Children's Home run by Little Acorns London Beach Farm Limited in Kent

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 improved effectiveness . The leadership in the home has responded positively to the recommendations made at the last inspection, and the introduction of a part-time administrator has resulted in significant improvements to the recording of key staff activities. This includes improved systems for monitoring training and development, supervision and annual appraisals. There have also been significant improvements to the consistency of staff supervision. These actions add resilience to the staff team and contribute to providing continuity to the care of the children. The recommendations for improved staff record keeping and more consistent staff supervision have been met. Systems to ensure more timely and prioritised maintenance and repairs to the physical environment of the home have been introduced. The meeting of the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

recommendation made in this regard contributes to providing a safe and high- quality environment for the children. Although there has been improvement in recorded managerial oversight of physical interventions, further improvement is required to ensure that records provide meaningful information to enable analysis of trends and patterns. This would allow the oversight of how these are linked to strategies aimed at reducing the need for physical interventions. The recommendation made in this regard at the previous inspection is repeated. Children’s individual records of care and progress remain at a high standard and reflect a detailed and sensitive understanding of each child’s needs and vulnerabilities. The degree to which the leadership team and staff are able to maintain a homely, family environment for the children is impressive. One child has successfully moved on since the last inspection, to a provision more

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

suited to his age and developmental needs. Strong advocacy and proactive planning by the home contributed to the smoothness of this move for the child concerned. The home continues to monitor and show interest in his progress. Interim arrangements for the planned absence of the registered manager have been effective so far and have enabled continued consistency in the care of the children, as well as the monitoring of the quality of the care being provided. The staff team remains focused on the safety and protection of the children and there have been no safeguarding incidents, notifications or instances of children going missing since the last inspection. The schedule of health and safety checks has been maintained. The leadership in the home uses the regulation 44 review process well. The registered individual has recently met with the independent visitor to review the report structure, in order to add rigour and challenge to the process.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation that provides an independent school for children at the home on the same site. The home specialises in the care and accommodation of children with disorganised attachment disorder, autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, global development delay, cognitive delay and speech and language difficulties. The home offers a 24-hour therapeutic curriculum to support specialist therapies.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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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