Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

children since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection in November 2016, three requirements and four recommendations were made. The requirements were concerned with the quality of control and restraint records, communication with the children’s placing authorities and some shortfalls in relation to staff recruitment checks.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Records of control and restraint are now recorded in a timely and detailed manner. This improvement helps managers to scrutinise staff practice and to ensure that any such intervention is appropriate. This requirement is met. The requirement regarding communication with children’s placing authorities is not met. There is no evidence to demonstrate placing authorities’ involvement in the relevant plans. This requirement is repeated.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Human resources staff refreshed their safer recruitment training in January 2017. Recruitment records sampled at this inspection show that pre-employment checks are now thorough, ensuring that any gaps in employment histories are accounted for. References from any voluntary positions held by potential staff are also sought. This requirement is met.

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children since the most recent full inspection

The first two recommendations were made in relation to the supervision and performance management of staff and the safe maintenance of the home’s domestic appliances. The recommendation relating to staff supervision is met. Staff benefit from regular supervision meetings. Records sampled show the manager’s robust response to staff requests; for example, there was a request for additional refresher training in Team Teach, which then took place in January 2017. The recommendation relating to the home’s domestic appliances is also met. The chest freezer is now locked.

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children since the most recent full inspection

The remaining two recommendations are not met. Although the children’s guide information has been updated, its current format is not appropriate for the children who are aged under 12. The manager has plans for a child-friendly children’s guide that is attractive and colourful, and uses language more conducive to the children’s needs. This recommendation is repeated. The regulation 44 report format has been updated; however, the content of these monthly reports falls short of providing a rigorous assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children. This lack of evaluation and analysis fails to provide the manager with an objective, independent view. This recommendation is repeated.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Significant changes in the home’s staffing since the last inspection include the employment of a new manager and the turnover of a significant proportion of the core staff team. Some of the children have demonstrated unsettled behaviours as a direct result. The manager, who transferred from another of the provider’s homes, is fully utilising her knowledge of the organisation and the children to focus upon restoring a culture of routine and safety. She is also in the process of applying for registration with Ofsted.

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children since the most recent full inspection

New staff receive a comprehensive induction which enables them to attend relevant training and to shadow their more experienced colleagues. Given the current high percentage of new and inexperienced staff, there is an over-reliance upon senior staff members to manage the children’s challenging behaviours and to implement appropriate boundaries. Consequently, behaviour management strategies are not consistently understood or applied. A recommendation is made to support all of the staff in this regard.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Bullying incidents between the children have occurred; however, the staff have successfully supported the children to resolve their differences through individual meetings. The manager also held mediation sessions where staff enabled the children to discuss their differences together, with staff support. As a result, children are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and to work together to resolve issues by talking them through.

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children since the most recent full inspection

Children speak positively about the staff and are clear about who they can talk to if they have a problem. One child described the staff helping her to calm down by going to the beach for a walk by the sea. Interactions between the staff and children are warm and supportive. This is demonstrated, for example, by the lively conversations instigated by the children when they return home from school, eager to talk about their day.

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children since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a good understanding of the needs of the service, and recognises the shortfalls that are reported. She has begun to address the shortfalls, for example, by promoting the team’s development needs through implementing additional training. Her commitment to improving the service demonstrates her determination to address the shortfalls and

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for no more than four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. Therapeutic and educational services are available. A partnership company runs the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/10/2016 Full Good 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/01/2016 Full Good 04/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with a wider system to ensure children’s needs are met standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5(a)) 26/06/2017

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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

 Produce a children’s guide which should help children to understand what the day to day routines of the home are (‘what happens in the home’), the Statement of Purpose of the home (the care they can expect to receive while living there). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22) In particular, present the information in a child-friendly, age-appropriate manner.

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Recommendations

 Ensure the independent person makes 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) In particular, ensure the quality of these reports is analytical, critical and supports the homes continuous development.

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Recommendations

 Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11) This is with particular regard to the staff consistently applying the home’s rules and boundaries which should be agreed and understood by all of the staff and the young people.

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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 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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