Children's home run by Suffolk County Council in Ipswich

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . The management team has fully addressed the requirement and recommendation from the last inspection. The home has been redecorated and provides an attractive and comfortable environment that the children take pride in. The staff now record full explanations for any room searches. The children’s responses to the searches are also recorded. Since the last inspection, there has been a significant change in the management team. The registered manager has taken a period of planned leave, and her role is being covered by another very experienced manager. Every effort was made to support the children through this transition, but some found the change difficult to accept. This led to an increase in challenging behaviour for some months. The staff and management team were patient and resilient, and the children have finally

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

settled. During this period, a number of the children have been admitted to the home. The usual process is to introduce someone new gradually, through extended visits, mealtimes and overnight stays. However, due to exceptional circumstances, some of the children came to the home at short notice and without this careful preparation. This was difficult for them and had a negative impact on the group of children living in the home at the time. The children took some time to establish positive relationships with each other and with the staff. Some of the children have now moved on as a result of planned moves into alternative placements, or have taken up independent accommodation. The atmosphere is now calmer and more relaxed. Each child has a detailed risk assessment, which identifies areas of concern and matches them with management strategies. These are reviewed regularly, but do not clearly indicate any changes or

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

improvements. As a result, it is difficult to track a child’s progress in a straightforward way. Nevertheless, plans are comprehensive, and the response from the staff to any possible risk within the home is robust. For instance, when in the community, children routinely maintain contact with staff. The staff work with social workers to provide specialist help for individual children who may have a history of going missing, criminal behaviour or sexual exploitation. As a result, children are safeguarded. The children have maintained solid progress in their education. They all have full- time programmes in college, alternative provision or home tutoring. Their attendance is very high, and they engage well. They are taking exams in core subjects and have planned careers. Some children have demonstrated creative talents, writing a first-hand account of their time in care, which a local drama company has taken an interest in. This demonstrates a confident and positive

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

outlook and the ability to reflect. One young person said, ‘Before I came here I’ve moved around a lot. Now I’m settled and been doing education I have progressed so much. I decided that I wanted to become a better person.’ The management team monitors the service using a balance of data including individual care plans, notifications, negative incidents and complaints. The team considers these alongside feedback from the children, professionals and parents. Incidents of physical intervention or going missing are extremely rare, and many children do not experience these at all. Return from missing interviews are prompt and robust. The children can earn a small financial reward for completing their education and daily routines. However, incidents of a special achievement during the week are not routinely recorded and acknowledged consistently. The children are involved in regular fire drills. When a new child joins the home,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the staff arrange a drill, so that the child is familiar with the procedure. However, the recording of who participated does not differentiate between the children and the staff, or make a comment on the success of the drill. Consequently, it is difficult to confirm the response of the children specifically or identify areas for improvement. The children know how to make a complaint, but much prefer to speak to staff directly. They are high spirited and very assertive, but also generally respectful with staff, who respond confidently. The social worker for one child said, ‘She will resent those staff who try to put in boundaries and does not like to be told, but is capable of reflecting and she is improving.’

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority owns and maintains the home. It provides long-term care and accommodation for up to six children, of either sex, aged between 11 and 17 years, who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

04/02/2015 Interim Declined in 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

The registered person must ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedure to be followed in case of a fire. (Regulation 25 (1)(d)). With particular reference to identifying which staff and children participate and commenting on the quality of the drill. 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff can identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10). With particular reference to ensuring that risk assessments are up to date and clearly record any change or improvement.  Ensure that the home’s records on each child represent a significant contribution to their life history. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5). With particular reference to acknowledging positive behaviour and achievements.

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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

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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