Children's Home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited in Wokingham

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendations made at the last inspection have been met. Information from the initial risk assessment now adequately addresses young people’s historical behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, three young people have moved out of the home. These moves were as a result of a planned transition to a new placement or a move home to live with their family. Staff prepared the young people well for these moves by supporting visits to the new placements or the family home. As a result, the moves were successful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two young people have moved into the home. One of the young people moved from a sister home within the organisation. Staff were familiar with the young person, who had had opportunity to visit the home prior to the move. A member of staff from his previous home transferred with him, and this helped him to settle in well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people moving into the home receive an informative children’s guide so that they know what to expect. Effective planning takes place, including thorough impact risk assessments. Careful matching with the young people already placed ensures that the placements are successful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy living at the home. They have positive relationships with each other and staff. One young person said: ‘This is the best place that I have lived. They help you to reach up to the skies.’ On the day of the inspection, a young person celebrated his birthday by going out for a meal with his peers and staff. Young people respect the home environment, because it has a warm, family feel. Incidents of damage to communal areas are rare. Young people are encouraged to gain a sense of social responsibility by participating in charity work and fundraising, for example by working in a local charity shop.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make good and sustained progress at the home. There is an ethos of celebrating accomplishments. Staff use incentive systems to promote good behaviour. These are effective in providing young people with immediate rewards and the opportunity to save up towards purchases that are more expensive. Staff are committed to helping young people to reach their academic potential. They ensure that, where possible, young people attend school or employment schemes. One young person who previously did not have an educational placement is now successfully engaged in a vocational course. Staff help those who struggle to engage in regular education to access home schooling. They work with professionals to resolve any educational issues. A social worker said, ‘They are doing all that they can to engage the young person in education’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff training in therapeutic practice underpins the ethos of the home, as stated in the statement of purpose. Staff access group supervision every six weeks. They receive therapeutic support to help them to understand the young people’s emotional needs and the impact that these have on themselves. Regular house meetings are effective in helping the young people to explore group living and have a say in how the home is run. The quality of relationships between young people and staff means that they feel that the adults who care for them listen to them and respond positively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff demonstrate a robust response in the event that any young person goes missing from the home. They do their utmost to locate young people and remain in contact with them while they are missing. They ensure that return interviews take place to identify the underlying reasons for this behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work effectively with young people who are at risk of child sexual exploitation. They are trained to recognise any potential indicators of risk and how to minimise these. Staff observed that one young person struggled to engage in direct work. They adopted a more informal approach at her own pace, and this has been effective. Her risk of child sexual exploitation has reduced from high risk to medium risk. Risk assessments are generally good. Staff adhere to care plans to reduce the risks involved. However, staff have not sufficiently addressed the potential risk posed in relation to young people’s interactions with each other.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff follow behaviour care plans to help them to manage young people’s challenging behaviour and to reduce the necessity for physical interventions. Staff have helped young people to learn to calm themselves. Physical interventions, therefore, are rarely used. Generally, the registered manager evaluates physical intervention records and discusses the method used with the staff and young people involved. However, the registered manager has not made contingency plans for when she is away from the home. At these times, senior staff have not reviewed the records signed, in line with regulations. Staff are not able to reflect immediately on their practice after an intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inter-agency working is strong. The manager works effectively with the designated officer and local authority. If any safeguarding issues or allegations arise, the manager investigates these thoroughly and ensures that safety measures are in place to protect young people. As a result, young people are cared for safely. The home is well staffed. There is adequate staffing and agency staff are not used. Staff who work at the home all have the level 3 qualification or are working towards it. Permanent staff or staff known to the young people from the sister home cover any vacancies. Arrangements are in place for if waking night staff are not available. However, the registered manager had not completed a risk assessment in relation to this issue, in line with company policy. She is addressing this shortfall.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good relationships are established with parents and carers. Staff promote positive contact and welcome visitors into the home. Communication is good between staff and parents. Regular written reports regarding all aspect of the young people’s lives at the home would further enhance these relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is a strong leader who is committed to driving forward change and developing the service. She is committed to equipping staff with the necessary support to help the young people to make continued positive progress.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned by an established company. The home is registered to accommodate a maximum of three young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. A therapeutic approach is taken to working with children and young people, with the aim of enabling them to return to their family homes or to alternative family placements. There were two young people in placement at the time of this inspection.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/06/2016 Full Good 09/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 26/02/2015 Interim Improved 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 12/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that: (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")- (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (ii) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)) 12/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  It is crucial that the home works in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child, including regular written reports to parents and carers. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3)

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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

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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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