Children's home run by Hampshire County Council in Winchester

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the inspection in September 2016, two requirements and six recommendations were made. One requirement related to incorrect information in the statement of purpose. The manager has reviewed and amended this document, which is now accurate. The other requirement related to the independent visitor’s reports. The manager has introduced a new format and the newly appointed independent visitor’s report sets out their opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and if the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being. These two requirements are now met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous recommendations have all been met, bar one, which is being addressed. This recommendation relates to the blanket use of mechanical restraints that restrict all of the children’s movements inside the house, regardless of their needs and abilities. The registered manager continues to work closely with the staff team and contractors in order to resolve the issue and is committed to finding a solution that meets everyone’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A review of the home’s missing procedure, written with approval from the local police, now ensures that the staff are clear about their roles and responsibilities if a child goes missing from the home and what support the child may need upon their return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Monthly audits and verification of employment references have improved the recruitment process in the home and provide evidence of good practice when new staff are being appointed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Shared responsibility between leaders and managers for the supervision of staff now ensures that the frequency of supervision is consistent with the homes policy. This, coupled with monthly checks introduced by the registered manager to ensure that it is taking place, allows the staff opportunity to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

As part of the performance management process, the registered manager now actively seeks views about the staff from trainers and other professionals. This independent and objective feedback is proving useful.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been a number of referrals to the home. Two young people are currently going through the assessment process in order to check that the staff can meet their individual needs. These established processes ensure that the young people have the opportunity to become familiar with the staff and the surroundings before staying overnight.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The introduction of a parent guide supports families to use the home. Parents know what to expect and how they can help the staff to care for their children. The document was helpfully translated into Romanian for the most recently admitted young person, which meant that the information was accessible to the wider family. This was well received and appreciated by the young person’s parents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home accepted an emergency placement, which resulted in the cancellation of short breaks for some of the young people and a complaint from a dissatisfied parent. On this occasion, managers were not able to fully assess and evaluate the impact of the known risks and behaviours of the new child on the existing group of young people. Furthermore staff did not feel equipped to manage the challenging behaviour described in the young person’s files. The registered manager’s refusal to accept requests from the placing authority for subsequent emergency placements avoided any further disruption and instability in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Updates to the safeguarding policy make the process for reporting allegations much clearer. Staff have reported concerns to the manager when they have observed poor practice and internal investigations have been appropriately conducted. However, on one occasion, contact with the local authority designated officer (LADO) did not take place. Therefore, the LADO was unable review the information to decide if the threshold had been met for further consultation with children’s services and the police. This practice creates the risk that potentially unsafe decisions will be made in isolation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager continues to support the ongoing development of the staff and provides training opportunities that exceed requirements. Recent examples include three staff having attained the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare and the commissioning of specialist training around the specific needs of a young person. This ensures that the staff feel valued and supported to deliver high-quality care and young people benefit from individualised support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records in the young people’s files show that the staff work in partnership with parents who are fully involved in the decision-making process. Care plans and risk assessments are very detailed and child focused, and are shared with other stakeholders. Risk assessments, in particular, underpin good practice and the young people benefit from staff feeling confident to support them in situations that are challenging. An example of this includes a young person with a history of refusing to move at times and therefore being unable to go out, accessing the local community successfully. The recent introduction of 24-hour recording sheets and the development of questionnaires to help the young people to express their views provides more detailed information for the staff and managers. This helps track young people’s progress in relation to outcomes and this in turn enables further enhancement to their care plans. Positive behaviour and achievements are recognised; photos of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the young people and certificates linked to their outcomes are displayed in the living area.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are already skilled in various methods of communication, and have recently furthered their knowledge of Makaton signing. The staff are committed to helping the young people to communicate; they use a ‘can you sign like me?’ board, which acts as a reminder of common words and signs that when used give a visual clue to spoken language, making it easier for the young people to. The young people are supported to make choices. They are able to choose activities and as a result feel valued and have fun during their stays.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s empowering and effective leadership style continues to drive good practice. Comprehensive monitoring and review systems, and improved information from the independent person, have led to further developments in practice. These include the home re-establishing links with the local police and actively seeking feedback from a wide range of professionals to ensure that the young people’s complex needs continue to be met to a high standard.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides a short-break service for young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and, where appropriate, those who have autistic spectrum disorder. Up to five children or young people at a time can stay overnight. The home is owned and managed by a county council.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 28/09/2016 Full Good 24/11/2015 Full Good 12/08/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/02/2015 Full Good

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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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure - that staff - are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular that they know how to manage allegations and make referrals to the local authority designated officer. 25/08/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Any use of mechanical restraint should follow a rigorous assessment process and, as with any restraint, be necessary and proportionate. Wherever such restraint is planned, it should be identified within a broad-ranging, robust behaviour support plan which aims to bring about the circumstances where continued use of such restraint will no longer be required (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.45). This is with specific reference to the blanket use of measures that restrict the movements of all young people while they are in the house regardless of their needs and abilities.

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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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