Children's Home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

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

Young people continue to enjoy very positive and supportive relationships with staff. Given the short-term nature of the service provided by staff at the home, staff work meticulously to capture young people’s interests and support them during a time of change and uncertainty. One young person’s social worker commented, ‘Staff have worked really well with her, and they have managed some challenging times while supporting her.’ A young person told the inspector, ‘I like it here, I like the staff’. Relationships between young people and staff are constructive and helpful. Staff remain skilled in encouraging positive behaviour, and when this falls short of the expected standards, they de-escalate potentially difficult situations through discussion, patience and role modelling.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to benefit from a service that provides stability and a pathway towards a more permanent placement. Occasionally, young people stay longer than a 12-week period, thereby avoiding repeated temporary placements, and offering them constancy while a new placement is identified. However, this does not always reflect the service outlined in the home’s statement of purpose.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have significant histories of placing themselves at risk of harmful behaviour, such as in their personal relationships, or going missing from care. Staff continue to advise and assist young people to make safer choices and to change their behaviour. Staff will involve other professionals when this is helpful to the individual young person. If risky behaviours continue, staff are diligent in recording these incidents and updating risk assessments, reinforced by good communication with colleagues and other professionals. A social worker confirmed, ‘Staff have kept in close touch with me and they keep me informed of events.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to help young people develop age-appropriate independence skills, such as cooking, budgeting and self-care. Consequently, some young people move to semi-independent placements and feel more prepared to take the step towards independence. Since the last inspection, improvements have been made to the recording of young people’s independence work, but this still lacks an analysis of how the staff team set targets with young people. Some records note that one-to- one discussions take place between young people and staff, but there is no review of young people’s progress or suggestions on which areas need to be progressed in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most young people attend school. One young person has started school recently, after a significant amount of time out of education. Staff continue to closely liaise with educational professionals to support this young person’s progress, assisting his learning and development. Another young person has not had a school or college placement since living at the home. Managers and staff have worked closely with other professionals to try to identify a suitable placement, without success to date. Plans are in place for her longer-term future. However, in the meantime she is missing opportunities to learn and progress, and to develop social skills in another setting.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most information about young people remains well maintained in their personal files, and staff have the necessary information to understand and meet their needs. However, one young person’s file did not include the necessary documents required by regulation and, consequently, staff lack information about her situation, and how best to support her.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to live in a well-maintained, clean and comfortable environment. Young people are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms and to take care of their personal space. Occasional damage to the fabric and contents of the home is quickly rectified. This helps to ensure that a positive environment is maintained for the benefit of all. Young people enjoy a range of healthy, nutritious and tasty food, freshly prepared daily. Staff gain feedback from young people about menu choices, meaning that all tastes are catered for.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people stay in touch with their families and friends wherever possible. Arrangements are negotiated sensitively with young people and support given when required. Young people’s views and opinions remain central to the running of the home and this is canvassed in a variety of ways, including young people’s meetings and written feedback to young people. Young people also participate in frequent one-to-one discussions with staff covering many topics, including safety, relationships, behaviour, and so on. The discussions are well recorded and informative.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to maintain good oversight of the running of the home and quality of care provided to young people. She works closely with the independent visitor, responding to any shortfalls identified in their monthly report. The registered manager continues to complete six-monthly self-evaluations of the service, analysing strengths and areas for development. The current priorities relate to forthcoming changes to the service over future months.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short-term assessment placements of a maximum of 12 weeks for up to five young people. Assessments inform decisions about the next suitable placement for young people. The service is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/10/2016 Full Good 24/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/10/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 Interim Improved 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 so that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so, the registered person must ensure that staff –

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(vii) raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child's education or training provider and the child's placing authority (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. 28/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (case records) for each child which include the information and documents listed in schedule 3 in relation to each child, in particular a copy of the local authority placement plan and review minutes. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 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:  Ensure that staff prepare each child for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or to live independently. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)  Ensure that the registered person leads and manages the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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. 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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