Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make outstanding progress. The registered manager ensures that young people receive high levels of warmth and reassurance from staff who are trained in specialist therapeutic approaches. This means that young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties are well supported to manage their feelings of upset and anxiety, promoting their health and overall well- being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has worked hard to ensure that the environment is decorated to a very high standard, with modern furnishings. This makes it a relaxed, homely place for young people to live. As a consequence, young people are comfortable and reassured by their surroundings, enabling them to enjoy positive experiences with other young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are able to access a variety of creative and bespoke activities. Young people have a choice in the activities and are able to decide where they go on holiday. For example, one young person is planning to join sea cadets, and staff are assisting with equipment and practical arrangements to make this happen. Another young person is planning a trip abroad. This means that young people are given opportunities to meet other young people outside of their home. This enhances their progress and sense of achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team ensures that young people’s challenging behaviour is well managed through vigorous and safe care planning. Young people are kept safe with minimal use of physical intervention. There have been no episodes of missing-from-care or child sexual exploitation since the last inspection. Subsequently, young people are safe and are supported to make positive choices. Safeguarding concerns are managed well and procedures are followed to protect young people. However, safeguarding referrals are not consistently recorded with clear outcomes by the registered manager to track the progress and outcomes for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff team work in partnership with other professionals, such as education, police, therapists, advocates and social workers. This means that the overall needs of young people are met, enabling them to make outstanding progress. A social worker told the inspector, ‘Staff are excellent in communicating with family, with supporting contact arrangements for young people, and they challenge appropriately and push for young people to progress.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people have challenging behaviour and may place themselves at risk of harm when in the community. As a result, staff practice involves restricting young people’s liberty by locking external doors, which prevents their freedom of movement. This means that young people are not able to leave the home without restriction. As a consequence, this could prevent young people from having the opportunity to move freely and from developing their independence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and staff team continue to provide an outstanding service to young people and their families. The nurturing approach of staff results in young people making positive progress while feeling safe and secure. One young person told the inspector, ‘It is really good actually, well as good as it can be in terms of being in care. The food is good and I have lots of choice, we eat out once a month and I go to the cinema, go carting and swimming.’

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority-operated home. It provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 06/09/2016 Full Outstanding 29/10/2015 Full Outstanding

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

20: Restraint and deprivation of liberty

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that restraint in relation to a child must be necessary and proportionate (Regulation 20 (2)). This specifically relates to young people being able to freely exit the building. 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children

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Requirement Due date

(2) The procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

(d) provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. 31/03/2017

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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 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

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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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