Children's home 1235263

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Young people in this children’s home experience consistently good care in a stable, structured environment. They benefit from trusted and secure relationships with skilled, committed staff.  Staff work closely with involved agencies to progress young people’s care plans. One social worker said : ‘Staff make good-quality contributions to assessments. They are assessing contact with siblings, and they send me incident reports that are very helpful.’  Young people are safer as a result of living in this home. There have been fewer incidents of young people going missing and fewer child protection concerns.  The manager is experienced and leads a committed and enthusiastic team. She has a record of good partnership working and of ensuring that young people are safe and that they are making progress.  Young people report that they are given a range of opportunities to share their views and wishes, and that they are listened to. They are able to

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The children’s home provision is good because:

influence decisions about their day-to-day care and their care plans.  Young people’s records would be improved by ensuring that young people are consistently contributing to them.  There is a recommendation to strengthen skills and practice in response to education plans for young people. Staff should have the confidence to challenge if targets are not aspirational. Staff should either support young people to achieve their targets or should seek support that will enable them to do so.  There is a recommendation for staff to receive training that will enable them to understand and meet some of the specific needs of one young person. This would help to keep this young person safer.

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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

 Staff need to have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for learning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.11)

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Recommendations

 Staff should have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert to any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home’s records as ‘living documents’ that support them to view and contribute to the record on a regular basis, in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides care for up to five children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement N/A No previous Inspection

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Good

This children’s home was registered in July 2016. Young people have moved into the home in a planned, phased way since August 2016. The young people have received good-quality care and all have made progress, in some cases exceptional progress. Young people have developed positive relationships with a stable staff team. Staff tailor their care of young people by taking into account their needs and personalities. All of the young people are receiving education and training. Some have experienced difficulties in accessing education in the past. However, with the support and advocacy of staff and managers, placements have been identified. Young people have gradually increased their educational attendance and are now fully engaging and making progress. For some young people this is significant progress. All young people have health plans and are attending and receiving care from preventative health services. One young person has a specific health condition that

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Good

requires daily medication. Staff received training to raise their awareness and enhance their skills in respect of this health condition prior to the young person moving into the home. Some staff have also had training in administering medication for this condition. This means that staff can provide safe, informed care. There are detailed monitoring records maintained. These provide good information to involved agencies. Staff liaise closely with the child and adolescent mental health service. Young people are receiving appropriate services, such as weekly counselling sessions and drama therapy. Staff provide and support the use of a number of therapeutic tools, such as daily journals and ‘wind down’ boxes for young people’s night-time routines. Consequently, young people’s emotional health and well-being are being addressed. Staff actively promote and support, and in some cases contribute to, the assessment of family contact. Staff understand the importance for young people of

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Good

regular contact with family and friends. Young people are provided with a balanced diet and opportunities for activities and exercise. Mealtimes are important social occasions in the home. The young people are involved in planning menus and often help with cooking. The manager is experienced. She has ensured that young people have moved into the home following robust sharing of information and careful consideration of the needs of the young people who are already resident. In addition to the information that has been provided by the case responsible social worker, she has sought information from other involved professionals. This means that there has not been increased risk as a result of changes within the group. Young people are encouraged to contribute to what goes on in the home. From the start, they take responsibility for their rooms and their personal belongings. Independent travel is encouraged where appropriate. One young person has a

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Good

part-time job, which has enhanced her self-reliance and self-esteem. One young person has undertaken voluntary work. All young people contribute to household tasks. One young person particularly enjoys helping with meals. In this way, all of the young people are developing their independence skills and improving their confidence. In addition, this provider has developed an independence skills package that is assessed and accredited. Young people are able to evidence their skills and understanding of the responsibilities of living independently in the community. This will support them when they decide that they are ready to move on from the home. Generally there are very good peer relationships. There have been some minor incidents of conflict between peers and one reported concern regarding low-level bullying. Staff have responded to these concerns and have provided mediation opportunities. The incidents are often linked to what is happening for the young

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Good

people in respect of family events and care planning. The home is a large, well-decorated, comfortable environment. Young people are supported to personalise their bedrooms and they benefit from access to a large garden. Maintenance issues are promptly reported and attended to. Young people commented that it is important to them for everyone to look after the home and respect it as their home. A member of staff said that her role is to focus on meeting the needs of the young people: ‘This means ensuring there are good routines. We support them to go to education or training and to meet with other professionals and resources. As a key worker I will give the young person space and time to share information and raise any concerns. For example, we have been discussing what makes a healthy relationship.’ One young person said: ‘Staff can be strict, but this has helped me to settle and to change what I needed to change.’

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Good

A social worker commented that she has only ever observed a positive, comfortable atmosphere in the home and that young people respect the home. There are detailed placement plans for each young person. They generally have good information about identity and cultural needs. However, the quality of records is not consistently good, the manager is aware of this and there is a review of care plans being undertaken by this provider. One young person’s education and health care plan needed updating and a personal education plan did not have helpful or aspirational targets that staff could support within the home. Although this young person has made progress, there could have been more progress made if this had been identified and addressed. The inspector reviewed examples of excellent key-work sessions. For example, one of these sessions worked on preparing a young person for contact, to reduce their anxieties. Other examples addressed personal health issues and the risks

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Good

associated with the use of social media. There were also good examples in which young people raised issues or requests in residents’ meetings and staff acted on them. Young people are clearly encouraged to share their concerns and they have a number of options for doing this. However, records did not consistently capture young people’s contributions and were not always signed by the young people.

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Good

This home provides good care that is supporting young people to keep safe. There has been a significant reduction in the number of instances in which young people display the risky behaviours that are outlined in their histories, particularly in respect of going missing and being vulnerable to exploitative relationships. There have been low levels of incidents of young people going missing or being absent from the home without permission. When appropriate, return interviews have been undertaken. There are sufficient staff on duty to respond proactively when a young person does not return to the home and is assessed to be vulnerable. Staff respond to all child protection concerns. They make appropriate referrals to the local authority and the relevant case responsible social workers. Staff work closely with local resources, including the police and multi-agency specialist teams, to support young people to stay safe.

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Good

Staff have managed, and have responded well to, incidents of very challenging behaviours that are generally associated with one young person’s complex needs. Staff are trained in the use of physical interventions and restraints, and have only used these as a last resort to prevent harm to the young person or to staff. There has been a reduction in the use of physical interventions. Young people have responded to the home’s structured routines and have developed trusting relationships with staff. As a result, staff are able to divert and de-escalate challenging behaviours. The manager reviews all records and ensures that the young person and staff have had an opportunity to discuss incidents. This manager is particularly good at identifying the lessons that have been learned, and where staff skills and knowledge can be enhanced, following any incidents. She is also mindful of any risky behaviours re-emerging or new behaviours presenting risks. Therefore, risk

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Good

and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed and updated. Unfortunately, in the case of one young person’s records there is some improvement required. This young person has additional needs and staff require training that will enable them to support the young person by understanding and meeting those needs. In addition, there was some information in the education and health care plan for this young person that would have been helpful and could have informed the behaviour management plan. However, it was not identified and included. There have been some incidents of self-harming behaviour. All staff have received relevant training to enable them to deal with these behaviours. Records of incidents – including records of room searches, which are undertaken when it is necessary – are carefully maintained. These records are used to inform risk assessments. Staff ensure that their responses to young people's risky behaviours

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Good

are non-judgemental and nurturing. Young people are encouraged to use a range of tools to help them manage their feelings. As a result, staff sensitively and effectively manage incidents. They liaise with professionals and make referrals when appropriate. There are measures in place to manage and monitor the risks that are associated with digital technology. These measures include explicit contracts with young people regarding the use of mobile phones and access to the internet. There have been two referrals to the local authority designated officer. One involved a young person reporting an injury following a physical intervention. This was subject to rigorous investigation. The concern was not substantiated. However, a number of recommendations were made to strengthen practice, particularly in respect of the recording of this incident. Staff have received refresher training with regard to the recording of physical interventions. In

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Good

addition, the young person’s risk management plan was improved. The other referral is subject to ongoing investigation. There are no concerns about the safety and welfare of young people at this time.

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Good

The manager has previously been a registered manager for another home that is run by this provider. She has a good record, and is experienced and qualified. She says that she has enjoyed the challenge and the benefits of being part of the setting up of this home. She has focused initially on establishing the whole staff team, developing the management team and ensuring that each staff member has a comprehensive induction and a monitored probationary period. There are a number of staff who are currently working towards qualifications. However, the seniors and managers are qualified. There is a development plan for the staff and home. This is informed by recommendations from the independent visitor reports, auditing by the manager and the quality review of care. This means that the manager is driving improvement and responds when areas for development are identified. She commented that the staff group are: ‘Committed, enthusiastic and resilient. They

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Good

have managed some challenges and have developed strong, trusting, relationships with the young people.’ The manager closely monitors levels of staff sickness and recognises that responding to some of the needs of the young people can have an impact on staff. Staff are offered the opportunity to have a debrief session after incidents and are able to reflect on practice in supervision. Prior to the home opening, the manager and senior staff developed links with the community. Since the home has opened, positive contact with neighbours has been established and there have been no complaints, only positive feedback and offers of support. Staff know the needs of the young people well. There are regular team meetings, supervision sessions and training opportunities. Young people’s needs are discussed and progress is evaluated. Staff have lead responsibility for practice areas such as safeguarding, and health

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Good

and safety. This means that they are provided with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in these areas and are given responsibility for cascading information to the team. The manager recognises that there are some areas which require further attention and development. The management team has identified the need for additional safeguarding training for staff in order to respond to some of the specific needs of one young person. This is in the process of being commissioned. The deputy manager does have some skills, knowledge and experience in this area of practice. However, practice would have been strengthened had more staff received the relevant training prior to the young person moving into the home. In addition, staff require training to enhance their understanding of education planning meetings and education targets so that they can support young people to achieve. The manager has developed supervision so that records are reviewed and

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Good

improved when necessary. This should also add value to the ongoing assessment of young people’s needs. One social worker was very positive about the response of the management team and staff to the needs of a young person. He said: ‘They are very professional. The young person I am social worker for has complex needs that can be challenging. Staff make good-quality contributions to assessments. They are assessing contact with siblings, and they send me incident reports that are very helpful.’

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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