Children's home run by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Dartford

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 . Three requirements and six recommendations resulted from the last inspection. Leaders and managers successfully met all of the requirements and addressed four of the recommendations. The remaining two recommendations are repeated. Young people are happy in the home and continue to make progress. The home offers warmth and intimacy, where young people have good access to specialist support services. Young people are supported by positive relationships with staff and a well-organised admissions process. This ensures that young people are familiar with their peers and the staff on duty. The interim manager has applied for formal registration with Ofsted. This registration is presently undergoing statutory checks prior to a formal interview. The interim manager has a clear plan for service development and is supported by

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

a committed and dedicated staff team. The main thrust of service improvement involves developing staff’s understanding of young people’s non-verbal communication. In addition, there is closer partnership work with local schools and the incorporation of the recommendations of education health and care plans into risk assessments and care plans. Staff morale is good. One staff member comments ‘it’s great here’. Parental feedback is equally as positive, with one parent referring to the staff as ‘the most wonderful people in the world’. Staff work well as a team and are confident in their own practice. Staff report an extensive programme of training and management support. Recent training topics include female genital mutilation and child sexual exploitation. The interim manager has updated the home’s statement of purpose. This document clearly outlines the aims and remit of the service, with a full list of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff members and their individual areas of expertise. This ensures clarity regarding practice in the home for young people and others. The area location risk assessment is up to date. It is in-depth and fully reflects the potential dangers in the local area. It makes good reference to the risk posed by possible child sexual exploitation and radicalisation in the local community. This informs risk assessments and staffing levels for activities and ensures the safety of young people. Care plans and risk assessments are informative and regularly reviewed. Risk assessment remains a continuous and fluid process. Assessments clearly chart any changes in medication or current health concerns. This comprehensive assessment process informs daily routines and keeps young people safe. Case files are brought to life by photographs of each of the activities undertaken while at the home. This creates a permanent record for young people as well as

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their parents. Each care plan presents a vivid picture of the needs of each young person, such as their preference for a bedtime story. This allows for the progress and behaviours of young people to be clearly recorded and monitored. The interim manager is presently exploring means of improving consultation with young people. New forms and computer applications enable young people to offer either a happy or unhappy face after each meal or activity. This allows staff to plan effectively for meals and activities and promote healthy eating. The children’s guide is now up to date. It contains the contact phone number for the children’s commissioner. However, the guide is not presented in the picture exchange communication system and, therefore, is not fully understandable to all of the young people using the service. The interim manager has completed an initial draft of the workforce development plan. The current version is lacking in timescales and the details required to meet

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the regulation. For example, insufficient information is available regarding the proposed development of practice in the home.

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Information about this children's home

A National Health Service foundation trust runs this home. The home provides short breaks for up to four young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities, complex medical needs and who may have life-limiting conditions. The home is also registered with the Care Quality Commission.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

22/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the children's guide helps children to understand: how to make a complaint in line with the home’s complaints procedure; and how to contact the office of the children's commissioner. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 24 paragraph 4.22)  The registered person must have a workforce plan, which can fulfil the workforce, related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20).('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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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