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Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

 The young people make reasonable progress while living in a safe and stable environment. A committed staff team has developed positive relationships with the young people.   The young people are taught to lead healthy lives and are encouraged by staff to actively engage in individual therapy, resulting in improved emotional well-being for some young people.  Highly effective communication by staff allows parents to be actively involved in the lives of their children when appropriate.  All young people are kept safe by staff who help them to understand the concerns for their safety effectively. When an issue arises, staff take prompt and effective action.  Risk assessments are detailed and promptly reviewed, as the behaviours of young people manifest or cease to exist.  Safer recruitment practices help to ensure that young people are cared for by safe adults. The necessary precautions are taken to ensure that the

p.3

The children’s home’s provision is good because:

home is protected from potential hazards, such as fire.  There is a full complement of permanent staff, who are experienced at working with the young people.  Staff documentation of physical interventions does not clearly capture the behaviour of young people and methods of intervention prior to restraint by staff.  Monthly monitoring reports by the independent visitor have not been submitted for two months.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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 registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline, or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes: (ii) details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; (v) details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(v)) 23/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent visitor must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to: (a) HMCI; (d) the registered provider and the registered manager; (e) the responsible individual. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)(d)(e)) 23/06/2017

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to 10 children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/10/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/03/2016 Full Outstanding 20/08/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/03/2015 Full Outstanding

p.5

Good

Staff make a major contribution to the reasonable progress being made by the children. Sound record-keeping reflects how children are being supported, their accomplishments and achievements. Children were observed to be comfortable in the home and engaging with staff while following a well-organised and structured daily routine. The children were seen to be actively participating in the life of the home over the two-day period.

p.6

Good

The children trust staff, and have established positive relationships that have contributed to their being settled in the home. Staff administer quality care to the children, using a nurturing and patient approach. As a result, children feel that staff generally care about them and want the best for them. Many genuine, positive interactions between the children and staff were seen on inspection, as children openly approached staff for warmth and guidance.

p.6

Good

The majority of the children attend the education provision attached to the service. They make some progress academically and are monitored regularly. The children clearly benefit from the daily communication between the staff at the school and the home that has provided consistency in their care.

p.6

Good

Children are well presented, with each having their own sense of identity and self- worth. Staff encourage them to express themselves individually and learn about their family heritage through discussions and appropriate information-sharing. Children develop a sense of belonging and acceptance through this approach.

p.6

Good

The emotional needs of the children are addressed by the in-house therapeutic services. Children actively engage with the therapist, who has been employed by the agency for a considerable amount of time and is well liked by all the children. Staff consult with the therapist regularly, and adjust their practice if they learn that this may help children to improve emotionally and behaviourally.

p.6

Good

The overall atmosphere in the home is very busy, with children being settled and having access to many resources. Children have personalised bedrooms that are maintained to a good standard, providing a space for privacy and reflection. The multi-purpose room is a favourite area for the children, where they have access to electronic games, arts, crafts, books and musical instruments.

p.6

Good

Effective communication by the staff with parents allows them to be well informed and active in the care of their children. Staff were able to evidence that they are good at liaising with parents and creating opportunities for safe, appropriate contact to take place that builds bridges and develops relationships for children.

p.6

Good

The majority of children attend the education provision attached to the service. They make some progress academically and are monitored regularly. The children clearly benefit from the daily communication between the school and home staff that provides consistency in their care. This has resulted in some positive outcomes for children educationally.

p.7

Good

Activities are available that cater to the individual interests of children. They are able to develop confidence and acquire social skills through their engagement. The children are taught to be positive contributors to society by maintaining good relationships with the neighbouring community.

p.7

Requires improvement

The children are kept safe. Staff teach them to understand why they must follow specific rules to keep safe from harm. There are links with the local police and there is seldom a need to contact them, because of the low number of serious incidents that have occurred in the home.

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Requires improvement

A wide range of child protection policies and procedures are available for staff to consult, covering all safeguarding concerns. Potential safeguarding issues, when they arise, are handled well by the staff under the direction of the management. All incidents have had a detailed response that involved cooperation with professionals, including the police, and resulted in the safe return of the children.

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Requires improvement

The unpredictable and challenging behaviour of some of the children continues to be the most prevalent safeguarding risk present in the home. Staff have evidenced that they fully understand and manage complex behaviours effectively. When this is not effective, strategies are implemented, such as changing the focus of the behaviour management policy. Staff are excited about recent training they have received, which switches the organisation’s focus to prevention rather than intervention.

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Requires improvement

There have been a high number of physical interventions administered by staff. This form of intervention is used when staff want to prevent risk of harm to children. Several records reviewed were weak. They inconsistently documented the behaviours of the children, with limited detail about what warranted staff to act, or any measures used to avoid the restraint. This irregular practice made occurrences hard to follow or assess whether they were appropriate. The manager agrees that this is an area of improvement for staff and is working towards a solution.

p.7

Requires improvement

Risk assessments for the children are of good quality. They are well written, and promptly updated as children progress in their individual behaviours and needs. The assessments inform staff practice for managing all risks associated with the children, adding to their ability to keep children safe.

p.8

Requires improvement

New staff are subjected to safe recruitment practices prior to being appointed. All information pertaining to new applicants is reviewed and verified, helping to ensure that safe and appropriate adults care for children.

p.8

Requires improvement

Staff ensure that the children live in a safe environment. The physical environment is well maintained, with the resources to ensure that children use the premises safely. Health and safety risk assessments for electrical, gas and fire are up to date. The location risk assessment accurately depicts any concerns for the local area, which is considered low risk for children.

p.8

Good

The manager gained several years of experience of working with children as the deputy manager of this home. She has successfully registered and has been in post for six months while undertaking the learning to complete a level 5 management qualification.

p.8

Good

Managers monitor all care planning for the children effectively, by tracking them to determine what is and is not working in relation to their care. This practice allows prompt adjustments and for decisions to be made in a timely manner. For example, managers have limited the number of admissions to the home, and ended placements for children who have not made any progress, while having a negative impact on other children.

p.8

Good

The staff are enthusiastic and highly motivated to care for the children. Managers have addressed the previous shortage of permanent staff on shift. A core group of experienced staff has welcomed new additions to the team and mentored them while they complete their induction process. Supervision is provided regularly, along with purposeful staff meetings. Handover meetings between the shifts provide consistency, ensuring that all staff are up to date on all children.

p.8

Good

The registered manager has a great understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and these are addressed in the development plan. The most recent monthly monitoring report is comprehensive and purposeful, identifying trends and patterns.

p.8

Good

Due to an unexpected recent change to the independent visitor, the monthly reports for January and February were not produced and were unavailable on inspection. Previous reports were critical and evaluative, and the manager confirmed that the matter will be addressed promptly.

p.9

Good

The statement of purpose for the home clearly outlines the aims and objectives of the home. The document is extremely detailed and remains up to date. The young person’s handbook is made available to all children, allowing all to have insight into the services and how they will be applied.

p.9

Good

Managers have established good-quality links to external agencies. Professionals agree that staff communicate and engage very well on behalf of the children. These relationships have contributed to timely responses in relation to services and intervention being provided.

p.9

Good

The requirements made at this inspection do not have a direct impact on the children.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place. However, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

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

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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