Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

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

At the last full inspection, two requirements and two recommendations were made. At the time of this inspection, these are met. Since the last inspection, the previous service has moved out and there is a new registered manager and service operating. The service has expanded to provide a short-break service for up to six young people. Improvements are made to the kitchen area and lounge areas, with all six bedrooms redecorated and modernised. This means that young people have a comfortable, relaxing environment to stay in that reassures them and provides for their needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no complaints and no use of physical restraint, and young people have not been missing from the home. This is because the staff team receives a wide range of training in safeguarding, adheres to young people’s short-break plans and maintains young people’s routines. This reduces anxiety and episodes of challenging behaviour, and keeps young people safe. One young person told the inspector, ‘The staff are good and I really like the roast dinners.’ Another young person had just arrived in an emergency and told the inspector, ‘I like the registered manager, I am able to talk to him and staff. I feel they have helped me.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff at the home have well-established relationships with the police, social workers and local health professionals. This means that the staff team works well with professionals in the best interests of young people, minimising episodes of harm. Staff respond quickly to young people’s emotional needs during their short breaks, which keeps young people at ease. Consultation from young people and their families is positive. This is monitored regularly to improve the service, ensuring that a good standard of care is provided to young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that young people have thorough risk assessments in place to cover all of their needs during their stays. Good communication takes place between parents and social workers to provide the best care for young people and to ensure that young people know what decisions are being made about their care. However, not all short-break plans are in place when young people stay. This means that young people’s needs may be overlooked and that risks are not clearly identified, potentially impacting the quality of care that young people receive. Medical consent forms are not clear and are open to misinterpretation, which could stop young people receiving the medical treatment they need when required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are able to access new opportunities and meet other young people. Young people are supported by staff to ensure that their behaviour is well managed and that they make good choices. This means that improvements are made in the behaviour of some young people and that they make positive progress. The service is very innovative and flexible, and supports young people and families at times of crisis, preventing family breakdown. This means that young people are able to remain in the care of their families, improving their overall health and reducing the likelihood of harm.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority operated home. It provides short breaks for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, some of whom are children looked after and some of whom live at home with their parents or carers.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/10/2016 Full Good 11/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/12/2015 Full Good 09/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

18 Placement plan for a child who is not looked after.

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must prepare a placement plan for the child before the child is admitted to the home or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible after the child is admitted to the home.

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Requirement Due date

(5) The placement plan must set out, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

(b) the arrangements made for the child’s care, education and health, and this is with specific reference to the issue of medical consent for each child cared for under short-break arrangements. 30/04/17

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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.

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Information about this inspection

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 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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