Children's home SC032725

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

Recommendations made at the last inspection are met. There is better recording of room searches and general risk assessments more clearly evaluate individual levels of risk. The manager is using a monthly police profile to excellent effect, analysing any hotspots around the location of the home and plotting activity on a map of the area. This ensures that young people and staff are well informed about current risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A recommendation regarding the use of sanctions has resulted in a complete review of the home’s approach to behaviour management. As a consequence, there have been no financial sanctions for the past three months. Staff use their relationships with young people to support them to develop insight and understanding of the impact of their behaviour. Work is now undertaken by young people by way of reparation. For example, an area of decking has been built in the back garden by one young person and his key worker.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person who moved on to independence did so in a planned way. Staff were active in helping her to adjust to her new placement. Two young people have been admitted to the home since the last inspection. The manager worked with the young people concerned to tailor the introduction to the home to meet their specific needs. This helped them to settle in well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All of the young people are making significant progress, some from difficult starting points. They are all engaged in education or training and receive effective support from staff. A strength of the home is the creative approach taken by the manager to enrich the cultural and social aspects of the lives of young people. For example, there is a log cabin in the grounds where young people and staff gather around a central point to talk and relax. The home also has a yurt located in woodland where young people undertake forest skills training and camp out. This helps young people to develop their emotional resilience as they learn to face new challenges.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are helped to keep themselves safe. Staff give them advice and guidance about how to do this, with support from professionals such as the sexual health nurse and an advocacy service. One young person has a safety word to use on the phone if she ever feels under threat. Instances of young people going missing are low and continue to reduce. There have been no complaints about the quality of care. A ‘diary room’ is being planned to increase the opportunity for young people to reflect and feed back their views about living at the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of new staff have joined the team and the manager is extremely diligent about helping them to build relationships with young people and colleagues. Young people were involved in their recruitment. This reflects how the needs of young people are central to the running of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager provides exceptional leadership, and is imaginative and outward looking. This approach results in strong partnerships with young people, their families and other professionals. Improvements to the home and the quality of care provided are constantly under review. This results in high standards of care that contribute to young people making significant progress.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is provided by a local authority and is registered to care for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/11/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/08/2015 Full Good 19/02/2015 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 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 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 Text phone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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