Children's home run by South West Childcare Services in Plymouth

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 declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of shortfalls have been identified, resulting in this home being judged as declined in effectiveness since the last inspection. The shortfalls stem from a lack of action and effective oversight. During this inspection the registered individual set about addressing these shortfalls and discussing future strategies to prevent these issues reoccurring in the future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff failed to ensure the safety of one young person on one occasion. They left them in their bedroom with other young people from the local community and went to bed. In addition, the manager failed to review this incident and formally discuss the practice shortfalls effectively with all of the staff involved. Supervision for staff is of varying quality and does not always provide them with meaningful and reflective support. A shortfall in this area was also noted in the full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

When young people go missing from home, staff are not following the direction provided for them by the manager. There is confusion about whether young people are missing or absent, and this resulted in one young person being missing on one occasion for over 24 hours without the staff or police actively looking for them. Staff do not always establish the whereabouts of young people, even when they are provided with addresses to check. This means that young people are at times missing without any adults or the police actively searching for them to promote early and safe return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Due to the confusion about what staff should do when young people go missing from home, young people are not offered or provided with a return from missing interview. This means that young people are not given the opportunity to talk to an independent person should they have any worries or concerns about their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This organisation is led by a dedicated, highly skilled and child-focused registered individual. The registered individual knows the children who live in this home well, and has a regular presence in the home, supporting the staff team. The registered individual has ensured that the recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. The staff report that they feel appreciated and valued. The registered individual ensures that the children and young people in her care are at the centre of practice, and models this approach to her staff. She is quick to challenge when things fall below her expectations. These arrangements ensure that practice is built upon sound foundations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress in all aspects of their lives. Children of school age are attending education and are motivated to learn. Education is a positive part of their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents in the home have significantly reduced since the full inspection, and young people are now managing their emotions and behaviours very well. They have trusting relationships with the adults who care for them, based on mutual respect. This helps young people to seek out the support and nurturing from staff that is always available. Despite this improvement, shortfalls were identified in the reviewing and recording of incidents, meaning that key questions about practice are not being asked. This prevents the registered manager from fully understanding all the behaviours in the home and ensuring a consistent approach to care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s physical health is good and they are supported to attend all appropriate appointments. Young people’s emotional health and well-being continue to improve. Specialist support is in place to ensure that they have a safe space to talk openly about their worries and feelings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported to have regular and meaningful contact with their families, and this contact has steadily increased. Good communication with and support for families ensure that this contact is positive for the whole family.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff talk about young people with warmth. They know them very well and are able to talk about their personalities in detail. They understand their likes and dislikes and want the best for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are provided with good-quality relevant training and input from a psychologist to support them in their parenting task. The registered individual is committed to ensuring that the staff have the right training in order for the children to have a good standard of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has effective systems in place to share information on a day-to-day basis outside the regular care-planning documentation. This means that staff respond to the children’s needs without delay, and that their needs are under constant review.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home belongs to a small organisation based in the south west of England. The home currently cares for three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Some children may also have learning needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 15/11/2016 Full Good 12/11/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/06/2015 Full Good

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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

(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies; (b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so

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Requirement Due date

as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. In particular, staff must respond to children being missing from home in line with children’s care plans. When children do go missing, staff should actively search for them to establish their whereabouts. In addition, staff should ensure that any incidents in which children are or could be at risk of harm are managed effectively and they support and monitor these situations to reduce risks until they are resolved. 01/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The leadership and management standard is that the 01/05/2017 registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff work as a team when appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality

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Requirement Due date

of care provided in the home; (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. In particular, the registered manager must demonstrate that they have the skills to identify and address areas of poor practice, have oversight of all incidents, and have monitoring systems in place to ensure they address poor practice and are able to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided.

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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

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

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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