Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Kent

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Leaders and manager have built a strong team that is interested in, and ambitious for, young people. Staff support young people to do well and make good progress.  Staff’s positive relationships with young people enhance young people’s experience of living in the home. They feel that they are valued and listened to by staff.  Staff’s expertise in managing child sexual exploitation and missing-from- home episodes keeps young people safe. Staff have helped young people to reduce these risk-taking behaviours.  Safeguarding and child protection is a priority in the home and practice is continually reviewed and updated.  Strong arrangements for staff support provide opportunities for learning about the young people. Staff are able to progress and develop their experience, which improves the quality of care that is provided to young people.  Staff care about young people’s emotional needs. Internally provided health

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The children’s home provision is good because:

and well-being services supply additional expertise and understanding.  There are several areas for development, which are addressed in the main body of the report. For example, one area for development relates to emergency medication and the use of surveillance.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing – (1) (a) injury to the person (including the child); (b) serious damage to the property of any person (including the child). (Regulation 20(1)(a)(b)) Specifically, restraint should not be used to take a mobile phone away from a young person. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1)) Especially in relation to a young person’s use of emergency medication and a risk assessment in relation to this use. 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Any modifications to the environment of the home must only be made when this is intended to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of that child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under review (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10). Specifically, this should be undertaken in relation to the use of door alarms by day and night.

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Recommendations

 Decisions about overnight stays with friends should be delegated to children’s homes staff by the placing authority for looked after children. The level of delegated authority should be recorded in the placement plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure the necessary support is given to children to enable them to access their education or training, in respect of an activity programme when young people do not have formal education. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.13)

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home is registered to accommodate up to seven young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural disorders. Five young people are currently accommodated. The home is operated by a small local provider which has other similar homes in the vicinity.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/11/2015 Full Good 24/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.6

Good

A thorough impact assessment identifies young people’s needs prior to them moving into the home. The registered manager considers the potential effect on the other young people in order to safeguard their welfare and progress. When possible, young people visit the home prior to the move, and receive a comprehensive children’s guide. Staff adhere to comprehensive care plans and strategies which ensure that they have accurate knowledge of the young people’s needs.

p.7

Good

Young people make good progress in the home supported by staff who develop trusting relationships with them. Staff reward positive behaviour and set clear, fair boundaries. Young people respond well to this approach. They enjoy nurturing relationships with staff who are committed to meeting their emotional needs. One parent said, ‘My child is improving because of the work done by staff; she is beginning to open up.’

p.7

Good

Young people who are living in the home have complex difficulties, including emotional distress. Regular consultations with specialist therapeutic services ensure that staff are able to help young people to manage and reduce their anxieties. Guidance and advice are provided to the staff team during team meetings and in consultation with key workers. Robust responses to self-harming risks keep the young people safe and prevent the reoccurrence of self-harming incidents. Young people’s emotional health is a high priority for staff.

p.7

Good

Young people contribute to all aspects of their care planning. They take advantage of advocacy services and independent visitors, and seek staff support. Key-work sessions and management consultations ensure that young people have opportunities to explore their feelings and emotions.

p.7

Good

Staff have excellent relationships with professionals and with young people’s families and friends. Young people spend time with those who are important to them. Staff supervise contact sessions and support young people to have unsupervised contact when agreed. They are able to enjoy overnight stays with their friends. These arrangements would be clearer if the home made an agreement with the local authority regarding who has the authority to make day- to-day decisions on matters such as overnight stays.

p.7

Good

Staff work closely with educational professionals and social workers to identify and support young people’s school or college placements. When young people do not have identified schools, they engage with tutors in the home to continue their education. Staff do not offer a structured activity programme to support these young people outside of tutored time. This would further enhance the learning process.

p.7

Good

Staff equip young people to be ready for independence in terms of practical matters. For example, they do household chores, learn to cook for themselves and do their own laundry. Young people work to independence plans, which are under regular review. Young people speak positively of their plans for the future.

p.8

Good

Young people are encouraged to attend activities in the community. Staff introduce these sensitively. They research clubs with young people and, initially, accompany them to the clubs. Young people enjoy a range of appropriate activities, such as playing pool, going to the gym and kick-boxing. Young people are encouraged to explore their religious and cultural interests by cooking traditional meals and attending local churches and community groups.

p.8

Good

The home is well equipped and homely. Young people design refurbishments, personalise their bedrooms and take pride in their home. The young people requested a separate, quieter space to be created and this has proved to be popular.

p.8

Good

Two young people have moved to other homes since the last inspection. These moves were well planned and supported by staff, who have strong bonds and attachments with the young people in their care and remain in contact with them when possible.

p.8

Good

Staff are aware of the vulnerabilities and risks of child sexual exploitation, especially when young people go missing. They reduce this risk by restricting the activities for young people who are considered to be at high risk of child sexual exploitation. They do this until the young people are able to manage their own time safely. If young people go missing, staff follow the young people and keep in touch with them, in line with the agreed protocol. Return home interviews inform staff regarding strategies to prevent further occurrences. Staff support young people to contribute to the plans to keep them safe.

p.8

Good

Risk assessments, which are undertaken with young people, inform staff of potential risks and the preventative measures that are needed to reduce these risks. Staff help young people to take responsibility for their own safety. For example, one young person is now able to manage his free time and adhere to the expectations around times to return home. Staff work with the young people and professionals to help young people to keep themselves safe.

p.8

Good

All young people have access to a mobile telephone to enable them to seek help and contact staff when they are out in the community, particularly if they go missing. Written agreements signed by the young people ensure that young people understand the dangers and their responsibilities. Staff reinforce these messages in key-work sessions. They have excellent training in internet safety and act swiftly if they have any concerns.

p.9

Good

The health and medical needs of the young people are keenly understood and promoted. Staff generally agree risk assessments with professionals, parents and young people. However, on one occasion, the use of emergency medication was not clearly risk assessed. This included inadequate assessment of the risk associated with the young person’s ability to self-administer. Advice from medical professionals was not recorded in order to inform practice. This did not affect the safety of the young person and is being addressed.

p.9

Good

Some young people have a history of misusing substances. They have shown a reduction in this behaviour due to the vigilance of staff and the fact that they support young people to attend substance misuse programmes. Staff manage substance misuse effectively by delivering a strong message regarding the risks involved and by being clear about the home’s policy on substance misuse.

p.9

Good

Physical interventions are rarely used. When they do occur, they are generally appropriate and records demonstrate the use of de-escalation techniques and adherence to the regulations. However, on one occasion, the reason for a physical intervention was not in line with regulations, there was not an immediate risk of harm to the young person to justify the action that was taken.

p.9

Good

The sanctions that are used by staff are appropriate and proportionate. Staff emphasise that young people need to make reparation for any damage that they do to the home. This gives young people the opportunity to make amends.

p.9

Good

Since the last inspection, social workers and young people have signed agreements in relation to the use of alarms that are fitted to bedroom doors at night-time. However, there are no agreements in place in relation to door alarms that are used during the day and individual assessments with regard to this matter are not recorded and reviewed.

p.9

Good

Regular health and safety checks are undertaken and all equipment is serviced and maintained. The registered manager oversees daily and weekly checks to ensure that food safety is of a high standard.

p.9

Good

The location risk assessment is thorough and the registered manager consults with the police and local agencies. Staff have the necessary information to educate young people about any risks that are associated with the local area.

p.9

Good

The registered manager is a strong leader who is committed to maintaining a high standard of care for the young people who live in the home. She has achieved the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for care services and health and social care. She is dedicated to developing the staff team and ensuring that well- trained senior staff are able to deputise for her and lead the team. She acts as a good role model by providing a consistently high standard of care to young people.

p.10

Good

The home is well staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the young people. The level of staffing provides opportunities for young people to follow their individual interests. Staff retention is good. The staff’s positive experiences and high staff morale create a stable and secure staff group. This gives young people security and consistency of care.

p.10

Good

Team meetings provide opportunities for learning and professional development. These forums support staff to effectively manage young people’s issues and develop strategies to reduce the occurrence of difficult behaviours. Staff report that they are listened to by managers, who are receptive to new ideas. Regulations are discussed as an agenda item to inform staff regarding the standards that are expected. Staff communicate well together; handovers enable staff to share information and plan the young people’s time effectively.

p.10

Good

Staff receive good-quality supervision and appraisal. Staff have the opportunity to reflect on the emotional impact that their work has on them. The manager makes adjustments when necessary. For example, she made appropriate changes when staff felt a review of key-worker allocations would be positive for the young people. Staff development plans help staff to feel valued and provide the opportunity for them to progress within the organisation.

p.10

Good

A comprehensive range of training courses give staff the opportunity to update their skills and knowledge, in order that they can fully understand how best to meet each young person’s needs. All staff have gained the level 3 qualification, or equivalent, or are enrolled on the course. They are appropriately qualified and are knowledgeable and committed to meeting the young people’s needs.

p.10

Good

Leaders and managers maintain positive working relationships with a range of agencies. A social worker said, ‘We are very happy with the care the staff provide; they support the care plan and family contact.’ Health professionals report that the staff play an active part in agreeing and reviewing strategies. Staff make sure that there is time available for therapists to visit the home. This allows the young people to become familiar with therapists before they engage in therapy.

p.10

Good

External monitoring visits take place monthly and are suitably challenging of practice. The registered manager ensures that internal monitoring evaluates the quality of care that is provided in the home. Her six-monthly reports reflect the input and feedback of parents and social workers This demonstrates the impact and value of stakeholder consultation.

p.11

Good

Senior managers of the company are involved in the strategic development of the service and oversight of the young people’s care. They update policies and procedures, and hold frequent meetings with the managers of all the homes. The recently reviewed safeguarding policy includes creative solutions to tracing and supporting young people who are at high risk of child sexual exploitation or going missing. The safety and welfare of the young people are clear priorities for all.

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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 that 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, workbased 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

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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