memorabilia from the time they have spent living at the home and help them to record significant events. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

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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 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 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

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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