Children's home run by Langley House (Harwich) Limited in Tendring

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Since the last inspection, the manager and staff have worked towards meeting the one requirement and the one recommendation made at the last inspection. There has been an improvement in practice-related supervision. Supervision files cover a variety of topics, including care-related practice, risk assessments, training and appraisals. This ensures that the staff feel supported in their day-to-day practice. The staff assess the risks in order to support the children to undertake outdoor activities. The home has reviewed and updated its outdoor risk assessments, including individual risk assessments. The documents detail potential areas of concern and actions required to significantly reduce potential risk. As a result, the children are safeguarded to enjoy outdoor activities. The home has a beach hut at

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the local beach. The children have the opportunity to feed the ducks and play in the sand. There are pictures of the children around the home that capture the memories of joy and excitement of the children. All of the children are fully engaged in their education provisions. This supports their development to learn new skills. The home has made significant progress in building good working relationships with schools and parents to help form the education plans. These include reviews of the children’s communication, concentration, behaviour and social skills. Targets are set and discussed at parents’ evenings, and these are reflected in the children’s end-of-term reports. Certificates of achievements hang on the children’s bedroom walls and copies are held in their files. The close working partnership has enabled the children to remain at the same school, one for many years. As a result, the child’s confidence and self-esteem

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

have improved. Care plans, pathway plans and transitional plans are robust. They include comprehensive details of the children’s journeys from the point of moving into the home through to transition into adult provisions. The plans include comprehensive details of daily routines for getting up, going to school, activities and settling. All of the files include details of the dreams and the aspirations for the children. One child’s wish is to live in her own house and be supported by staff who know her. As part of the transition plan, the staff work across both providers to enable the children to have consistency and smooth and positive experiences. A social worker said, ‘Staff are good advocates. They help children express their views, which directs their care plans.’ The children’s case files are of a high standard. They include detailed information that ensures consistency of care across the team. The files also include documents

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that relate to the day-to-day care needs and they highlight areas for improvement and targets for children to reach. A social worker said of a child, ‘He has learned new words, and his negative behaviour has decreased with staff supporting him in a calm way.’ Similarly, a parent said that her son’s ‘aggressive behaviour’ has improved. The positive impact on the children, through well-planned and organised plans, is evidenced by the manager’s and staff team’s passion to improve the quality of care on a day-to-day basis. The number of physical interventions and sanctions remain low. There have been no incidents of children missing from the home. Records of physical interventions, sanctions and incidents show them to be fair and proportionate. The records are reviewed by the manager at every stage to ensure that practice is monitored. This means that the manager can identify any changes that need to be made. Incidents

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and trends are discussed during supervision with individual staff and at team meetings. This means that staff can evaluate, update and form new plans when necessary. The focus of the children’s well-being and outcomes is evidenced in files and reviewed when change has been implemented. For example, a child who broke his glasses regularly was given a goal of keeping his glasses safe for one week. Each Friday after school, a decorated box full of shredded paper hides small gifts, which he searches for and finds. The child looks forward to this activity and no longer breaks his glasses. The child’s link worker said, ‘I am really pleased with this as it is working really well.’ A procedure, which is contained in each child’s individual file, is in place for the safe administration and disposal of medication. Refused medication is taken to the local pharmacy for disposal, and a record of this is signed by all parties. Fire drills,

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

evacuations and tests are up to date and reviewed regularly. Monthly impartial visits from an independent person reflect that the files are reviewed, which are. The staff follow daily plans of engagement, activities and routines that the children have in place. The positive impact on the children returning home from school was evident in their behaviour and facial expressions of excitement to be home from school. The staff treat the children with dignity and respect and continue to build warm relationships in a nurturing environment.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered for up to four children, and may provide care and accommodation for children who have learning disabilities and associated physical disabilities. The home is owned by a small private company.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

30/12/2014 Interim Improved effectiveness

p.4

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.5

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.

p.5

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 .

p.5

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,

p.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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.6

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

p.6