Children's home run by The Ryes College Limited in Babergh

Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 1 SC429754 Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is one of three children’s homes run by a private organisation which also operates two schools. One of the schools is on the same site as this children’s home. The home provides accommodation for up to six children who have learning difficulties and emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 24 January 2017

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

None Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home requires improvement to be good because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff do not receive regular supervision to support them with working with the children.  Children are not involved with their placement plans. Social workers do not sign the placement plans to say they are agreement with the home’s plans.  Key-work sessions are unstructured, and some recording is of poor quality. Children do not comment or sign to say they have understood the session.  There is a lack of evidence to show that the children understand or are involved in setting their individual targets.  There is little evidence to show that the children’s wishes and feelings are taken into account or that they are consulted about the running of the home.  Children are not always given the opportunity to comment following physical interventions.  Children do not always receive the return home interviews by an independent person after they have been missing.  There are monitoring systems in place, but it is unclear how children’s

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children have built positive relationships with a staff team that knows and understands them.  The children say they feel safe living in the home and that staff listen to and help them.  The children know how to complain and are informed of the outcome.  The children attend education and attendance levels are good.  Staff challenge the children’s negative behaviours and discuss any concerns in key-work sessions.  The children are encouraged to take up hobbies and interests. The staff understand the importance of children having positive friendships in the community. Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 09/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who develop positive relationships with them, engage with them and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (Regulation 7(1)(c) 30/08/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(a)(b)) 30/08/17

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within five working days of the use of the measure, the registered person or authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(c)) 30/08/17

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home’s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that the decor of the building is continuously maintained to promote a homely, domestic environment. Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 5  Support the child throughout the care and give opportunities to discuss the impact of the care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 18, paragraph 3.31) In particular, this relates to ensuring that children and social workers have the opportunity to comment and sign the child’s placement plan.  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) This is in regard to key-working sessions.

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improvement to be good

The children have individualised placement plans that the manager or deputy manager monitors and reviews regularly. The plans support the staff to work with the children consistently. However, the children do not have an input into these, read or agree with them, and there is no evidence that the social workers are in agreement with the home’s plans. This could lead to professionals not working consistently with the children.

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improvement to be good

Since the last full inspection, there has been a significant decrease in negative behaviours due to two of the children moving. The children currently placed at the home are beginning to progress well and comment that they are happy in the home. However, there is no evidence that the individual targets are set with the children to support them in understanding and recognising their progression or for the staff to be able to monitor and evaluate progression.

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improvement to be good

Sanctions are fair and proportionate. The children sign to say they have understood the reason behind the sanction. The manager monitors and evaluates the records. Staff record positive behaviours, but the children do not have the opportunity to sign and comment to say they recognise that staff are proud of their achievements.

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improvement to be good

The children have regular key-work sessions but these lack structure and, at times, in- depth recording. The children do not have the opportunity to sign and comment to say that they have understood the session or agree with them. Actions from the meetings are not recorded, making it difficult to see if these have been followed through.

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improvement to be good

The children have regular children’s meetings where they can request activities or items for the home. These are not well recorded, and there is no evidence that children receive feedback following any requests that have been made or that staff listen to and value their wishes and feelings.

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improvement to be good

The staff understand the importance of promoting and maintaining contact with children’s families and facilitate contact in the home when appropriate. A parent commented, ‘The staff support contact with my son, if things become difficult at home I Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 6 can call them, and they will offer support, they understand that sometimes contact can be difficult.’

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improvement to be good

The children have developed good, trusting relationships with a dedicated staff team that knows and understands them. The staff have a good understanding of why the children are in care. A child commented, ‘The staff here are great, they are not in your face all the time but are around if you want to talk to them and they listen and help me.’

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improvement to be good

The staff promote and support the children’s health needs by ensuring that children attend all their health appointments. All of the children are registered with the local doctor, dentist and opticians. The staff record any outcomes and actions needed following a health appointment. One child has a long-term health need, and staff have incorporated this into his daily routine. A parent commented, ‘The staff really understand my son’s health needs and support him in a sensitive way to attend appointments.’

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improvement to be good

The staff understand the importance of education, and support and encourage the children to attend. The children attend the organisation’s school, and attendance is high. The staff have daily communication with the education staff. This daily communication ensures that the education staff have an understanding of any difficulties the children have had the evening before or during the school day. A child commented, ‘Before coming here my attendance at school wasn’t very good, but I go every day now.’

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improvement to be good

There is a children’s guide to the home, which outlines how children can complain and explains rule boundaries and the routines of the home. The staff have devised a version for younger children or for those who have a learning disability, which is easier to understand. The staff take into account the ages and abilities of the children who can be admitted to the home.

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improvement to be good

The staff understand the importance of children having a wide variety of activities both in the home and the community. Children are supported to participate in hobbies and interests.

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improvement to be good

The staff understand the importance of children maintaining friendships. A child commented, ‘I have asked the manager if I can meet up with a friend from school during the holidays and she has already phoned his mum and made arrangements.’ The staff understand the importance of the children building and maintaining positive relationships in the community.

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improvement to be good

The staff understand the importance of celebrating special occasions. During the inspection, a child was celebrating his birthday. The staff had decorated the home with balloons and banners and spent time with him in the morning while he opened his presents. The staff took taking photographs and sang ‘Happy Birthday’. The child enjoyed this special time with the staff.

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improvement to be good

Three children who have recently left the home did so quickly. This has had an impact on a child who is still in the home. The staff understand that these moves have been difficult for him as they were not able to plan positive endings for the children who left Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 7 or to prepare the child for being on his own.

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improvement to be good

The home is in a rural location surrounded by large grounds. The home is large and spacious. The staff have worked hard to give the home a warm and nurturing feel. The lounge has been redecorated with new furniture, curtains, pictures and a large rug which gives it a homely feeling. The dining room and hallways have been redecorated, and children’s artwork has been put up in the hall. The children’s bedrooms are personalised, and they have chosen the colours for their rooms.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff challenge unwanted behaviours and reinforce boundaries appropriately. For example, during the inspection a child was finding it difficult to stay in school and was trying to gain access to the home. The staff worked well together to defuse a potentially volatile situation by listening and helping him to manage his emotions. The child subsequently made the right decision to return to the school grounds.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Comprehensive risk assessments are in place. The records outline the risks and strategies in place for managing any challenging behaviours safely. These are regularly reviewed and amended when necessary, and changes are discussed with the staff, which further safeguards the children.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Health and safety checks are completed and up to date. An area risk assessment is in place outlining potential risks in the area and actions for reduction.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children say they feel safe living in the home because staff listen and help them, and they can speak to any member of staff if they are worried or upset.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All medication is stored and recorded appropriately. The staff complete the relevant training before they can administer medication and are signed off as competent by the deputy manager.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Since the last inspection in January 2017, the manager and responsible individual have worked with the staff regarding safeguarding and their roles and responsibilities. All staff have received refresher training in safeguarding, which is a regular agenda in supervision sessions and staff meetings. This support ensures that the staff are vigilant around the children and has helped the staff to understand the children’s vulnerabilities and potential risks. Staff spoken to had a clear understanding of safeguarding.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff understand the importance of the children being able to manage some risks themselves, according to their age, understanding and ability and in agreement with the social worker. Staff have begun to work with a child to enable him to have free time in the community, which will give him the same opportunities as his peers.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The children know how to complain. There has been one complaint from a child regarding bullying in the home. The complaint was dealt with effectively with the staff speaking to both of the children, and it was resolved quickly. The child signed and Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 8 commented that he was happy with the outcome. This shows that the staff take bullying seriously and resolve issues quickly and effectively.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

A child put in a complaint with the support of the manager and advocate when his social worker was looking to move him. He commented, ‘I spoke to the manager, and she helped me put in a complaint to my social worker, and I am now able to stay here which is good.’ This shows that the manager supports the children in making a complaint when children are unhappy about plans that have been made regarding their care.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The staff report any concerns to the designated officer and follow any advice given. The designated officer commented that there were no concerns with the home and that the manager and responsible individual take safeguarding seriously.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been 49 incidents of children leaving the home since the last full inspection. Incidents have dramatically reduced since two children left the home. The community police officer commented, ‘There has only been one incident of children going missing since two children moved on, the staff will actively search for children, and we have a good relationship with the home.’ The staff record conversations that they have when the children return. However, not all of the children have received the return to home interviews from an independent person. There is clear evidence that the manager has requested these although there is no record of the outcome.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There have been 56 physical interventions since the last full inspection. Again, since two of the children moved on there has been a dramatic reduction, with only one hold being required in the past four months. However, since the last inspection records show that not all children have been given the opportunity to sign and comment to say they understand the reason for the hold. For example, staff have recorded that the child ‘was still in a heightened state’. There was no evidence to suggest staff had spoken to them once they had calmed down.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has been in post since November 2016 and has the relevant experience and qualifications to manage the home. She has a clear vision for the home and is supported by a knowledgeable and experienced deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There was one requirement and two recommendations from the last inspection have been met. The manager and responsible individual have, through training and staff meetings, ensured that the staff understand their roles and responsibilities, which supports them in keeping the children safe. The communal areas of the home have been decorated, giving it a more homely feel. If there is an allegation of bullying, the staff recognise and record this, and support the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager monitors the care practice. She uses the monthly reports from the independent person as part of the monitoring system to support drive improvement. However, it is difficult to see how children’s progression is captured to understand how they are progressing. Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 9 The staff have a good insight into the children’s individual needs and behaviours and treat them with respect. However, there is no evidence that the children have targets or are involved in reviewing their care plans, which means that they could be unsure of further plans and how the staff are working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The children do not have access to the internet due to concerns that they may use this inappropriately. Although this may be the case for some children, others are not considered to be at high-risk, meaning that they are unfairly penalised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff are not receiving regular supervision to support them working with the children or to look at their own development needs. A new member of staff who began working in the home in March 2017 has only received two supervision sessions. This means that staff may not be working consistently with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The children spoken to say that the staff consult with them regarding activities and purchases for the home. However, there is no evidence to show that the children are consulted with the day-to-day running of the home or that their wishes and feelings have been listened to and acted upon.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff have completed or are signed up to undertake their national qualification level 3.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff worked with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 2E, Skyview Business Centre, Churchfield Road, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2YA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: James Fischer II

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC429754 11 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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