Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three requirements and two recommendations were made at the last inspection. At the time of this inspection, two requirements and both recommendations are met. One requirement is still within the timescale. This relates to staff obtaining the Level 3 diploma for residential childcare qualification, and staff are on target to achieve this.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are well supported to move into and on from the home. For example, one young person has successfully returned home in line with the aims of his placement plan. Staff worked effectively in partnership with social workers to provide advice and behavioural management support to his parent. Staff worked to a clear plan that ensured a smooth transition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good progress from their starting points, with encouragement and guidance from staff. For example, one young person has lost a significant amount of weight. This has helped to improve the young person’s overall health and well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have positive relationships with young people. This enables staff to establish routines that help to develop young people’s skills and independence. For example, during the inspection staff were observed supporting two young people to make their own breakfast by following communication schedules. Staff members’ attention to detail has enabled the young people to develop age-appropriate independence skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to raise standards and develop the service to ensure that young people receive a high quality of care. Young people have benefitted from the refurbishment of the home and are involved in the redecoration stage. The registered manager and staff team have worked hard to modernise the dining areas, computer room and chill-out rooms. This has made the home environment more child-friendly. Six out of the eight bedrooms have been redecorated. The last two are on the manager’s development plan to be completed. Consequently, some young people are missing out on the benefits that other young people have received by having their bedrooms improved. One of the living room areas is due to have new flooring because of a strong smell of urine. While this work is awaiting completion, the presence of an unpleasant odour is having a negative impact on young people’s physical well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no significant safeguarding issues or complaints from young people. One young person told the inspector, ‘I’m fine, the staff are good, the food is good and it’s good living here. I really like all of the activities I do.’ Staff have a clear understanding of how to manage any safeguarding allegations and refer concerns appropriately. The number of missing from care incidents is low, as staff are effective at managing challenging behaviour. When a missing from care incident does occur, staff are proactive in ensuring that young people are safely returned home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people’s level of vulnerability means that they have limited understanding of danger. As a result, staff practice involves restricting young people’s liberty by locking external doors. However, this same restriction is applied to other young people who are less vulnerable, and this unnecessarily restricts their freedom of movement. This compromises their independence, as they can only leave the home if staff enable them to.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have established working relationships with health professionals to ensure that young people access services that meet their needs. One young person was assisted with improving his personal care. This involved the staff developing a structured toileting programme with the assistance of health professionals and enabled the young person to achieve new levels of independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff team work in partnership with professionals to meet young people’s needs, which enables each young person to reach their potential. One social worker commented about the staff team: ‘I can’t really fault them at all; they are excellent. They have really improved the young person’s behaviour. He was damaging property, offending, and has really improved and is happy.’

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Information about this children's home

This service provides care and accommodation for up to eight young people. It is divided into two self-contained four-bedroomed homes. One provides care for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The other provides care for young people who have learning disabilities and who have autistic spectrum disorder. This service is operated by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/08/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/01/2016 Full Good 13/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification, which is the Level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 diploma’) or a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 diploma, by the relevant date. (Regulation 32(4)(5)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate. This specifically relates to young people being able to freely exit the building. (Regulation 20 (2)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard.

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child. This specifically relates to the strong smell of urine in the den. 30/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that children are provided with appropriate furniture, such as a lockable cabinet or drawers to securely store personal items, including any personal information. Children should have separate bedrooms and should not share a bedroom with an adult. It may be appropriate for siblings of the same sex to share. Children should be given a choice about how their personal space is decorated in accordance with regulation 7(2)(a)(i). This specifically relates to the decoration and furnishing of the final two bedrooms. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 16, paragraph 3.19)

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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

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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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