Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

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 sustained effectiveness . The service offers a 12-week assessment, with an additional four-week extension so that placing authorities can, if required, locate the best placement to meet the young person’s assessed needs. The assessment is a comprehensive document that includes a therapeutic analysis of need. Young people arrive, usually, in an emergency after a crisis or placement breakdown elsewhere. They do activities alongside vocational short qualifications throughout the assessment. A feature of the service is an initial two-week outward bound expedition. Young people then regularly spend a couple of days each week out and about camping, or staying in bothies. No young people were present during the inspection because they were busy away. The registered manager has taken positive action to meet the three previous

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

requirements. Bedroom door alarms are now used only after individual risk assessment and staff review this regularly. All the communal doors, for example to the lounges, are now unlocked so that young people have free access to their house. A new placement plan format has better individualised detail about how the aims of the assessment placement are to be delivered. Tailored key-working sessions are linked to specific placement aims. The manager is planning the next review of the quality of care at the end of this month. Staff have cared for three young people since the last inspection in December. One young person returned successfully to her parents after assessment. Staff send young people on their way with a memory stick full of photographs of their activities, adventures and successes. Young people leave behind their positive comments on the walls in artwork and as advice to the next young people moving

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

in. Two young people are at the end of their assessments and are awaiting their placing authority decisions on next placements. Both have high levels of need and very challenging behaviour. The support from one placing authority for its young person has been poor, characterised by frequent changes of social worker over this short, but critical period in the young person’s life. The organisation has had some recent success in obtaining accurate or missing health and legal documentation, but this has come too late. They did not escalate their challenge to the placing authority sufficiently early. Usual careful matching of young people was compromised by this inaccurate and delayed information. This has resulted in a volatile combination of two young people. They are currently cared for separately, with one young person staying away in holiday accommodation with staff. Staff report much calmer and more manageable behaviour as a result.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This period has been one of the most difficult and violent in the service’s history. Police have rarely been needed at the home before now. Several staff have been seriously assaulted by both young people, and active criminal proceedings mean that some staff are unable to work with the young people. This, and staff illness, has placed additional stresses on the staff team. No agency staff are used, but staff from other homes and bank staff have been required. This has meant that sometimes relief staff did not know the young people well. The manager has decided not to admit a third young person until both the current young people have moved on. There have been four allegations by young people of injury by staff during restraint. None have been upheld as deliberate or causing serious harm. Staff work cooperatively with the host safeguarding team and the police. Records of all allegations, action by the home and conclusions are not in place. The manager has

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

begun to review significant incidents formally and to identify lessons learned. However, in one case, obvious lessons were not drawn. There has been significant extreme and unpredictable violence towards staff by young people. The manager has obtained special placing authority permission to implement restraint that he calls ‘early intervention’ for one young person if staff are being targeted or there is risk of assault. Three key documents, the individual behaviour management plan and risk assessment, the individual management plan and the behavioural policy, have no clear description of what this is, or how it fits in with the organisation’s agreed system for behaviour management and physical intervention. In discussion, staff and the manager are clear that they would only intervene physically to prevent injury or serious damage. There is a risk that, with unclear documentation and use of pseudo-technical terms, unfamiliar staff may

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

misunderstand their legal permissions in relation to restraint. In practice, this has not been used. All restraint has been necessary and proportionate. Young people have been much safer, partly because of the remote location and also because of the close 2:1 staffing levels. They cease, for the duration of their placement, risks from gang culture and sexual exploitation. They do not go missing, harm themselves or take drugs. They have no access to the internet, no mobile phones, and they do not go out alone. Staff cite this intense experience as fundamental to the assessment process and for opportunities for positive change and achievement. Even young people who have struggled to enjoy the outdoor focus have done well to achieve recognised vocational qualifications delivered by the skilled care team. Staff are well supported. Additional training has improved staff ability to promote achievement for young people. They can now offer a shorter Duke of Edinburgh

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

‘type’ scheme, alongside the usual vocational qualifications. Young people benefit from sessions with the organisation’s therapists. Staff have monthly consultations with therapists too, about helping strategies for their work with young people. Reflective thinking keeps care practice fresh and staff motivated. Young people have built trust. Parents have commented that their children have improved social skills.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and complex needs. Young people only stay for a 12-week assessment period, followed by up to 4 weeks’ transition to the next placement. The home is owned by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/03/2016 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) meet(s) the Care Standards Act 2000, the 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

11. The positive relationships standard: In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with particular reference to clarity about ‘early intervention’ restraint in children’s plans, the registered provider must ensure that staff: (2)(i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. 30/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34(2)(d)) 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

 Anticipate difficulties and review incidents. Proactively implement lessons learned and sustain good practice. This is in relation to managerial monitoring after safeguarding allegations and identifying any patterns and trends in restraint and allegations for permanent and relief staff. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  Where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs. (Regulation 5(c)) Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate (see paragraph 4.16) if the child’s needs are not being met. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations

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Recommendations

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 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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

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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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