Children's home in Preston

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 . Since the last inspection, the main office of this mobile service has moved premises. This has not impacted negatively on young people, and the service continues to operate in a manner that prioritises young people’s safety and well- being effectively. Young people benefit from personalised programmes of care and enjoy a range of stimulating activities that help them to make good progress from their starting points. The service continues to be effectively led and managed by a manager who is well motivated to support young people to reach a better understanding of their behaviour and to make positive changes that promote their safety and well-being. The vast majority of the young people accessing the service have significant histories of placement breakdowns and high-risk behaviours. Records demonstrate

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

that following their admission young people make good progress and have benefited immensely from the positive relationships that they have with staff. This is certainly a strong feature of the home, and staff and young people form meaningful relationships. This was confirmed by one social worker who said, ‘[Name] really struggles to engage and make connections. However, within a day of arriving, she quickly settled and built up really positive relationships with staff. She’s been offered lots of support, and staff have gone above and beyond for her.’ Staff utilise the positive relationships that they have with young people to help the young people to understand the consequences and impact of their behaviour. The use of incentives and reflective discussions also help young people to manage their thoughts and feelings in a more socially acceptable manner. Staff continuously talk to young people about keeping themselves safe. This reinforces the safety

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

message and shows young people that staff care about them. Furthermore, it helps young people to reflect and modify their behaviour. Records demonstrate that the majority of young people’s risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing, substance misuse and aggression, has significantly decreased since their admission to the home. Care plans and case records are individualised and reflect the diverse needs and personalities of each of the young people. Risk assessments clearly capture identified risks. However, control measures and strategies to manage risks lack clarity. To date, there is no evidence that this has impacted adversely on young people’s safety. However, this is not best practice and requires revision. Effective safeguarding arrangements are in place when young people go missing. On the rare occasions that this happens, staff actively discourage them from leaving and follow them. In the event that a young person goes missing, there are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

clear protocols between the police and the home to ensure their prompt return. The manager ensures that return interviews are undertaken by an independent person. This ensures that young people have the opportunity to talk to someone independent of the home about the reasons for going missing. The manager has taken appropriate steps to enhance recording practice in the home. This means that the recommendation made at the last inspection regarding the use of judgemental and opinionated language in records has been suitably addressed. Staff receive regular and effective supervision, which they feel enables them to reflect on their practice and to recognise their own strengths and weaknesses. Staff report that they feel well supported. The manager offers visible leadership and fosters a positive teamwork ethos, which proves to be an effective component in ensuring the ongoing development of the service. Due to the short period

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

between inspections, the recommendation in relation to annual appraisals has not been sufficiently addressed. That said, the manager is aware that gathering the views of young people or professionals who work with the staff team will further strengthen appraisals and improve practice. The manager undertakes regular monitoring of the home to ensure that it operates in accordance with the statement of purpose. Monthly independent visits are undertaken to review the home’s performance and to identify areas for improvement. The registered manager has a thorough understanding of the strengths of the service and is able to identify areas where improvement can be made. This is further supported by the continued use of a development plan that sets out plans to drive further improvements in the home. To conclude, there is clear evidence that young people’s overall experiences and progress in the home are positive. Where shortfalls have been identified, the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

manager accepts responsibility and is focused on developing systems to ensure that these are addressed promptly.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home accommodates young people for a maximum of 120 days. The home is managed and operated by a private provider. Young people spend periods of time in mobile accommodation when placed in this provision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

04/03/2016 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 recommendations:  All staff must have their performance appraised on an annual basis. This appraisal should take into account the views of other professionals and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. This specifically relates to ensuring that risk management strategies are clearly recorded on each risk assessment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’ page 42,

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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 whom 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 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

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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