Children's Home run by Kent County Council in Kent

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 . This is a provision that has set and maintains high standards for the short stays of children and young people who have complex needs. The ethos and philosophy of care are clearly set out in the statement of purpose and are manifested in the practice of staff and the fresh, friendly and child-centred environment. The approach to care is underpinned by the offering of choice to both parents/carers and children, promoting increased independence and a commitment to ongoing consultation with stakeholders. The high standards maintained are not threatened by complacency and the registered manager consistently strives to improve all aspects of the service. Since the last inspection, the provision’s statement of purpose has been revised and is clear and informative; the recommendation made in this regard has been met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New methods of gaining reliable and useful feedback from parents and local authorities have been devised and these are continually developing. A quarterly newsletter informs stakeholders about what they have been saying and how this has been responded to. Finding ways of improving the immediacy of feedback to parents and carers following stays is ongoing. Feedback shows that this is an important issue for parents and carers and the recommendation made at the last inspection in this regard is repeated. The effective communication of key information to all staff has received attention. This challenge arises from the large staff group that includes a number of persons who only work limited hours. Weekly team meetings are held and the record of these meetings made is readily accessible to all staff. The staff group has been maintained as small as possible without compromising the quality of care provided

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to children and young people. The recommendation set at the last inspection has been met. A culture of high sensitivity to safeguarding practice and awareness continues to be maintained in this service. The registered manager and senior staff are also fully involved in safeguarding processes following incidents that involve children and young people who enjoy short breaks and that take place away from the service. Restraint interventions, usually applied to avoid self-injurious behaviour, are considered and proportionate. Refinement of the model used as well as improvements in the recording of incidents will enable a more proactive approach as well as devising ways to avoid the need for restraint. Despite the ongoing striving for improvement, the registered manager is not making good use of the regulation 45 review process to inform enhancement of the services being provided. Valuable information is not being adequately analysed and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

clear conclusions are not being drawn to inform planned improvements.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a local authority and provides short-break care for children and young people aged between 5 and 17 years who have learning difficulties, physical disabilities and other associated complex needs.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

21/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 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 recommendations:  The registered manager must seek ways of improving the immediacy of written feedback to parents and carers following short breaks, to improve the effectiveness of working relationships. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)  The registered manager must ensure that staff are trained and able to apply a model of restraint that most fits the needs of the children they care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraphs 9.57 and 9.58)  When conducting the regulation 45 review, the registered manager must ensure that there is clear analysis of the information considered, that conclusions are drawn from this analysis and that this is used as a tool to plan for continuous improvement in the quality of care during the next

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Recommendations

review period. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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 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 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. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the

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Information about this inspection

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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