Children's home run by Kent County Council in Maidstone

Outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children’s home’s provision is outstanding because:

 A strong manager ensures that the well-being and safety of children and young people are prioritised, and that staff practise in ways that consistently meet the needs of the children and young people.  High-quality monitoring systems record the progress that children and young people make and identify appropriate targets for them to achieve. Staff are committed and support children and young people to make sustained progress.  Staff are well trained and experienced. They are confident in their role, demonstrate patience, and remain calm when working with the children and young people.  Staff value the wishes and feelings of children and young people. Excellent use of communication methods ensures that all children and young people have the opportunity to express their views.  Effective risk assessments enable staff to keep children and young people safe while allowing managed risks appropriate to their level of

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The children’s home’s provision is outstanding because:

understanding and ability.  Professionals are very complimentary about the service, the staff and the impact the quality of care has on the children and young people, and their families.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1) In particular, ensure that consultation takes place with relevant agencies when identifying potential risks in the locality of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This county council service is a purpose-built, short-break unit for up to six children and young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/09/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Outstanding

Staff provide an excellent standard of short-break care for 54 children and young people who have complex needs. Extremely committed staff help children and young people to reach their goals and to make steady, sustained progress. Achievable targets are set with small steps identified, which staff regularly review to ensure that they remain relevant. Staff celebrate the achievements of children and young people by keeping photographs of their accomplishments and awarding certificates. Children and young people are able to reflect on their successes.

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Outstanding

Staff have nurturing, caring relationships with the children and young people. They respond with patience and understanding. One young person, who was initially distressed at the beginning of her stay, was reassured by staff showing her ‘now’ and ‘next’ boards to help her to understand what to expect. She became noticeably calmer and happier during her stay.

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Outstanding

Staff work closely with families to gain their trust and develop strong relationships, which support the children and young people, both at home and during their stays. Skills learned while at the service are transferred to the home environment. One young person is now able to sleep in his own bed at home; another young person is able to manage activities in the community better because of the input of the staff.

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Outstanding

The registered manager works closely with parents, carers, and professionals to inform comprehensive assessments to ensure that the service meets the needs of children and young people. This information aids decision-making regarding matching the children and young people referred with those who are already using the service. The registered manager considers emergency admissions, bearing in mind the needs of the children and young people who already use the service.

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Outstanding

Children’s and young people’s care plans are extremely thorough, covering all aspects of their care. The ‘About me’ section provides a thorough summary of the needs of the children and young people. The inclusion of a photograph and contributions from the children and young people personalise this document. Staff review care plans with parents and carers before each stay to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant. The registered manager tracks the progress of children and young people to ensure that staff work to appropriate, clearly identified outcomes. Staff research the disabilities of children and young people and present these to the staff group to discuss and share knowledge.

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Outstanding

Valuing children’s and young people’s voices is a strength of this service. Staff encourage children and young people to make choices throughout the day. They all contribute to the children’s meetings, where they have a say about how the service is run. The communication method of the child or young person is recorded to ensure that staff are able to help them to participate in a meaningful way. Staff support children and young people to fill in questionnaires regarding their views about the service, school and other aspects of their lives to share at their care plan review meetings if they are unable to attend.

p.6

Outstanding

An ‘awareness week’ is an initiative which provides a forum for educating children and young people in relation to specific issues relevant to their needs and abilities. For example, staff teach children and young people who use mobile telephones or iPads how to keep themselves safe when using social media. They learn safety messages through dynamic and interactive mediums.

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Outstanding

Healthy lifestyles are encouraged; children and young people eat a varied diet. They sit together at the table to learn good table manners and social skills. They enjoy a wide range of physical activities, such as trampolining, the ball pool and a purpose-built play area where they can ride specially adapted bikes. The children and young people also access a wide range of community activities, for example, visiting local castles, parks and places of interest. Some attend a local club promoting learning through music. Theme nights, which include food and meals from a range of cultures, and a celebration of customs and sports events, are educational and fun.

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Outstanding

All children and young people attend their education placements while staying at the service. Staff attend meetings at the school and work closely with teaching staff, therapists, parents and carers to ensure that children and young people can reach their social and educational potential. A multi-disciplinary approach is effective. A social worker said, ‘Staff devise a supportive care plan which is linked to the schools’ targets to develop children’s and young people’s life skills.’

p.7

Outstanding

Safeguarding practice is effective and professional. Policies have recently been updated and are clear and informed by research. Staff are clear about safe internet use and teach children and young people this through discussions, close supervision, informative posters and restricting access when needed.

p.7

Outstanding

Medication errors are rare; however, when they do happen there is a clear policy and procedure to follow. The registered manager fully investigated a medication error and lessons learned were acted upon. These included retraining and the introduction of additional checks.

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Outstanding

Comprehensive risk assessments inform staff of potential risks and how to manage these to prevent harm. A member of staff said, ‘We have risk assessments, which we work to. We continually assess risk but are not risk averse’. Children and young people are encouraged to be adventurous without having their safety compromised. Children’s and young people’s well-being and safety remain the priority for staff. Staff work closely with therapists to ensure that children and young people have access to the equipment they need. One young person was provided with a shower board to keep him safe in the shower; he told the inspector, ‘I can shower now, and I have never had a shower before!’

p.8

Outstanding

Children and young people rarely go missing due to their complex needs and the high level of staff supervision and security within the home. Staff have excellent training and demonstrate an awareness of the protocol to follow should a child or young person go missing. Training weeks are effective and valuable in allowing staff protected time to share knowledge and learn together, which increases consistency of practice. Safeguarding concerns, such as child sexual exploitation and radicalisation, are addressed in the training sessions. The registered manager attended training in relation to female genital mutilation and shared this learning with the staff group. She reported that, ‘It was great to see the change of thinking.’

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Outstanding

Positive behaviour is reinforced and clear boundaries are consistently maintained. The use of visual aids, such as sand-timers and visual timetables, is successful in helping children and young people to manage their frustrations. Physical interventions are rarely necessary. The registered manager closely monitors incidents and evaluates them to ensure that they are proportionate and safe. The views of children and young people are sought when possible. If they are unable to express their views this is explained and any observations are recorded. Any necessary changes to care plans or behaviour plans are recorded and implemented.

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Outstanding

The locality assessment for the home identifies some of the risks that young people could be exposed to in their local community. However, managers have not consulted widely with other agencies or considered all available information available from the locality as part of the assessment process. Judgement grade

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Outstanding

A highly effective and motivational registered manager leads the service. She has been registered with Ofsted since August 2016; previously she was a senior team leader at the service. The registered manager has a level 5 qualification; she used her dissertation research to identify ways to improve transitions to adult services. This has led to better links with adult services and improved practice.

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Outstanding

The registered manager learns from internal and external audits and shares this feedback with the team. She has a good understanding of the service and aims to achieve an excellent standard of care for the children and young people. She inspires the staff group to achieve this goal by leading by example and sharing her expertise.

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Outstanding

The service is well resourced and has a stable, skilled team of care staff. Staff are qualified to the level 3 diploma qualification for residential childcare or are enrolled on the course. Newly employed staff and volunteers have the necessary recruitment checks to minimise the potential for unsuitable adults to be employed. Recruitment interviews thoroughly explore an individual’s motivation for working with vulnerable children and young people and assess the candidate’s ability to communicate and care for children and young people.

p.9

Outstanding

The induction process is thorough; staff have time to read policies and procedures and the care plans of children and young people to prepare them for direct work with them. Staff are given the necessary time to shadow and learn from more experienced staff. Consequently, well-trained staff care for children and young people.

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Outstanding

Supervision is regular and evaluative. The focus is on the children and young people; how their needs can be met, gaining their views and helping them to reach their potential. Staff have protected time to consider the impact of their work and for personal development. The staff value the registered manager highly; she is transparent and seeks constructive feedback to enhance the service. One member of staff said, ‘The registered manager is a strong leader, very supportive, experienced and willing to step in when needed’.

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Outstanding

Managers and staff communicate effectively with professionals. All professionals spoken to said that the registered manager worked closely with them, reported incidents or concerns immediately and communicated well. A team manager stated, ‘The registered manager works well with the social work team, she is helpful and informative; staff are meticulous in recording safeguarding issues’. An initiative where trainee police officers undertake work placements at the service is successful and benefits all. One trainee police officer said, ‘It was an inspiring placement’, and another trainee police officer said, ‘It has changed my thinking.’

p.9

Outstanding

Children and young people are cared for by staff who work with the multi- professional team to prioritise their safety and well-being.

p.10

Outstanding

The statement of purpose reflects the ethos and criteria of the service. This enables placing authorities to identify whether the service is suitable for their children and young people. Prior to being placed, children and young people are given a children’s guide. This is colourful, informative and in a simple format, including photographs and picture exchange symbols reflecting the communication needs of those for whom it is intended.

p.10

Outstanding

The registered manager researches sources and material to inform practice. She has devised improved recording methods and auditing processes. She attends regular senior management meetings to share information and improve practice. A strategic, analytical development plan focuses on improving the service for children and young people. The registered manager evaluates the service, aiming to continually improve to ensure a sustained, outstanding level of care and protection for the young people.

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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 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, 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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