Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

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

One requirement was made at the last inspection. At the time of this inspection, the requirement is met. There have been no transitions for young people since the last inspection. One young person will be moving on due to an escalation in his aggressive behaviours resulting from substance misuse. This could affect the stability and well-being of other young people. The manager has challenged effectively and advocated that the young person needs an alternative placement to keep him safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress from their starting points. The staff have a thorough knowledge and understanding of the young people, and this enables them to meet the young people’s complex needs. For example, one young person’s controlling behaviour has significantly reduced. As a result, he is making steady progress at school and in social situations. However, another young person is not regularly attending education due to issues with severe anxiety. Longer term, these barriers to accessing education could affect her social well-being and attainment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are happy with the care they receive and have warm relationships with the staff team. One young person told the inspector, ‘Yes, I love it here and want to stay.’ Another young person told the inspector, ‘Yes, I know how to complain. I’d tell the manager and he’d listen. I am able to speak up for myself. I am not scared or worried about anything. I have no issues with the staff and I like it here.’ Young people access a variety of activities and leisure opportunities that they enjoy. This increases their independence and social skills while enabling them to have fun.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are few incidents of physical restraint. This is because detailed behaviour management plans and risk assessments enable staff to support young people. The registered manager and staff team use talking approaches, positive praise and rewards to minimise episodes of physically challenging behaviour. Consequently, young people learn how to manage their emotions. The staff use door alarms to monitor young people’s movements during the night. However, risk assessments are not in place to highlight the need to do so. Therefore, the use of such monitoring systems is not proportionate and has an impact on young people’s privacy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety is a priority and any issues or concerns are appropriately shared. However, some referrals and their outcomes are not consistently recorded. This could affect the registered manager’s ability to monitor the needs of young people. Episodes when young people go missing from home are rare. When young people do go missing, staff respond well. They follow processes and actively search for young people to minimise any risk of harm. The registered manager and staff team have effective and open relationships with the police. These relationships, together with the effective staff responses, mean that young people feel cared for, and ensure their prompt return home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home environment is currently undergoing some redecoration to improve young peoples’ bedrooms. Young people are involved in this redecoration and enjoy personalising their home. All bedrooms require redecoration, with the kitchen and lounge area also needing some modernisation. This will enable young people to have a comfortable home environment that meets their needs, and contributes to their sense of self-worth.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority operated home. It provides care and accommodation for three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 20/06/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 17/08/2015 Full Good

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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

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

(ii) enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. This is with specific reference to the bedrooms of young people and the kitchen and dining area. 31/08/17

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

(vii) raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child's education or training provider and the child's placing authority. 31/08/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; and the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child's need for privacy. (Regulation 24(1)(a)(d)) 30/04/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34(2)(d)) 30/04/17

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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 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 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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