Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Shropshire

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

Since the full inspection, there have been two changes to the young people living at the home, with one discharge and one new admission. Staff plan well for transitions and are proactive in their approach. For example, in preparation for one young person’s move into semi-independence, members of staff took the time to explore the local area with the young person, completing several visits so that the young person was familiar with it and confident to be on their own. Follow-up visits even after the placement had ended were used to reassure the young person and provide the opportunity for additional support to be offered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff place a high value on education and work collaboratively with school to understand and respond to barriers to engagement. For some young people, this has resulted in remarkable changes in both their engagement and attitude to school. As a result, these young people are not only regularly attending school but they are now exploring further educational opportunities. However, for other young people, their non-school attendance remains entrenched.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work hard to develop relationships with young people even when they meet resistance. Staff do not give up and demonstrate an understanding of why some young people struggle to trust and open up.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who have previously displayed risk-taking behaviours including going missing are no longer displaying such behaviours. When a young person does go missing from home, members of staff are swift in their response. This prompt action means that any potential risk to the young person’s welfare is minimised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Members of staff do not always document which visitors have been to the home. While this does not have a direct impact on young people, it does mean that records are not always accurate. Similarly, staff are inconsistent in how they document the day-to-day activities for young people, and sometimes this means that records are not sufficiently detailed. This limits the opportunities for staff to understand the patterns and trends of young people’s behaviours and therefore improve the personalised care offered. At the full inspection, three requirements and three recommendations were raised. The registered manager has successfully addressed the three requirements and, as a result, all staff receive monthly supervision, physical interventions records are now appropriately scrutinised and partnership working has been improved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Of the three recommendations raised, two remain outstanding. There is evidence that some areas of the home have been redecorated, including walls being repainted and new soft furnishings provided. However, there remains evidence of historical repairs which have not been completed to a high standard, and some carpets are stained and in need of replacement. The registered manager is alert to this and has outlined in her development plan how to implement these improvements. In addition, staff are inconsistent in their use of the positive praise and reward system and as such young people’s achievements and success are not always fully celebrated.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered for three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned and managed by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/05/2016 Full Good 20/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/05/2015 Full Requires improvement 12/02/2015 Interim Sustained 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

In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure that staff–

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Requirement Due date

(2) (a)(i) help each child to achieve the education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans

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Requirement Due date

(iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers

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Requirement Due date

(ix) help each child who is above compulsory school age to participate in further education, training or employment and to prepare for future care, education or employment. 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4.

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, this refers to a record of all visitors to the home, and to children, including the names of visitors and the reason for the visit.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a), schedule 4(5)) 01/05/2017

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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

 ensure that the home maintains a nurturing, homely and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. ( ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  ensure that staff understand the system for rewarding and celebrating positive behaviour and recognising when children have managed situations well. ( ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 46, paragraph 9.39)  ensure that staff understand the importance of careful objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality Standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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. Whenever 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.

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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 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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