Children's home run by Kent County Council in Ashford

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

The registered manager and staff team have maintained standards and continued their drive to improve the experience of young people with complex needs who come for short stays. Staff also seek ways to continually improve the experiences of parents and carers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people benefit from a care package that is a sensitive blend of skilled personal care, relaxation and social enjoyment. Children and young people are helped to expand their experience of the world, increase their independence and develop greater confidence. A parent recently described the service as being ‘a home-from-home experience with professionalism’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people have benefited from a more settled and stable group of staff who are able to offer increased consistency and continuity of care, as well as increased opportunities for building trusting relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Moving in and out procedures continue to be reviewed and refined to improve the efficiency and ease of transitions for children and young people, as well as for parents and carers. This contributes to a positive stay experience.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The most recent regulation 45 review report reflects the very close monitoring practice of the registered manager in order to understand the experiences of children and young people. Reflection on practice and analysis of data have resulted in some clear plans for improving the quality of care and children’s and young people’s stay experience. The recommendation at the last inspection to make better use of this review process has been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The wide range of complex needs presented by children and young people who enjoy use of the provision require an array of specialised equipment and monitoring devices. This presents a challenge in creating a homely environment in which the safe and efficient care of children and young people are a priority. Success in this regard has been achieved in the living and activity areas of the home, but the sleeping areas require further improvement. Children and young people continue to benefit from the close and effective partnership working between their parents and carers and the adults who care for them during short breaks. One parent said, ‘The knowledge and understanding of individual needs are outstanding.’ The liaison and information sharing between staff, education, health and placing professionals also continue to be of a high standard and contribute to safe and enjoyable stays for children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A new questionnaire has been developed to increase the usefulness of the feedback that parents and carers provide to inform improvement. Steps to improve the timeliness of feedback to parents and carers following stays are well underway, and the recommendation made in this regard at the last inspection has been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people benefit from a staff supervision structure that ensures that all staff receive regular supervision that helps them to provide consistently good care. There has been meaningful progress in this area, but improvement needs to continue.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is jointly funded by the health authority and the local authority. The home provides six residential places for children and young people who have physical disabilities and/or learning difficulties. It is fully equipped to meet the needs of the children and young people who require short-break care. The registered manager also retains management responsibility for the resource centre attached to the premises.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/09/2016 Full Outstanding 02/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/06/2015 Full Good 25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

 That the registered manager continues to seek ways in which to enhance the physical environment to increase the homely and domestic feel of the home, in particular the sleeping area. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  That the registered manager develops and maintains a model of staff supervision in the home that consistently enables staff to reflect on their practice as well as to reflect and act upon how their own feelings and behaviour may be affected by the behaviour of the children they care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page, 61 paragraph 13.2, and page 39, paragraph 8.15)

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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 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 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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