Children's home in Winchester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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 registered manager utilises the quality standards as a framework for monitoring, challenge and continuous improvement. He links the standards to each young person’s placement plan, the personal development plan for staff and the improvement plan for the home. Young people live in a home that has established a culture of excellence in which their needs are at the forefront of practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make excellent progress. Relationships with friends and families improve significantly, meaning that contact can increase and be a positive experience for all. There are clear plans for moving on, for example back to the family home. However, for one young person, the pathway plan is overdue for review.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to experience a range of activities. They gain confidence to try out new things and explore what they enjoy, such as joining a dance club or basketball team. They develop a positive self-image and are motivated to improve their health, for example by choosing healthy food options.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have an excellent relationship with education professionals. There is a clear communication channel to exchange information about young people’s welfare, as well as their learning. Staff secure agreements about strategies to keep young people safe, with oversight by other professionals arranged when necessary. Young people begin to engage with other agencies, such as child and adolescent mental health services, to talk about their difficult and painful feelings. Consequently, school placements are maintained as young people work through the issues.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage young people to develop healthy relationships with each other. The staff team is on hand to defuse potential conflict and suggest alternative language to foster a mature conversation when there are differences of opinion. An example is when one young person was helped to tell his peers of his impending move.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are able to talk freely to the staff. They tell staff when they have made a poor decision that could be detrimental to their welfare. Staff take swift action to keep young people as safe as possible. They challenge others in the community about their practice, such as the supply of medication.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are extremely successful in de-escalating incidents. Staff give young people who are in a highly agitated state the space and time to calm down. Young people are then able to consider their options and make the right choices. Staff have little need to use physical intervention. Young people have reflective conversations with their key worker after an incident and are involved in the review of their risk assessment. The registered manager oversees all significant incidents. He ensures that there is learning, and an action plan is drawn up to minimise the chance of recurrence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from care is rare. When there is an incident, staff are diligent at following the agreed protocol. This includes notifying other professionals, such as the police, to maximise the opportunity for a safe return. Staff work with the young person to understand the underlying emotional disturbance causing them to behave in this way. There has been a significant decrease in the number of missing from care episodes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has added to the admission process an analysis of the possible impact on others already living in the home, as recommended at the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by the local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/12/2016 Full Outstanding 04/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 20/10/2015 Full Requires improvement 24/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

 The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that there is a formal review of a young person pathway plan when necessary.

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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 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 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 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

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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