Children's home run by Aurora Care Young People’s Services in Ribble Valley

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home required improvement 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

Since the last inspection in December 2016, a new manager has been appointed to the home. The manager has made application to Ofsted to become the home’s registered manager. One young person has successfully moved back to family members while another young person is due to move to supported independent accommodation. There are three young people currently accommodated in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have suitable educational placements. Key-workers are now taking a lead role in liaising and communicating with individual young people’s teachers. Individual education plans are now developed and clearly state the support plans in place, which are followed in practice, to facilitate positive educational outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has introduced new consultation documents for young people, social workers and parents. On the whole, feedback is positive about the care received in the home. However, when negative feedback has been received, there is no data trail to indicate that these matters have been addressed. A recommendation is made in respect of this matter.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been one notification to Ofsted in accordance with Regulation 40. However, the serious injury of a young person and the theft of the organisation’s laptop were not reported to the regulator. Prompt notification ensures that information is shared with the regulatory agency in order that the actions and outcomes for young people can be suitably assessed. A requirement is made to address this matter. Staff are now in receipt of an up-to-date training programme. Recent suitable training includes training on self-harm and sexually harmful behaviours. As much as 90% of the staff team are qualified at NVQ level, 3 with one staff member recently enrolled to undertake this training. Since the last inspection, there has been one report of a young person being missing. However, reports of absences are considerably higher. This is because one young person refuses to return to the home. Evidence and chronology of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

consistent liaison with the placing authority, police and the young person demonstrates the home’s continued efforts to encourage the young person’s safe return. When a young person has been missing, arrangements for a return-home interview are in place. However, they are not conducted, in accordance with quality standards, by an independent person, but rather by the placing social worker. A recommendation is made to address this matter. External monitoring is undertaken at regular intervals. This monitoring gives a good overview of the care provided in the home, its strengths and areas for further development. However, although there has been some improvement in the external visitor contacting social workers and speaking to staff and young people, little progress has been made in gaining the views of parents. A requirement is restated at this inspection. Since the last inspection, the manager’s monitoring of the home has progressed

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

well. Records of sanctions, missing-from-home incidents, physical intervention and room searches are completed in consultation with young people. This process enables young people to review and comment on the interventions within the home. Young people are now actively involved in the development of the weekly menu, shopping and preparation of food. Menus show a good balance of foods that are wholesome and nutritious. The supervision of staff has improved. A new programme for staff supervision is in place to ensure that all staff receive regular and appropriate supervision sessions. At the time of this inspection, repair work was underway at the home. Areas where previous damage had occurred have now been addressed. A new repairs log has been developed to help keep track of repairs and log new areas of work as they arise.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home, offering care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

31/03/2016 Interim Sustained 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

Reports following independent monitoring visits to the home should demonstrate consultation with parents and relatives which inform opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded, and that the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)(b) 31/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an incident requiring police involvement in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 30/04/2017

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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

 Ensure that young people are consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care and the work undertaken with them, in order to support continued improvement in the quality of care provided (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that, when a child has been missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return-home interview. The home should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘ Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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, 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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