Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in North Yorkshire

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 . The home has demonstrated its capacity to improve by fully meeting one of the requirements and both recommendations raised at the last inspection. There is clear evidence of robust planning in anticipation of young people moving into the home. This ensures that their needs can be met in line with the home’s statement of purpose. The resultant appropriate placement of young people promotes their engagement with and attachment to staff and the care provided. A young person said, ‘I love it here and love the staff.’ The identification of an independent visitor, in partnership with her placing authority, provides a young person with the opportunity to speak with somebody from her local area following missing from care episodes. This enhances the young person’s opportunities to raise any potential concerns about the placement and to

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

maintain community links. The home’s locality assessment is sufficiently robust to identify risks in the community and links to information shared with the local vulnerable, exploited, missing and trafficked (VEMT) group. These actions safeguard young people. No young people have left or been admitted to the home since the last inspection. The two resident young people have clear plans for their futures, but their placing authorities are not implementing them swiftly enough. The manager has not been sufficiently challenging with placing authorities to prevent drift. This could impinge on young people’s future life chances. One young person attends the company’s school on a daily basis. This provides a structure for the young person’s day, fosters her intellect and is a marked improvement on previous placements. The other young person has ceased to attend his school in anticipation of a move closer to his family. The home is

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

working with his education provider to ensure that he receives one-to-one tuition on a daily basis. It is also encouraging him to engage in educational pursuits. This supports him to maintain an interest in learning and to want to do more in preparation for his new school. The hard-working and enthusiastic staff team encourages young people to identify and participate in positive leisure pursuits. One young person is a national champion in the hobby of catapulting. The home enables him to attend tournaments and celebrates his success with him. This boosts his self-esteem and confidence, while promoting his cultural identity. A young person said, ‘[Manager’s name] and all of the staff listen to me and that makes me feel good.’ Young people live in a large property where they are able to keep beloved pets and decorate their bedrooms to their tastes. This provides young people with a sense of belonging and security, enhancing their opportunities to bond with staff and grow

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

as a result of the care provided. However, this is an old building, and young people commented that it is too cold, especially in their bedrooms. Regular fire drills take place that involve all staff and young people. This assures the protection of young people, as they know what to do in case of an emergency. However, one young person expressed concern at the lack of an external fire escape at this family home. Although he has had the opportunity to meet with the local fire brigade, incomplete recordings of drills do not evidence that all avenues have been explored with him to provide reassurance. Good, carefully planned key work sessions effectively use reflective practice to address young people’s concerns. These allow young people to explore their behaviours and plan for their futures in a safe and structured way. As a result, young people learn appropriate ways of expressing emotions and feelings and feel

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

valued. However, it is not evident whether young people are able to see what is written about them, which reduces the impact of this important work. An extensive range of comprehensive risk assessments and excellent collaborative working with partner agencies safeguard young people who are at risk of absenting themselves from the home. The proactive and committed staff team actively searches for young people and ensures that they, and their friends when necessary, return home safely. Information regarding unsafe addresses and individuals that young people may be accessing are shared appropriately both within the VEMT group and with local police officers. These careful measures also identify and protect young people who may be at risk of child sexual exploitation. As a result, young people trust staff to keep them and their friends safe, even if they do not always believe that they are at risk. A young person said, ‘The staff are

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

doing what they can, but I would rather be out with my mates. I do like [Staff member’s name] though, and he makes me feel safe.’ The calm and nurturing manager and staff team are good role models for young people. They use individual behaviour management plans to prevent violence and promote appropriate ways of behaving. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in physical interventions involving one young person, who uses aggression as a way of controlling her environment. Records evidence that the restraints are appropriate and monitored by the manager in line with legislation. However, the young person has not commented on them, which may reduce her opportunity to learn from the experience. Any imposed sanctions for negative behaviours are relevant to the young person. The inconsistencies in recording outcomes, however, could impact on the lessons learned for all concerned.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned and managed children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural needs.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet this standard, specifically in relation to escalating concerns to the director of children’s services if needed:

p.5

Requirement Due date

(c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, the registered person must, or must ensure that staff, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. 28/04/2017

p.5

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely domestic environments (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9). In particular, ensure that the home is heated to a comfortable level.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’,

p.5

Recommendations

page 62, paragraph 14.4)  Children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. They should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)

p.5

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.6

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.6

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.6

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.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7

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.7

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.7