Children's home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship in Wandsworth

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 improved in effectiveness . The manager has met the one recommendation raised at the last inspection. The placement plan now includes the opinion and comments from the social worker and the child has confirmed that he is able to read and record his views on the plan if/when he chooses to. One child lives at the home. There have been no admissions or discharges since the last inspection. Staff continue to provide good-quality care to the child and they have developed an extremely positive, nurturing relationship with him. Staff have high aspirations for him. A main focus of their work is to stabilise behaviour and help the child to develop his skills, both academically and emotionally. This promotes his confidence and enables him to visualise a successful future. The dedicated staff team is committed to making improvements. Since the last

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

inspection, the team has successfully implemented a chore and incentive scheme, which the child has responded well to. This helps him to develop the necessary life skills required for successful independent living. The manager oversees, monitors and regularly updates the comprehensive care plans and behaviour and risk management plans. The staff work closely with other professionals and they take action to address concerns quickly. The home benefits from receiving considered reports from the independent visitor that give clear direction and review how well the staff safeguard the child. This ensures that the child receives a high-quality service that meets his needs and keeps him safe. The child said, ‘I’m safe in this home. I can talk openly to all staff about anything and I wouldn’t change anything.’ The staff are enthusiastic for the child’s long-term future. They listen to the child and remain innovative in their approach to achieving positive change. They

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

successfully guide the child through direct key-work sessions, to aid his understanding of their actions. This enables the child to recognise any behaviours that may limit his achievements and helps him to develop positive strategies to improve his outcomes. Regularly held staff meetings are structured and informative. The staff use this time to discuss the child and to monitor their own interactions. This ensures that the child continues to receive a consistent response. Staff supervision is of good quality, with discussions in relation to workload issues, personal issues and training needs. This means that staff are well equipped to care for the child safely. The staff have undertaken mandatory training including updated safeguarding training. The manager ensures that all of the staff are fully supported to gain their Level 3 qualification and to access any further training required to enable them to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

carry out their roles. There have been no safeguarding incidents, incidents of the child going missing from the home or physical interventions since the last inspection. The two sanctions that have been used are proportionate and appropriate. Sanctions are evaluated and discussed with the child, which helps him to understand and reflect. The manager and staff are proactive in addressing incidents immediately. They work closely with the social worker and other professionals to put procedures in place to reduce the likelihood of any further incidences. The staff promote and support the child’s health needs through regular monitoring and ensuring that the child attends all of his health appointments. The staff have developed good relationships with health professionals and immediately seek their advice if concerns are highlighted about the child’s emotional or physical health. The staff and the child prepare meals together, and mealtimes are clearly an

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

important part of the daily routine in this home. The child has written, ‘Cooking is one of my favourite hobbies.’ The staff encourage him to follow a healthy diet. The child and the staff eat all of their meals together at the table, which creates a positive homely environment. The home is well decorated and maintained to a high standard. It is very homely and comfortable and the child’s needs are clearly the main focus. The child has been fully included in the process of choices made and he recently received an award for making such a positive contribution to the decor and furnishing in the home. Shared activities with staff are captured, and staff are currently in the process of putting a photograph album together of moments spent fishing, go-karting, gardening at the home, ice skating, attending an awards night and a trip to London Zoo. This will be a memento for the child to treasure. Education is a key focus in this home. Staff work in partnership with education

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

professionals to ensure that the child makes progress towards achieving his individual targets. A teacher said, ‘The school has never experienced a better relationship with a [child looked after] care provider. The significant improvements in his education and behaviour over the last few months are due to the stable, consistent, nurturing care he receives from the home.’ This improves the child’s future life chances significantly.

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is managed by a charitable organisation. It provides care and accommodation for one child aged between 10 and 18 years, who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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

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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 .

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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, 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,

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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

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

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