Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

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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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Young people continue to make good progress. Seemingly little changes are big steps for these young people and staff take every opportunity to celebrate and recognise when improvements happen.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager and her team understand how to help these young people to develop and what support is necessary to help them to do so. This has resulted in positive changes. Young people have found ways of managing their anxieties better and increased their ability to interact with others. Thorough monitoring underpins this improvement.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Education is in place and working well for one young person but not for the other. Managers are supporting his social worker to find an appropriate school for the young person. Staff are supplementing his tutor-led sessions with learning experiences in order to provide him with as much educational input as possible.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Independence is thoughtfully promoted in line with a young person’s age and abilities. The staff team helps young people to develop life and independence skills so that they will be able to care for themselves as much as possible. One young person was particularly proud of how he had developed his culinary skills and how he makes breakfast for everyone. Staff are exploring how physical aids to lessen ambient sounds will promote a young person’s enjoyment and reduce their anxiety levels.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Children’s health needs are managed effectively. Medication administration generally takes account of young people’s needs. However, the practice of using a spoonful of food to help a child take medication is not agreed and reviewed in accordance with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on covert medication administration.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Good behaviour is promoted well and supported effectively by staff who have a clear understanding of young people’s disabilities as well as how each young person’s personal characteristics influence their choices and behaviours. This has resulted in less damage to the premises, a calmer atmosphere in the home and fewer incidents.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Safeguarding is well understood and protects young people appropriately. This includes how child sexual exploitation concerns relate to children who have disabilities. The risk assessments are clear and provide helpful guidance on how to minimise and eradicate potential triggers for young people’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Health and safety matters are acted on when these are identified and staff take pride in having a welcoming home, which also provides a range of environments that support young people to behave well and feel comfortable. Slow changes to the environment enable young people to take these alterations in their stride. For example, redecoration of a bedroom may take some time as one thing at a time is changed and the young person is able to assimilate the difference before any additional sensory change is made.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

The manager has a strong commitment to, and understanding of, how to support the young people who live here. This includes extending and developing her staff’s knowledge and training so that they too demonstrate the commitment and capacity to work effectively with this group of young people. Planning for her absence in the coming months ensures continuity of leadership and management and assists young people to manage this change as best as possible.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Good monitoring of practice and records enables managers to identify areas for development and effectively plan to meet these. For example, the managers have developed a long-term plan, working with a disability nurse, to increase how well the staff can help young people to communicate. This partnership is helping the staff to plan for a summer holiday and to develop strategies to help the young people to manage their emotions better.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Records provide a helpful account of the daily routines and link to how the objectives for the young person are being met. The manager notes that some records are better than others and is working with staff to improve these when she identifies this is necessary.

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

Partnership working is well-embedded in staff’s practices. Staff understand how important good working relationships between professionals are to ensuring that young people’s needs are met. Other professionals, such as social workers, appreciate the efforts made by staff to build effective partnerships.

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a private company that operates several other children’s homes in the area. The company also provides educational services to support children if necessary and have therapeutic services available for young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/11/2016 Full Good 04/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/09/2015 Full Good 24/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendation

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

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that medication administration and management takes full account of ‘Managing medicines in care homes (March 2014)’ guidelines. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 35, paragraph 7.17) In particular, that any use of covert medication is followed as this applies to children’s homes.

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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 looked after children 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

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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