Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . A committed and aspirational registered manager leads this home. She maintains exceptional standards of care through her high expectations and thorough monitoring. Children like living in the home and develop excellent relationships with staff. One child said, ‘Everything is nice about living here. The adults are really good, especially my keyworker who gives me big squishy hugs.’ Children in this home are all making significant progress. Clear plans for each child guide the practice of staff and promote consistent care, within which children develop their behaviour in a positive way. A local authority social worker said, ‘Staff persevere with him, even when he pushes them to the limit. They are firm but fair, with excellent behaviour management.’ Children receive the health services that they require, including specialist

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

assessment and treatment. Staff are committed to meeting each child’s educational needs. Children’s school attendance is excellent and staff comprehensively support children’s learning at home. In addition, children participate in hobbies that they enjoy and learn to develop peer relationships through engagement with clubs and activities. The home’s response to safeguarding is proactive. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding and all safeguarding issues are appropriately reported and recorded; this protects children. Children say that they feel safe in the home and there have been no incidents of children going missing. The home has an up-to-date statement of purpose. It would be enhanced, and would provide more information to placing authorities, if staff training was included in this document. The home is decorated and furnished to an exceedingly high standard. It provides a safe and homely environment that represents children’s preferences and

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Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/02/2015 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:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the statement of purpose indicates how the home provides individualised care to meet the needs of children; in particular, that staff training is included. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)

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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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