Children's Home run by North Yorkshire Council in North Yorkshire

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The two requirements and three recommendations raised at the last inspection are now met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff pay careful attention to any measures used in response to young people‟s behaviour. This means that in addition to ensuring that the required records are maintained, they focus on restorative approaches that help young people to think about the impact of their behaviour. A member of staff said, „We have brought in “restorative Fridays”. We sit down and look at what has been documented. It may be that that any concerns can be addressed by something simple, like a young person saying sorry.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A revised format of the independent visitor reports now makes clear their view about whether the home safeguards and promotes the welfare of young people. This type of effective scrutiny helps to identify good practice and areas for further development, and meaningfully contributes to ongoing improvements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand that young people can sometimes vent their difficult feelings, causing damage to their surroundings. In order to address this, the statement of purpose outlines how good material standards in the home are assured. This means that stakeholders are fully informed about what is done to repair any damage. This also ensures that young people live in a comfortable and homely setting, helping them to raise their own future aspirations. About a redecorating project, a young person said, „I really enjoyed painting that wall and I didn‟t think that I would.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are effective in working collaboratively with young people‟s social workers and other professionals. As a result, there is shared agreement, understanding and ownership about how best to manage behaviour if young people are at risk. Young people receive consistent messages about how to stay safe, reducing the need to test the boundaries. About the impact of this, a police professional said: „Young people‟s negativity towards the police and others has also changed for the better. This has come about because all of the staff here, over and over again, are slowly chipping away. They really persevere.‟ Staff supervision is meaningful, supportive and relevant to the needs of young people. Leaders and managers ensure that staff know their responsibilities and provide them with guidance so that they reflect on how to improve their practice. Clear records provided to staff following supervision sessions mean that they have

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

these available for reference purposes. This promotes their professional development and ensures their individual accountability.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff enable young people who have experienced high levels of trauma and difficulties to make considerable progress. Their social skills improve so that they can express themselves, and they gain increased understanding about their emotional needs. Staff are also mindful of the increased pressure that puberty can bring for young people. They take these factors into account, tailoring the educational support and activities to suit the needs of individual young people. This means that they are more willing to take part in learning. About supporting a young person, a member of staff said, „We are getting some additional funding for [Name‟s] education and we are planning how to use this, taking into account his social needs as well.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff build trusting relationships with young people. They are more willing to talk to staff about what may be troubling them and to work with other services that can help them to understand the impact of the choices that they make. This leads to decreased substance misuse and improved levels of behaviour. A member of staff said, „[Name] has done a lot with the drugs worker. He likes to ask lots of questions. He is taking more responsibility for his behaviour.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people‟s safety and well-being are improved because of the actions that staff take. A range of in-house specialist professionals, including a plainclothes police officer, work with young people. This means that any incidents, including any absences or „missing‟, are carefully monitored and followed up. This is in addition to following the agreed protocols that are in place. As a result, the number of these incidents is significantly reduced as the approach of staff is to address the reasons underlying any concerns. A member of staff said, „The numbers are far improved from what they were.‟

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new manager has been appointed who is in the process of applying to register with Ofsted. This person is an experienced and qualified social worker who previously worked as a deputy at the home. She is child centred, and models to staff this approach by demonstrating how best to respond to young people. As a result, care practice is more consistent and staff morale is better, leading to improved outcomes for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers are responsible for a diverse service, including outreach support in addition to the provision of this residential home. Improved overall management means that young people who live at the home are not adversely affected by the operation of this additional service. Forward thinking by senior staff results in a reduced length of stay for those young people admitted on an emergency basis. This means that young people who are at the home longer term live in calm atmosphere.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Ofsted has been notified of one serious incident. This demonstrates the home‟s ability to respond well to young people in need of medical help due to substance misuse. The significant reduction in the number and seriousness of notifications also bears out these other improvements. A senior member of staff said, „We are managing the outreach service much better. I try to send staff out to support families and carers, helping to sort things out, so that we don‟t get breakdowns leading to admissions.‟

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Information about this children’s home

The home can accommodate up to six children and a further two children off site for up to 28 days. It is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/10/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/08/2015 Full Requires improvement 23/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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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