Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

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

Ofsted last inspected the home in May 2016 and raised two requirements and one recommendation. The registered manager has taken sufficient action to address these shortfalls. Ofsted has raised a further three requirements and one recommendation following this interim inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of admissions and discharges to and from the home. As a result, the service has experienced a period of instability. There has been a significant increase in incidents of unacceptable and challenging behaviour and this has led to the frequent use of physical restraint. Staff do not consistently complete records of these incidents to an acceptable standard. On four occasions, staff have failed to detail events leading up to the use of physical restraint. Records do not always include information relating to any injuries sustained or if first aid treatment was required or provided, or document the effectiveness of using this measure of control. Furthermore, when staff sanction young people for their behaviour, they use general terms and statements. For example, on one occasion staff recorded that they gave a young person a sanction because he was ‘disruptive’. In addition, sanctions are not restorative in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

nature and do not encourage young people to reflect on their actions. These shortfalls mean that the registered manager is unable to review fully the use of these measures of controls.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following incidents of challenging or aggressive behaviour, staff arrange debrief sessions with young people. Staff do not consistently use these sessions to encourage young people to reflect on their behaviour or take responsibility for their actions. Consequently, young people are not motivated to change their behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has reviewed and amended young people’s risk assessments to make sure that these better promote young people’s safety and welfare. These documents now record young people’s specific risk factors, such as the potential for young people to go missing from the home, and detail the strategies in place to reduce these risks. This means that, in these circumstances, staff understand fully how to respond appropriately to keep young people safe. Staff have a good understanding of their responsibility for appropriately managing allegations of abuse or harm. Internal safeguarding policies and procedures advise staff on referral processes, and now include actions required if an allegation relates to a person in a position of trust who the organisation does not directly employ. This practice improvement means that, in these circumstances, there will be no delay in referring concerns to the relevant agencies for further investigation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, the home used CCTV to monitor young people’s movements around some areas of the internal environment, including bedroom corridor areas. The use of this means of surveillance was custom and practice in the home. Staff did not include the use of this equipment in young people’s risk assessments, or demonstrate how this surveillance helped to safeguard young people. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed the use of CCTV. She has concluded that this level of surveillance is no longer necessary, and this equipment is now disabled. Nevertheless, a written policy is now in place to describe how any future use of CCTV will support the safeguarding and well-being of young people living in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage young people to gain necessary independence skills as they progress towards adulthood. They support young people to learn budgeting skills, perform weekly domestic tasks and cook meals for themselves. As young people prepare to leave the home, staff formalise these plans to assess young people’s future accommodation needs. This comprehensive approach provides young people with the structured support that they need to move on to the next stage of their development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff continue to work in partnership with allocated social workers and other agencies. Staff advocate for young people to access the services they need, such as suitable education placements and specialist health services. This integrated approach to care planning supports young people’s development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been an increase in the number of complaints made by young people since the last inspection. This includes occasions when young people have discussed their concerns with the independent visitor to the home. However, in these circumstances, the registered manager does not always record these concerns as complaints or resolve them in accordance with the complaints procedures. This means that complaints records do not accurately reflect or monitor young people’s concerns.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private organisation owns and operates this service.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/05/2016 Full Good 02/02/2016 Full Requires improvement 09/11/2015 Full Inadequate 11/02/2015 Interim Declined in 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 positive relationships standard, the registered person must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. 02/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes all required information. (Regulation 35(3)(i-viii)) 02/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 02/06/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Regulation 19(2) details sanctions that are prohibited in behaviour management. Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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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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