Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Kent

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 provision is outstanding because:

 The home delivers outstanding outcomes for children in relation to their health, emotional well-being and educational attainment. The children flourish within an environment that provides nurturing and loving care. Of note is the extremely successful academic progress that children make here, especially considering their starting points: all children have full-time education placements.  Plenty of quality time is spent with the children individually and as a group so that they are able to develop meaningful, secure relationships with staff and each other. This lays the foundation for the children to learn to trust the adults who care for them and to develop meaningful relationships. Staff are highly skilled at making extremely positive relationships with the children. This is in line with the home’s ethos as described in the statement of purpose. The children’s welfare is then wholly safeguarded and promoted.

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

 One child told the inspector, ‘I don’t want to ever move because I love this place, it has such a homely feel and I wouldn’t be the person that I am now if I wasn’t here’. A social worker explained that, ‘I have been very impressed by the staff and their thoughtfulness, their ability to reflect and their commitment to my child.’  Detailed care plans outline how each young person’s unique needs are to be met. These are followed closely, reviewed frequently and adapted according to changing circumstances.  Multi-disciplinary meetings involving care, school and therapy staff ensure that the young people’s holistic needs are considered and that all behaviour is understood within the context of being a communication of feelings. An established staff team manages very personal and complex issues with great thoughtfulness. This helps the children develop a more positive view of themselves. One staff member stated, ‘I am the secure base for my child

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The children’s home provision is outstanding because:

and she is my world. I always keep her in mind, leaving her notes and little gifts to show I’m thinking of her and I’m coming back.’  Children are kept safe by staff that understand, and apply, robust policies. Safeguarding practice is good. Children are very rarely sanctioned or restrained and do not go missing.  Management of the home is exceptional. Close and cohesive working between the registered manager, responsible individual and senior members of staff ensures that care is scrutinised closely and that high standards are expected and achieved.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  All staff appraisals should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Information about this children’s home

This private children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to nine children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is run by a charitable organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/11/2015 Full Outstanding 10/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Outstanding

The children have achieved and sustained outstanding improvement in all areas of their development and behaviour since coming to the home. Plenty of quality time is spent with the children individually and as a group so that they are able to develop meaningful, secure relationships with staff and each other. This lays the foundation for the children to learn to trust the adults who care for them and to develop meaningful relationships. Members of staff know the children extremely well and understand their anxieties, worries, hopes and ambitions. Consequently, they have a deep understanding of why the children behave the way they do and know how to support and nurture them. Children have exceptional attachments with the staff.

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Outstanding

All the children have achieved good or remarkable outcomes in education. Some who were previously not attending school at all are now attending regularly. The determination and resolute commitment of staff have been reflected in an extremely high level of support for mainstream schools. This has included staff spending time alongside children at school and the provision of bespoke training for the school staff. Staff know that the children can and will achieve at school. Management track educational achievements through weekly meetings with some schools and colleges to ensure that the children make progress. One staff member stated that: ‘My child’s progression at school is tremendous and I’ve told her how very proud of her I am. She wasn’t able to take praise at the beginning, but you should now see the beam across her entire face.’

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Outstanding

Staff ensure that all the children understand exactly what is going to happen regarding decisions, plans and day-to-day routines. Observed planning meetings enable children to participate in the organisation of the day. This supports the children to feel secure and to make significant progress in all areas of their development. Children plan and are involved in completing a fairy garden, brownies, netball, swimming, gym club, history club, overnight visits with friends, and caring for pets including some fish and a hamster. The inspector observed a fun evening meal and pancake experience while at the home, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

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Outstanding

Detailed care plans outline how each child’s unique needs are to be met. These are followed closely, reviewed frequently and adapted according to changing circumstances. The children’s health needs are promoted and protected diligently and rigorously. Specific health needs are known and met, and specialist appointments organised when necessary. Therapeutic interventions and appointments are readily available to the children, with therapists based on site. If the children do not wish, or are unable to attend these appointments, guidance and advice are provided to the staff team and, in particular, key workers by the therapists. This ensures that the children’s emotional needs are thoroughly met.

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Outstanding

Staff benefit from meetings with the company’s therapy team. These meetings enable staff to receive advice and support in addition to their regular management supervision. They use this time to review the children’s progress against their targets and reflect on each individual’s developing and changing needs. Staff deal sensitively and skilfully with some very personal and complex issues. This benefits the children’s self-esteem and emotional well-being. The children live in a thoughtfully decorated and well-managed environment. One child who showed the inspector around the home was particularly proud of the photos of fun events as well as a graffiti canvas displaying ‘What makes you?’ Use of the home’s space has been very well considered, with the children’s needs at the centre of the decision-making. As one staff member stated, ‘It feels really homely when the house is filled with dolls’ houses and you end up standing on a Barbie

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Outstanding

shoe; it’s really nice and far more homely than ever before’. The manager ensures that the necessary physical and environmental checks of the premises are carried out at the appropriate intervals.

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Outstanding

The children feel safe and are safe in the home. Children have increased emotional resilience and self-confidence, which increases their safety now and in the future. The high level of safety and stability felt by the children enables them to focus on achieving at school, building constructive relationships, enjoying their childhoods and looking forward to a positive future.

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Outstanding

Staff respond appropriately to safeguarding incidents and update risk assessments to ensure that responses remain suitable. Communication between staff, the manager and other professionals is excellent and includes ongoing identification of situations or events that could lead the children into unsafe behaviour. Staff are aware of each child’s vulnerabilities and are alert to, for example, any event that might heighten the risk of self-harming. Consequently, incidents of self-harming have ceased, are understood and well managed, or have reduced significantly.

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Outstanding

All members of staff have been trained in recognising the signs of child sexual exploitation. They know that the children in the home are especially vulnerable and are alert to potential threats, especially with regards to internet usage and risks should the children go missing. This means that they are not complacent and that the children’s safety is at the forefront of staff practice.

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Outstanding

The children do not go missing from the home. They know that staff will actively search for them and are aware of the dangers if they were to go missing. Missing from care risk assessments are in place. These provide clear information as to where a child may be or how high the perceived risk is for the child. Staff demonstrate that they have a secure understanding of the individual risks associated with each young person and the action they are taking to reduce this.

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Outstanding

The staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs; they can recognise when they are in distress and upset. They observe situations developing and intervene rapidly with distraction techniques. Staff regularly address the underlying causes of the children’s behaviour with a psychologist and include this in risk planning. This helps staff provide early interventions and reduce children’s challenging behaviours. As a social worker states, ‘Following the breakdown of various foster placements for the young person, staff have done exceptionally well at gently putting in boundaries and emotionally supporting the young person whilst progressing with her plan. The unit are very efficient in their communication and remaining child-focused.’

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Outstanding

Restorative sanctions are used by staff on the infrequent occasions when children’s behaviour is inappropriate. They are also given the opportunity to sign or write comments on the records, which encourages them to develop an understanding of the impact of their behaviour. Children are aware that staff will not give up on them whatever behaviour they may display. Children also do not want to let those staff, who mean a lot to them, down. A social worker adds, ‘I think the staff are very nurturing and not afraid to give my child a cuddle when she needs one, which in my mind is a strength. They are also very resilient and continually give her the message that she cannot break the placement by her behaviour.’

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Outstanding

The recruitment process is robust, gaps in employment are checked, and references sought and verified by a phone call, which is clearly recorded. Recruitment and management systems ensure that only suitable staff, who are passionate about their work, are employed.

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Outstanding

A supportive, capable and caring registered manager is in post. She has over 13 years’ experience of working with children and young people and holds the level 5 qualification in leadership and management. The management team are hands-on in the home. They have high aspirations and expectations for children. The manager ensures that staff give consistent care to the children. Her methods continuously focus on learning and improving. A member of staff stated that the manager ‘manages incredibly well and this filters down to everyone, including the newest member of staff for a contained home and happy children. We are all working for the children’s best interest.’

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Outstanding

A meticulous approach to assessing the potential impact of new children has meant that the group is very stable. No children have moved in since the last inspection despite the home having capacity for a further five children. As a result, stability and consistency have been maintained. Assessments of potential children include a clear understanding of which children would best benefit from living in the home. Robust matching ensures that the correct prerequisites are in place at the home before any child moves in to ensure good outcomes for them, as well as for the children already living in the home.

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Outstanding

The children have all made exceptional progress since their arrival. They are happy and say that they feel part of a family. For some, this is the first time that they have had a positive experience of family life. This provides them with a secure environment. The manager has a remarkable understanding of each child’s unique needs and how the home can help and support their development.

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Outstanding

The manager monitors the functioning of the staff team through a workforce plan. All staff receive regular supervision; they confirm that this is effective and helpful in their professional development. They feel valued and well supported. Supervision notes demonstrate a clarity of vision within the home tied to the home’s model of care. The home has an effective training programme. Staff have completed comprehensive induction training and higher level courses according to children’s needs; for example, dealing with self-harm. The manager ensures that all new staff have both a supervisor and mentor. The whole team welcomes challenges from new staff, and its members use the opportunity to reflect on their practice. Probation periods are used effectively to ensure that only staff who demonstrate competency in safeguarding the children’s welfare are employed.

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Outstanding

The leaders and managers of the home are passionate about continuing professional development. They are hands-on and unite the whole staff team behind their drive for excellence. The responsible individual and quality team are all completing the level 7 diploma in leadership and management, and deputy managers and senior staff are invited to undertake the level 5 diploma. This is a learning organisation which routinely reflects upon its practice. The staff have regular team meetings comprising professional reflection and bespoke training or workshops, which are often informed by current research on topics related to practice. This is in addition to the regular consultation meetings that staff receive from the home’s clinical psychologist. Staff also have debriefs at the end of each shift; ‘We can test out whether we can learn something as no one person can contain the house on their own; it’s a great support mechanism,’ a member of staff

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Outstanding

explained Specific job descriptions, contracts of employment, and rigorous selection and interview criteria have been skilfully implemented to ensure that those appointed have the desired qualifications, skills and experience to meet the needs of the young people. However, children’s views are not consistently reflected in staff appraisals.

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Outstanding

The manager is very clear about the home’s strengths and areas for development. Through robust internal and external monitoring, she is confident that the home is conducted in line with the statement of purpose. The home has an independent visitor who visits monthly and consults with the children and staff to gain an accurate picture of the home. A particular strength is the manager’s ability to review and reflect on the services provided in the home. She methodically analyses the impact of the work that the home has done with the children.

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Outstanding

The home has working relationships with other agencies. Social workers commented on the beneficial communications about their child. One commented that: ‘I think that this is really significant that she is making these disclosures to [the home] and is a credit to the care; she obviously trusts the adults in her life and feels safe to talk about what is clearly a very difficult history.’ Effective relationships between the home and other agencies have helped to improve outcomes for children.

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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 whom 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 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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