Children's home run by YCPG Services Ltd in Walsall

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 . At the last inspection, Ofsted raised two requirements and two recommendations. The registered manager has taken appropriate action to address these shortfalls. Previously, there was one occasion when the registered manager did not correctly manage an allegation of harm. Since this time, she has revised and reviewed internal safeguarding referral policies and procedures. The registered manager has worked in partnership with the designated officer for the local authority to make sure that amended reporting processes are clear and unambiguous, regardless of the nature of the allegation. The addition of ‘safe care protocols’ for individual children further supports this positive improvement. Staff now participate in ‘lessons learned’ sessions following any allegation of harm. These sessions prompt

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff to consider how they manage allegations, support children and document potential child protection concerns. Managers and staff have completed further safeguarding training. The registered manager continues to work with allocated social workers and other professionals to ensure that, following any allegation of abuse or harm, all agencies complete the actions required of them. This improvement to practice better promotes children’s safety and welfare. Since the last inspection, incidents of challenging and disruptive behaviours have significantly reduced. Staff provide children with structured routines and consistent boundaries. This means that the children have started to settle into daily life in the home. When physical restraint is necessary to protect children from harm and promote their safety, staff make sure that these records now contain all necessary information. This includes an assessment of the behaviours that led up to the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

restraint and the de-escalation techniques staff deployed prior to the restraint. The registered manager reviews all records of physical restraint to ascertain possible antecedents to children’s challenging behaviours. This enables her to revise individual risk assessments and behaviour management plans, and present staff with clear guidance on how to manage children’s frustrations. This strategy means that incidents of physical restraint continue to reduce. Staff continually encourage young people to express their views, wishes and opinions about the care that they receive and how they would like their home to look. Children are involved in decisions about the decoration of their bedrooms and other areas of the home. The registered manager, the staff team and the children are currently considering changes to the use of some of the activity rooms in the home. This means that children learn to take responsibility for their home and,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

subsequently, the home is evolving into a warm, welcoming and comfortable environment. The registered manager prioritises the importance of forging and maintaining positive working and professional relationships with other agencies. This means that children benefit from a multi-disciplinary approach to identifying, assessing, reviewing and meeting their complex, and often challenging, needs. Children are able to access the specialist agencies that they may need to support their development, such as bespoke counselling services. Because of this integrated care planning process, staff provide children with good-quality care and support. This helps them to start to reflect on their experiences and develop the skills they need to move forward in their lives. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed and amended the ‘safe area location risk assessment’. This document now includes all known risks

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that children may encounter in the local community, including any risk of radicalisation, sexual exploitation or criminal activity. This better protects children from potential harm, because staff are fully aware of the risks that children may face when they are away from the home and socialising in their local community. The registered manager continues to develop the monitoring systems in place to review and evaluate the quality of care delivered by the home. These systems are meticulous and effective, and incorporate the children’s views and feedback from external social care agencies. This attention to detail, continual review and evaluation, means that the registered manager is able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Consequently, action plans in place to ensure the ongoing development of the home are relevant and reflective of children’s changing needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and/or young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A local authority owns and operates the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 08/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/10/2015 Full Outstanding 19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 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 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

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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