Children's home SC472275

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are making progress from their starting points, and some young people are making exceptional progress. Staff have developed positive relationships with young people. Staff are aspirational for the young people and motivate them to do well. Staff and young people celebrate young people’s achievements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and managers have addressed the requirement identified at the previous inspection. Since the last inspection, managers have held a development day and have embedded seniors meetings. This means that there is consistently good communication within the staff team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have experienced continuity of care and a stable home environment. There have been very few changes to the staff group. Similarly, there have been very few changes in the group of young people. One young person has moved on from the home and one young person has moved into the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Generally, the young people have made significant progress. For one young person, there has been slow progress, due to intermittent engagement in training and in developing independence skills. This is linked to events in their family life. Staff have been persistent, have involved the education and training lead for the provider, and have liaised closely with the placing local authority. This young person has a good relationship with their key worker, and has recently agreed for a referral to the child and adolescent mental health services to be made, having been resistant to this in the past.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are progressing in education. Two young people will be sitting exams next term. The manager has weekly contact with one school about one of the young people, to support their progress and prevent any issues impacting on their development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three young people have engaged successfully in work placements and voluntary work experiences. Two of them have continued with work placements in a voluntary capacity after receiving very positive feedback. This means that young people are growing in confidence and developing life skills. All of the young people are encouraged to develop independence skills and take responsibility, for example for their room. Young people are undertaking an independence skills programme that is accredited and will support them when they are looking for accommodation in the future. The staff support the young people at the young people’s pace and ensure that guidance is age and ability appropriate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been few incidents that are of a safeguarding nature. There are robust risk and behaviour management plans for each young person. These are reviewed and updated when risks are reduced or new information is shared. Young people contribute to their plans. Staff undertake individual sessions with young people to raise awareness about safeguarding concerns, to prevent and reduce risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a small number of incidents where young people have gone missing or had unauthorised absences. One young person has been more persistent in not returning to the home as planned. Staff follow their procedures when this happens, liaising with the police and social workers. The police report that home staff are proactive in following up any concerns and return interviews are undertaken where appropriate. A multi-agency strategy meeting was convened about this young person and a referral to a specialist resource was made. One young person was being influenced by another young person in the home to be absent from the home. Due to the young person’s positive relationships with staff and their preventative work, this was time limited and concerns have reduced. There have been no unauthorised absences for this young person for some time.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are very few incidents of physical intervention. Staff are trained in de- escalating concerns and distracting young people to prevent incidents. However, there is a recommendation that the manager reviews the guidance about the recording of physical interventions and restraints to ensure consistent reporting of incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The group of young people has positive peer relationships and enjoys activities together. Young people have positive friendships in the community and can visit and stay with friends, when checks have been undertaken, as appropriate.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy a range of interests and activities, such as running, cycling, rugby, chess, art and photography.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support positive contact arrangements. A parent said: ‘I know that staff know my son well, when we meet up, the staff are there to help if we need them. They keep me up to date with news. I am happy that he is happy living at [the children’s home].’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff contribute to assessments and planning meetings. Social workers receive weekly reports about young people’s progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A social worker said: ‘The staff are proactive at advocating for the young people. They always come prepared to meetings and will ask for meetings if they have any concerns. I have noticed that they are confident about their knowledge about the young people’s needs.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made referrals to the local authority designated person appropriately. Two have concluded and were unsubstantiated. One referral is subject to investigation. However, there are no concerns about the safety and welfare of any of the young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been improved effectiveness in capturing the voice of the young people and consulting with them. Young people have contributed to the recruitment of staff, and have led on the development of the young person’s guide. Young people have also led on the development of residents’ meetings. They prepare the agenda and chair the meetings. Young people also take responsibility for the records that are produced in a more child-friendly way. There are clear links between young people’s requests, the issues raised and what has been actioned in response to them. Two young people take responsibility for agreeing the weekly menus in the residents’ meetings, and they have also helped with ordering food and shopping. Staff believe that this has enhanced independence skills and understanding of budgeting and healthy eating.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are detailed health information records for young people. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their health. However, they are also supported and encouraged to attend appointments, where necessary. One young person is very pleased about losing weight as a result of healthy eating and regular exercise.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is experienced. She has a social work degree and has recently completed a relevant qualification in leadership and management. Since the last inspection, she has managed a stable, committed staff team. The atmosphere in the home is positive, and young people and staff enjoy celebrations and activities together. One young person is particularly skilled at photography, and there is as a lovely selection of her photographs of staff and young people decorating the home.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home, registered for up to five children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 17/05/2016 Full Good 12/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/07/2015 Full Good 20/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36.) This with specific reference to the manager reviewing the guidance about the recording of physical interventions and restraints, to ensure the consistent reporting of incidents.

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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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