Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Cumberland

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . The registered manager has been recently appointed. Prior to this, she was the acting manager. She is suitably qualified and experienced. An experienced registered manager has mentored the manager as she develops and settles into her new role. This has worked well, and the home has made good progress since the last inspection. The assistant manager is currently undertaking a social work Master’s degree and is on placement. An experienced assistant manager from another of the organisation’s homes is supporting the registered manager while this is completed. The home runs in line with the aims and ethos of the statement of purpose. There are currently a number of vacancies in the home. However, these have recently been filled, and, subject to the relevant checks, the new team

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

members will be starting imminently. They will undertake a thorough induction. The home currently has half the number of children for which it is registered, and current staffing levels are sufficient. Staff are suitably qualified or working towards this. There are training opportunities for staff. However, these do not consistently reflect the needs of the young people. Key training has not been provided. Thus, some risk-taking behaviour and safeguarding practices are not clearly understood. Consequently, safeguarding practice is not robust enough. Staff receive support in their roles and have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Supervision arrangements, however, are not consistent. Furthermore, team meetings do not take place on a regular basis. There are, however, systems in place to manage communication and decision-making in the home. Thus, young people’s needs and any changes in needs or circumstances are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

shared appropriately. These arrangements support the continuous care that the young people receive. Thirteen requirements and three recommendations were made at the last inspection. These have been successfully addressed. The manager reported that these changes have supported the development of good practice among the staff team members. The manager recognises that further work is required to ensure that practice is fully embedded into day-to-day practice. Young people are making good progress and they said that they like living here. The care that they receive is in line with their care plans. When young people first arrived at the home, they were not in education. They are now accessing education, and their attendance and attainment have improved. Young people benefit from clear routines and boundaries, which have a positive impact on their development and progress. Missing from home incidents have reduced

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

considerably, and young people are developing strategies to manage their own behaviour and make good choices. When young people do go missing from home, staff do not respond in line with the risk assessments. Subsequently, response timeframes are not always swift enough. There have been new residents since the last inspection. These were not planned admissions. Young people arrived without the required information. The risks and safeguards were not clear. Consequently, risks prove difficult to manage effectively and result in behaviours escalating. On one occasion, this resulted in the termination of a placement. Staff worked hard to ensure that the transition arrangements were in place, which minimised the impact that a further move would have had for the young person. Nonetheless, the absence of the correct information and unplanned inductions mean that staff do not have the required information to understand and manage young people’s needs and risks effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff get to know young people and use this information to encourage young people to make good progress. They explore ways to engage young people and actively support them in participating in their hobbies and interests. Young people speak well of the staff that care for them, and relationships with them are positive. They feel able to discuss concerns with staff and have confidence that staff will listen and act on their concerns. Young people benefit from good behaviour management practices. They receive support and incentives to take responsibility for their own behaviour. In the case of negative behaviour, staff respond accordingly. Nonetheless, this is not always followed through in a timely way, and the impact of this is not always effective. Furthermore, risk assessments and plans are not routinely reviewed following incidents. The management of physical restraints is in line with procedure and the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

recording of them is to a good standard. The manager and staff work well with social workers and other agencies to ensure that the care that young people receive is in line with their care plans. However, not all health needs are fully considered and, thus, these are not addressed effectively. Specialist support is not always accessed when required. However, when specialist advice and support are sought, they are actively used to inform practice to improve outcomes for young people. Young people have regular contact with their families. When there are challenges with this, the manager and staff work together to manage this safely. Young people are encouraged and supported to have relationships with friends and they access activities with them. Young people speak positively about this.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a children’s home operated by a private company. It is currently registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people. The home cares for young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

08/02/2016 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, 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 health and well-being standard, the registered person should ensure that the health and well-being outcomes are clearly recorded in the child’s relevant plan. (Regulation 10(2)(a)(i)). Particularly, all health and well-being concerns must be recorded and all actions must be clear. 10/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered manager should ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) Specifically, all risk assessments must clearly identify the risks and the strategies in place to manage these risks. 10/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered manager should ensure that arrangements are in place to ensure the effective induction of each child in the home. (Regulation 14(2)(b)(i)) 10/05/2017

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the staffing of children’s homes standard, the registered person must ensure that, at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first-aid qualification. (Regulation 31(2)(b)) 10/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that may indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. The registered person should ensure that skills in safeguarding are gained, refreshed and recorded in the home’s workforce development plan. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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 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 0300123 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 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

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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