Children's home run by Tree House Care Fostering Solutions Ltd in North East Lincolnshire

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

There were no requirements or recommendations raised at the last inspection. The committed, skilled and experienced staff team has maintained outstanding levels of care for the children and young people, allowing them to blossom. A social work team manager said: ‘The difference from where we were before Christmas to now is just amazing, and that’s because the staff have stuck by him no matter what.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No children or young people have left the home or been admitted since the last inspection. The long-term resident group are continuing to make exceptional progress, as a result of the consistent and structured care that they receive from the experienced and nurturing staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three of the four children and young people are in full-time education where they have 100% attendance. The fourth child’s unique care needs mean that, for the present, he is unable to attend a formal education setting. He is responding extremely well to individual tutoring and has progressed to being able to tolerate attending one session a week with the tutor, away from the home. Young people are thriving as a result of their interaction within their education settings and the support of the home. They clearly take pride in their achievements, enjoy going to school and benefit greatly from the routine provided by school attendance. A staff member said: ‘She’s doing really well at school, to the point where she has been mentoring a new pupil who has come into the sixth form.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people remain in this home until they are old enough to move on to adult provision. The proactive manager works closely with partner agencies in order to ensure that young people can be carefully prepared for transition to their new home. This has proved extremely successful in the past. However, one young person has not yet had a suitable new provision formally identified for him by his placing authority. It is not clear whether the placing authority has been sufficiently challenged by the provider about this. This could have a negative impact on the preparation that the staff team undertakes with the young person to ensure that he is ready for the move. Effective care planning covers all aspects of young people’s unique and diverse needs, allowing them to thrive. Strong collaborative working with partner agencies, including the child and adolescent mental health services as well as placing social

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

workers, benefits children and young people. As a result, each child and young person is making significant progress in the areas that they need to. This ranges from trusting staff members and improving their personal hygiene to being able to manage the need for personal time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people enjoy living in a spacious, comfortable home which is arranged into two separate but adjoining houses. These properties are in their own grounds and have a wall and locked gate to keep them secure. One young person lives in one house and three live in the other. They are able to access each other’s houses if they wish and spend social time together. One young person said of another, ‘[Name] is my mate.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people decorate their bedrooms to their choice and have their personal toys and games in their rooms. One child had been choosing not to sleep in his room for some time. The manager and staff team had taken advice from the psychologist as to how to get him to use a bedroom again, but this had not been successful with that room. He now has a smaller bedroom to move in to, which he is very excited about. A social work team manager said: ‘I couldn’t fault the staff. From our perspective we’ve been working alongside psychologists to try to break his cycle.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The enthusiastic and committed staff team works very hard to enable children and young people to engage in inclusive activities in the community. The resultant growth in social skills and self-confidence empowers young people to build friendships and participate in hobbies. For example, one young person has her friends from school home for tea and is doing so well in her riding lessons that she is due to take part in a national competition.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Comprehensive and detailed risk assessments inform each child and young person’s individual behaviour management plan. This allows staff to use de- escalation techniques and humour with children and young people well, helping them to calm down and preventing aggressive behaviours. On the occasions when physical intervention is necessary to prevent injury to young people and staff, all appropriate actions are taken. The manager’s excellent oversight of each incident empowers all concerned to learn from the incident. Children and young people are safeguarded by these measures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As young people start to understand the consequences of their actions, there is a positive reduction in negative behaviours. There has only been one sanction imposed since the last inspection. This was appropriate to the incident, and the young person involved was able to take responsibility for her actions. This growth in understanding enhances young people’s future life chances. High staffing levels and stringent health and safety measures further protect children and young people. They are able to move freely about within the adjacent homes and in the well-equipped garden but not to get out into the road. This prevents them from wandering off and consequently there have not been any missing episodes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children and young people each have their own independent advocate. These advocates not only encourage them to share their wishes and feelings but also assist them in making complaints. Children and young people state that they are happy in the home and that they feel listened to. There have not been any complaints.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to seven young people who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/01/2017 Full Outstanding 02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/09/2015 Full Outstanding 17/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendation

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  When the placing authority does not provide the input and services needed in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge it to meet the child’s needs (see regulation 5 (c)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)

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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. Whenever 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

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD 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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