Children's home in Medway

Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 1 SC029078 Registered provider:

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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 children‟s home is privately owned and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 10 children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home aims to support children to move on to live with long-term foster families or adoptive parents.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 15 to 16 August and 14 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Declined in effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children are making progress from their starting points. They are engaging well with the therapeutic work and learning to manage their challenging emotions, supported by dedicated and knowledgeable staff.  The children benefit from trusting relationships with dedicated staff. There is a Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 2 consistency of staff that enables trusting relationships to be built with adults that the children are familiar with.  Effective succession planning is underway. The two appointments of a director of care and dedicated systems development officer have enhanced the staff team and contributed to the development of the home.  The children have good school attendance. Some attend the on-site school which prepares them for mainstream school, while others have successfully made this transition.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children‟s home‟s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Some allegations against staff have not been reported to the designated officer or to Ofsted.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/06/2016 Full Outstanding 09/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 30/09/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 3

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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

12: The protection of children standard The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard paragraph (2) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child‟s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s

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Requirement Due date

child protection policies; In particular, ensure that all allegations are reported to the designated officer. 18/10/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI….without delay if— there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 18/10/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed to this home. They visit as part of the referral process and make an informed decision to come to the home. Good use is made of the children‟s guide, which includes spaces for the children to write their own thoughts and ideas. One child used her guide to tell me what she thought were the important things about the home during the inspection. Staff put up welcome signs on the day of a child‟s arrival. This is indicative of the warm and nurturing approach that underpins the ethos of this home. An independent reviewing officer commented, „They really do provide a joyous experience for children.‟ The children benefit from consistent care given by experienced staff. One staff member commented of a child, „She has made progress already. When she arrived she couldn‟t sit at the table, or engage in a game. Now she is able to do this.‟ The confident and consistent approach from staff supports the children to quickly learn the boundaries and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

begin to thrive. The staff are sensitive to the needs of the children. They use their therapeutic skills to help the children to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. The home‟s therapeutic approach is underpinned by Vera Falberg‟s attachment theory. This is threaded through the ethos of the home and well embedded in the practice and culture of the staff. The staff have high aspirations for the children and are proud when they make progress. One staff member said, „When he [child] first came here, he hit himself and said “I‟m bad” and wanted to be punished. Now he is learning the boundaries and knows it‟s not the end of the road when he makes mistakes.‟ The staff ensure that the children are engaged in the weekly plans and understand the expectations. The registered manager engages the children in games that incorporate therapeutic work. This subtle approach to delivering the therapeutic work is very much

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

enjoyed by the children. They spoke animatedly about the „cornflower game‟ and the „loving and caring waters‟. The registered manager makes effective use of the „big think‟ book to support the children to deal with hugely difficult thoughts and emotions in a practical and supported way. As a result, children are keen to engage in the therapeutic programme and they benefit greatly from learning through play. The observant care provided by dedicated staff has enabled the early identification of health needs for one child. The early diagnosis has allowed for treatment that has effectively reduced symptoms for the child. This is a good example of the staff using their initiative to meet the needs of the children. The enthusiastic staff ensure that all visitors to the home are welcomed. As a result, staff have developed positive working relationships with the children‟s networks. This inclusive approach ensures that the children are able to spend quality time with

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

important people in their lives. The staff plan carefully for the children to move to new placements. Endings are very well managed and staff focus on the warm feelings they hold for the child through an ending ceremony of the child‟s choice. This well-thought-out ending reflects the value of Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 5 the work undertaken and the child‟s journey though the placement. Experienced staff support the children in preparing to leave by developing positive working relationships with their new carers. This enables the children to see the adults working together, which assists the children to begin to transfer their allegiances. A foster carer said, „It really is a lovely place, we have always felt at home here and been well fed and looked after when we visit. The home has a lovely calm feel about it, despite there being seven children. The staff manage them really well and maintain

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improvement to be good

The registered manager has accepted a placement for a child who has a history of making allegations without ensuring that clear strategies are in place to manage this. The care plans and risk assessments do not reliably inform staff of what to do when allegations are made about staff. When children have made allegations about adults outside the home, they are well documented and reported in line with the guidance. However, records sampled revealed that allegations made by the children against the staff working at the home have not been reported to the designated officer, nor notified to Ofsted. This insular practice exacerbates the risks to vulnerable children. Following a requirement from the interim inspection in March 2017, the staff have undertaken safeguarding training and workshops. However, risk assessments for children are inconsistent. Staff have taken unnecessary risks which have compromised

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improvement to be good

children‟s safety. Despite refreshed safeguarding training, there continues to be an ineffective assessment of risk resulting in unsafe practice. Physical intervention is only ever used as a last resort. Some children have reduced the need to be physically held since engaging with the therapeutic work. The children all describe having adults who they can talk to. The consistent therapeutic approach of the staff has enabled the children to form trusting relationships with them. No children have gone missing from the home in this inspection period. On one occasion where a child made threats to leave the premises, staff were able to support him not to. Police involvement is rare and has only been utilised as a safety precaution when behaviour has been dangerous. The staff do not criminalise the children. Behaviour management is based around the home‟s therapeutic approach. The response to the requirements of the last inspection has been robust. Leaders and

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improvement to be good

managers thoroughly assessed the location and support needed to make this year‟s holiday a success. The house and garden provide a safe environment for the children. The children‟s bedrooms are decorated to their individual taste, having recently been redecorated while the children were away on holiday. Regular health and safety checks ensure that the home‟s appliances and fire safety systems are in good working order. This effective practice ensures that the children live in a safe environment where they are protected from harm. Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. Effective succession planning is currently underway to introduce a director of care to the provision. The intent is for them to become the registered manager in the future. In addition to this, a systems manager has been introduced to lead the development of a new recording and reporting system. The gradual handover between the existing and new leaders and managers follows the person-centred approach that is embedded effectively throughout the work of this organisation. Staff morale is good. Many of the staff have worked at the home for a long time, but they are not resistant to change. One staff member said, „Good, I‟m excited about the changes, the new systems coming in. I‟m pleased we are getting up to date, and moving with the times. It feels good.‟ The current recording and reporting is outdated and time consuming. Staff feel like they

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

are duplicating records and it is not easy to see emerging trends. It also failed to highlight allegations against staff that should be reported. The development plans, including the computerised recording and reporting system, are being introduced by leaders and managers to address these shortfalls. Regular, effective supervision supports staff to develop their skills and ensure that they are supported. The therapeutic and nurturing approach of the leaders and managers encompasses the staff. A staff member said, „Staff are nurtured here as well as the children.‟ The deeply entrenched culture of caring contributes to good staff retention. Training is prioritised and adapted to the needs of the service. The leaders and managers invite specialists into the home to enhance the learning for the staff. Recent workshops have taken place with topics such as safeguarding and epilepsy, and further training is planned regarding child sexual exploitation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following the interim inspection in March this year, the leaders and managers have reviewed and revised the home‟s policies and procedures. However, the process for recording and reporting allegations does not appear to be understood or embedded into practice. The current system of adding a file note in relation to allegations is poor practice and does not satisfy the wider reporting requirements. Leaders and managers have developed positive working relationships with placing authorities. They screen referrals carefully and will only accept placements for children who want to come and live at the home. They are confident in acting as advocates and champions for the children placed in their care. Their person-centred approach extends to all who come into contact with the staff and home. There is a true culture of caring.

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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 work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 7 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: SC029078 8

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Inspector

Sarah Olliver, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC029078 9 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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