Children's home run by Livability

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is now registered with Ofsted. She has addressed all of the points made at the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is now decorated and equipped to a good standard. Since the relocation of the premises in August 2016, hoists have been installed in bedrooms and communal areas, a new kitchen has been put in, the flooring has been replaced in the young people‟s lounge, skylights have been installed to increase the amount of natural light into the home and their bedrooms have been decorated taking into account the young people‟s ideas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, there were two systems used for recording young people‟s care needs and some confusion among staff as to which system was the most appropriate. The manager has now established one concise electronic care plan system. Staff regularly update this and are aware of what system to use. The migration of all young people‟s care plans onto this system is anticipated to take approximately another three months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has decreased the home‟s reliance on using agency staff to fulfil shifts. The home‟s use of agency staff has decreased by half since the last inspection. The manager has also arranged for consistent agency staff to be used so that young people are familiar with them. Recruitment has taken place and the team will soon be at capacity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager now ensures that regular agency staff who work in the home receive professional supervision to ensure that they follow the home‟s procedures and are, therefore, accountable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recruitment and vetting processes for staff have developed further. The manager and human resources manager visited the staff agency‟s office to spot check their recruitment systems. They also now insist that the agency supplies more details at the time when a staff member is first allocated to the home, to include information of who their references are from, their previous experience, training and employment history. Recruitment checks on staff who have previously lived or worked overseas have also been improved to ensure that individuals provide a certificate of good conduct covering the previous five years before they commence work at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager ensures that all significant events in the protection of young people are notified to Ofsted. Her follow-up actions to the concerns identified with staff members‟ practice are robust, and she informs Ofsted with updated notifications.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When necessary the manager notifies the relevant people in the local authority about identified safeguarding concerns and works collaboratively with external agencies.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager continually strives to develop the staff team. Team meetings are used for staff to review how the care that they provide meets the quality standards and how they can evidence this. Supervisions are used to test and strengthen staff members‟ safeguarding knowledge.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people and families are engaged in their care experience through topic work. One young person recently completed work on a project entitled „Ourselves‟, and another two enjoyed a visit to Big Ben in London as part of their „Time‟ topic. Folders of their work are given to young people to show their families and social workers what they have been doing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has an agreed care plan and risk assessments in place with a young person‟s local authority, health professionals and parent to manage a safeguarding concern that a young person presents to themselves. However, the use of a specified restrictive practice to stop the young person‟s self-injurious behaviour is not routinely accurately recorded and monitored. This does not ensure that the practice is effectively reviewed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has a clear policy and guidelines about staff members‟ use of mobile phones at work and delivering personal care to young people. The home‟s lone- working risk assessment covers many health and safety aspects of a staff member working by themselves, but not does detail the risks and control measures that are in place to protect young people from being supervised by one staff member only.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 16 children and young people. It offers a short-break service and a residential provision to children and young people up to the age of 19 who may have physical disabilities and associated complex learning and care needs. The home is operated by an organisation with charitable status. The home is registered as a non-maintained residential special school, but is regulated against the children‟s home regulations as it provides placements for 52 weeks of the year.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Full Requires improvement 18/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 25/06/2015 Full Requires improvement 20/11/2014 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

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

(3) The registered person must ensure that— (a) within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— (i) the name of the child; (ii) details of the child‟s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (iii) the date, time and location of the use of the measure; (iv) a description of the measure and its duration; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; (vi) the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; (vii) the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and (viii) a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to

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Requirement Due date

do so (“the authorised person”)— (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and (c) within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This is with reference to including in the lone-working risk assessment details about staff members‟ unsupervised access to children. („Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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. 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 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 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 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,

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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

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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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