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 requires 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

Young people’s attendance and attainment at school continues to improve due to the support provided by staff and managers. Young people engage well in education and have aspirations for their futures. Staff advocate for young people with school professionals. For example, extra tuition is provided for young people prior to their exams. One young person has been successful in being awarded a scholarship at an independent school. Staff ensure that young people have appropriate time for their homework and revision. This helps young people improve their educational achievements and aspire to their goals. However, managers have not always ensured that they have all the paperwork in respect of one young person’s special education needs assessment. This has the potential to hinder the young person’s education potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy themselves and engage in activities of their own choice. All of the young people are active and enjoy sport, such as playing rugby, swimming, rock-climbing and boxing. This helps their self-esteem and self-confidence and encourages them to be part of a team when attending groups in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The majority of the home has been redecorated since the last inspection. The home now provides a comfortable environment overall for young people to live in. Young people have individualised their bedrooms and have the opportunity to spend time on their own or to use the communal rooms to be more social. However, the home still has an institutional feel in parts; this is mainly due to locks on the doors that are not used and institutional lighting in bedrooms. Furthermore, staff do not always provide the basic support that some young people need. For example, staff do not iron young people’s clothes. This has the potential for young people to appear different to their peers and does not prepare them for high standards in adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe in the home. There have not been any physical interventions since the last inspection. This reflects the ability of staff to use de- escalation and other strategies to support young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved out of the home since the last inspection. Staff supported the young person to visit his new accommodation provision, and provided support to him following the move. Staff and managers demonstrate a commitment to ensuring a smooth and successful transition for young people when they leave the home. There have been no placement breakdowns since the last inspection. This demonstrates the ability of managers, who ensure that young people’s needs are considered prior to admission.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers have met the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection. As a result, staff have the skills to identify and take effective action when a young person is at risk of harm. Young people now have access to all rooms in their home and benefit from managers making continuous improvements to the care that they receive.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children who have learning disabilities and emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/09/2016 Full Requires improvement 14/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/12/2015 Full Outstanding 10/02/2015 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

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)) 09/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Homes must meet children’s basic day-to-day needs and physical necessities. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek

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Recommendations

as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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, 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

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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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