Children's home run by Break Charity

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has improved in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has addressed all but one of the concerns identified at the last inspection, which has resulted in the following improvements:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Children have up-to-date personal emergency evacuation plans.  Children’s care plans are updated promptly after incidents occur.  The frequency of health and safety and fire checks has increased. Managers take action to address identified issues.  The management team has introduced additional monitoring systems. This includes health and safety checks and checks to monitor and manage requests for missing paperwork from placing authorities.  Eligible staff have completed their Level 3 qualification.  The majority of the staff have attended training in managing child sexual exploitation.  Although the staff continue to struggle to obtain copies of the children’s review meeting minutes, they are organised and proactive at requesting these.  There have been improvements to the decor of the building.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

However, the management team has not ensured that the information regarding the recruitment of agency staff satisfies regulatory requirements. This requirement remains unmet.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been very few incidents of physical intervention, and all of these relate to the same child. Managers do not consistently follow up the children’s concerns about incidents of physical intervention. There has been no consultation with the designated officer in relation to these concerns. This does not meet the organisation’s policy and does not ensure that children’s concerns are always thoroughly explored.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children’s progress is proportionate to the level of service that they receive during their short breaks. Their progress includes improvements in behaviour and social skills. This benefits the children and has a significant impact on families, such as when a child is enabled to continue living at home with their family. The staff and managers work closely with placing authorities when children are the subject of a child protection plan. A social worker said, ‘They [staff] have been absolutely fantastic in supporting the child protection work. They contributed to the meetings and they are supporting elements of the plan. They are a key part and we have made such progress due to everybody’s hard work.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No additional children have started using the service since the last inspection. Those who have moved on have done so due to their family circumstances changing or the young person turning 18.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monitoring visits by an independent person are generally robust and offer challenge. The recent review of the quality of care is good and offers challenge. The management team is open and engaging. It has some understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses but has not picked up the issues relating to physical interventions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Feedback from professionals is positive. The staff talk confidently about engaging with social workers, and social workers talk positively about the quality of service provided. The social workers are particularly positive about the flexible approach that the management team takes and the supportive response to unforeseen emergencies. A social work manager said, ‘The management is very responsive to need and crisis.’

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Information about this children's home

A registered charity owns this home, which provides short breaks for up to six children at any one time. The children who use the service have a learning disability and/or a social and communication disability within the autistic spectrum. The children may also have associated physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 24/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 21/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good 27/03/2015 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 protection of children standard, the registered provider must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(vii) that staff are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. This is with particular regard to ensuring that when children raise concerns following physical interventions these are shared with safeguarding professionals. 03/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. If an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, recruitment checks must satisfy the requirements of paragraph (3) of regulation 32. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(b)(3)(d) Schedule 2) This is in particular reference to ensuring that the provider can demonstrate how they satisfied themselves of the suitability of workers provided by an agency. 20/04/2017

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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 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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