Children's Home run by Blackford Education (schools) Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 1 SC045096 Registered provider: Blackford Education (schools) 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

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children. The care packages usually include the provision of education at the company‟s school.

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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 good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children are looked after by a registered manager and care team who demonstrate genuine care for children‟s safety and welfare. All four children continue to make good progress, educationally, socially and emotionally. They receive good-quality, nurturing care and are happy. Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 2  The registered manager and care staff successfully build and maintain trusting, respectful and loving relationships with the children. Children say that they like the staff who care for them. They feel safe, have fun and enjoy living in this home.  All young people attend school regularly. Those children who find it difficult to manage full time are provided with alternative learning opportunities within the community.  Most of the children have lived in this home for over three years. They are settled and provided with stability.  Placing social workers comment very positively about the progress that their

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Key findings from this inspection

young person has made since coming to the home. One placing social worker said: „I have two children placed within this organisation. I cannot speak highly enough of the services and quality of care provided. Communication is excellent.‟

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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

 The registered manager‟s monitoring of records needs to be more effective. Currently, children‟s care plans, risk assessments and targets are not individualised to meet the current needs of the children. The records of physical interventions are not always completed by those people who are directly involved in the incident. In addition, the registered manager must ensure that children‟s views are always explored by care staff following an incident that has required the staff to hold them.  On occasions, the registered manager has been involved in some of the physical interventions and has then monitored the effectiveness of her own practice. This does not allow for independent scrutiny and analysis of what happened.  Leaders and managers must ensure that staff supervision sessions and team meetings provide good opportunities for staff to reflect on their work practices.  A maintenance programme is in place and essential works are planned.

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Key findings from this inspection

However, some areas of the home are currently presenting as tired and worn. Some repairs to the environment have not been completed quickly.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2016 Full Outstanding 15/12/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/09/2015 Full Outstanding 16/03/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 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

13. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to:

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Requirement Due date

 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(2)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that monitoring of records is effective to identify weaknesses and improvements are made. In addition, ensure that the registered manager does not review her own practice when involved in the use of restraint. 28/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children‟s home. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, care and behaviour management plans and risk assessments need to be current and identify how young people‟s needs will be met. In addition, temporary staff need to have a good understanding of these plans and consistently implement them. 28/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children‟s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must: 28/12/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 4  keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate , revise it; and  notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the review. (Regulation 16 (1)(3)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 Ensure a running away and missing from home and care (RMFHC) protocol agreed with the police and other partners is in place for individual children who are known to run away. These should be agreed and reviewed with all agencies and be scrutinised by the Local Safeguarding Children‟s Board (LSCB). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.23)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision of their practice that is specific to their role and responsibilities. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendations

 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 9.60) Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, this is a good home. The registered manager and her team provide children with consistent, nurturing, safe and well-planned care. Staff demonstrate genuine care and affection for the children whom they look after. They know children‟s individual needs and characteristics well. Staff are particularly good at providing a family-style environment, in which everyone understands and accepts individual differences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak highly of the care and support they receive from staff. They feel listened to and say that living here is like a family home. They like the activities that they take part in and are proud of what they have accomplished during their work experience opportunities. There are good relationships between children and staff. Children are supported well to maintain relationships with their families. At the time of this inspection, some children were going on holiday for a few days with staff to meet up with their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and her care team support the children well to develop new skills, interests and hobbies. The children spoke positively to the inspectors about their experiences of flying in an aeroplane on a recent holiday abroad. The children could identify the differences in cultures and what they did to keep themselves safe during the holiday. One young person said, „My confidence has grown, which has helped me to speak about how I feel.‟ He then added, „I am now more confident and speak to new people.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children‟s placement plans are currently under review. This is because the registered manager identified that the plans do not align well with the local authority‟s aims of placement or clearly define current needs, targets and how progress will be measured. In addition, individuals‟ risk assessments are generic. They do not identify the current known risks. Currently, this is a recording rather than practice weakness as permanent staff demonstrated a good understanding of children‟s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school regularly and/or alternative learning provisions. Two children are gaining work experience in the local community that they thoroughly enjoy and benefit from. Collectively, the children are making good progress from their starting points. This progress is having a positive impact on their emotional resilience and social progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are lots of nicely framed photographs of children displayed around the home and soft furnishings that create a homely environment. However, in general the environment is showing signs of considerable wear and tear and would benefit from refurbishment and re-decoration.

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

Children feel safe and cared for at this home, they are relaxed and comfortable with staff Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 6 and say that they are like one big family.

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

The registered manager‟s approach to recruiting new staff is good. As a result, children are looked after by adults whose suitability has been rigorously assessed. Recruitment records are well maintained. Children are actively involved in the selection and recruitment of staff.

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

Missing from home incidents are rare. This is because children like living at the home. Relationships between staff and children are well-established and respectful. There has been one missing from home incident since the previous inspection. This was managed well by staff because they followed the organisation‟s missing from home protocol. Staff worked effectively with other agencies and, as a result, the children returned quickly and safely to the home. Independent return home interviews were completed. Despite the registered manager making every effort to obtain information about the outcome of these interviews, she has yet to receive this feedback.

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

Staff demonstrate a good awareness of how to keep children safe and refresh their safeguarding training every three years. Staff understand the risks to children well. They give effective support and guidance that reassures children. As a result, children are learning how to keep themselves safe. One child now feels confident to go to the shops on their own, and two children go to work experience placements in the local community without needing staff support.

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

Since the previous inspection, there has been one safeguarding referral made to the designated officer. Although robust action was taken to safeguard the child, the registered manager did not notify the appropriate agencies as quickly as she could have. However, the child was appropriately safeguarded during the intervening period. This safeguarding concern was thoroughly investigated and it was concluded that no further action was required. The registered manager has reflected on her practice and now recognises the importance of an immediate referral.

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

Staff set clear boundaries for children and apply them consistently. As a result, children understand what is expected of them and feel safe in staff‟s care. Children say that they can speak to any members of staff if they have any worries or concerns. Bullying is not an issue. Children get on well with each other; one child confirmed this and said, „We are like brothers and sisters.‟

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

Incidents where children display behaviour that challenges staff are few and far between. Clear and concise behaviour support plans provide staff with guidance on how to help children to manage their emotions. Restraint is not a common occurrence, and only used as a last resort. Staff praise children for their achievements and reward systems are effective, and therefore sanctions are rarely used. However, records relating to sanctions need some improvement to ensure that they are fully detailed.

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

The registered manager has a wealth of experience and is suitably qualified. Since the previous full inspection in May 2016, the manager has been registered to manage a Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 7 second home within the same organisation. She shares her time between the two homes, which has limited her ability to oversee some of the practices in this home effectively.

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

The leadership of the home requires improvement. This is primarily due to a lack of effective oversight of records completed by staff. The registered manager‟s monitoring has not identified omissions in these records or corrected the use of inappropriate terminology documented in some of the children‟s records. In addition, the registered manager has failed to identify threshold variances when targets are achieved and sanctions imposed. On one occasion, the registered manager has evaluated the effectiveness of her own practice when she has been involved in restraint. To date, these shortfalls have not impacted negatively on the safety and well-being of children.

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

Following a review that identified weaknesses in the care planning process, the registered manager is implementing new placement plans and risk assessments. This is important as previously not all temporary staff were provided with sufficient information in these documents to help them to care for the children in the same way as permanent staff. Missing from home protocols are in place, but these documents have not been discussed with safeguarding agencies to ensure that strategies for how staff are to manage incidents are agreed.

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

The registered manager has high expectations of the children, herself and the staff. These expectations are communicated through regular staff and house meetings, and informal supervision sessions. However, the registered manager has not always used these meetings as an opportunity for the staff to reflect on their practice, share their work experiences and explore alternative strategies to managing children‟s behaviour.

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

The statement of purpose has recently been updated to reflect the current staffing levels and the staff‟s qualifications. However, information within this document refers to the wider organisation. In addition, the registered manager has not included information in this document about her management responsibilities for a second home. Neither has she forwarded a copy of the revised document to Ofsted as required.

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

The registered manager ensures that there is an adequate number of staff to meet the needs of the children. The organisational training programme enables the staff to keep abreast of current work practices and enhances their knowledge on a wide range of subjects.

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

The team is committed and offers consistent and nurturing care to children. The manager and staff team are enthusiastic and confident. Their child-centred delivery of care ensures that young people are safe and that their time in this home is memorable and positive.

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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 Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 8 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 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: SC045096 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Blackford Education (schools) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Blackford House, Blackford, Minehead TA24 8SY

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Inspectors

Sharron Escott, social care inspector David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC045096 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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