Children's home run by London Borough of Croydon in Croydon

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 . Children and young people continue to experience a good level of care in the home. They are supported to make progress in their communication, self-care and life skills. Staff and managers are attuned to the children and young people’s vulnerabilities and are committed to providing a safe and comfortable service. The range of activities the home provides for the children and young people help them to avoid feeling isolated as a result of their complex needs. The home encourages children and young people who have significant challenges with speaking to express their views with the use of picture exchange communication, as well as through other means. This ensures that they feel heard and valued. A reduction in the use of physical restraints has been a positive development in the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

home. Staff are trained in ‘Maybo’, which identifies effective alternatives to physical intervention. Staff are able to keep children and young people safe among themselves, as well as with others. When restraints are used, they are recorded and reviewed, and the views of the child or young person are sought. For children and young people who tend to self-harm when agitated, staff plan ahead to remove the triggers and use creative means to adjust the young people’s routine in order to help induce calm. Regular review of risk assessments ensures that proper safety planning is in place for the children and young people. Children and young people’s individual care plans are of a good quality and help inform specific targets to be achieved. Managers ensure that appropriate planning is in place for children and young people new to the service. Impact assessments, meetings with the child or young person, their families and partner agencies, with gradual visits to the service, allow

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

for an informed and smooth transition. For the young people who leave the service, staff support their move by undertaking life story work and partnering with the new provider for a good transition. At the time of this inspection, the registered manager was on annual leave. The deputy manager was in charge, providing continuity of effective leadership. Regular supervision, practice observations and file audits ensure continuous evaluation of the quality of the service being provided to children and young people. Feedback from the children and young people, as well as their parents, is regularly sought and utilised to inform the home’s service development plan. Staff understand the expectations of the home and embrace their responsibilities. As a short break service, the home understands the importance of maintaining productive relationships with parents. This promotes positive outcomes for children and young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

people, as they experience consistency between the family home and the service. One staff member shared that she loves working with the children and young people, as well as building good rapport with the parents, which helps the children make progress. She said, ‘It’s nice to see them achieve something for themselves.’ Complaints made since the last inspection have been adequately handled in line with the appropriate procedures involving the local authority designated officer. Where there have been learning points from how the complaint was initially handled, managers have actively implemented these through specific training for staff by working in partnership with the local authority. Investigations into allegations or suspicion of harm are shared with the appropriate agencies in accordance with statutory guidance. Managers have a good system in place, which allows them to monitor their service. However, there is room for improvement in the reviews carried out, in line with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

regulation 45. In particular, the reports could be underpinned by the quality standards, with a focus on the impact that the home is having on promoting positive outcomes for children and young people. At the last inspection, there were two requirements and two recommendations made. One requirement and one recommendation are fully met. The registered manager has ensured that staff communicate to children and young people expectations about their behaviour and ensure that they understand those expectations in accordance with their age and understanding. The registered manager has devised a workforce development plan in line with the quality standards. The other requirement and recommendations are partially met. While the majority of the independent visitor’s reports include an opinion on whether the children and young people are being safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes their well-being, some do not. Monthly visits have not always taken place, and combined

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with other unforeseen circumstances, this has resulted in no reports being completed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The managers have met with the independent visitor to help resolve this issue and have implemented a clear plan. The home’s location risk assessment includes assessment of the risks of child sexual exploitation and radicalisation, but needs clarity on the level of risk to the children and young people who use the service.

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Information about this children's home

The local authority owns this short break home. The service is part of the resources of the children who have disabilities team. The service currently provides residential respite care and accommodation for up to seven children who have severe learning disabilities. The home can also provide emergency short-term care. In addition, the home provides a day-care service, but the total number of residential respite care and day-care places do not exceed nine. The duration and frequency of respite care that children and young people receive varies based on their assessed needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

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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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

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  The registered person should review the home’s location risk assessment. In particular, provide clear identification of risks and opportunities presented in relation to radicalisation and child sexual exploitation and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should undertake a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there, and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvement for the children.

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Recommendations

Reviews should be underpinned by the quality standards as described in regulations 5 to 14. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.2)

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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

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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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