Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited in Peterborough

Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 1 SC452107 Registered provider: Semi-Independent House 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 privately owned children’s home can accommodate up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 November 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 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: 24 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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Key findings from this inspection

 The children say that they are happy and settled in the home.  The staff have built trusting relationships with the children.  The children and their parents describe the positive changes in the children’s behaviour at home and at school. Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 2  The staff actively follow up children’s health needs are, and this has resulted in the successful diagnoses of previously undiagnosed conditions.  The staff positively use their rapport with the children to de-escalate situations.

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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 staff should receive supervision and appraisals at the frequency specified in the home’s policies and procedures.  The independent visitor’s monthly report does not detail opinions on whether the practice within the home is keeping the children safe and promoting their well-being.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/10/2016 Full Good 15/12/2015 Full Good 15/05/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 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

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c)) 31/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 44 (4)(a)) 31/12/2017

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived at the home for over a year and the other two children moved in shortly after the last inspection. The children have settled in well and are responding positively to boundaries and structure that the team provides. Children cited characteristics that they liked in the staff, such as a sense of humour. The staff have built positive relationships with the children. These relationships help the children to feel safe and secure in their home and living with each other. A child said, ‘It is like a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have actively sourced education provisions for the children, and all three are now in education. This includes one child who has been out of education for over a year. A parent described the positive impact that living in the home is having on their child’s behaviour at school. The parent said, ‘[Child] is doing very well, I am proud.’ Their child echoed this saying, ‘I was bad behaved in school but I am good now.’ When asked why this was, they replied, ‘I am happier now. I am happy here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s placements plans clearly detail their plans and goals. The staff support and encourage the children to have a healthy diet and active lifestyle. One child speaks fondly of how a staff member introduced them to kick boxing and the various activities that they have tried since moving in. Children’s health needs are explored and specialist medical advice is sought as required. This diligent approach to the children’s heath has enabled children to become healthier and more aware of their health needs, and to Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 4 receive the specialist care and treatment that they have needed for previously undiagnosed health issues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children say that they feel listened to, and that because of this they have not needed to make any complaints. The children have access to advocates but rarely use them. It is positive that the children have access to an independent source of support should they require it. A social worker said, ‘[Child] receives high levels of support consistently in all areas. He has lots of opportunities to express his views and he is respected and valued.’ A parent said, ‘[Child] is getting on great. Doing a lot better at school. Presents himself a lot better.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have regular key-work sessions where they can discuss matters such as family visits and school. The children are able to express their views and opinions at the children’s meetings and as part of the ongoing conversations. After each children’s meeting, the manager provides formal feedback to the children on each of the points that they raised. These sessions provide the children with safe forums to explore issues. This responsive approach demonstrates to the children that their voices are important and they can see their views incorporated into the running of the home and in the planning of activities and events.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a fresher feel following the redecoration of various areas of the house. This addresses the recommendation made at the last inspection. Each child has a photo album that contains pictures of the holiday fun and activities that they have participated in. These albums provide the children with lasting memories of their time living in the home.

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

The location risk assessment comprehensively considers the potential risks in the locality. The manager ensures this by regularly reviewing and updating this assessment with any new information. The children’s risk assessments are live documents that are updated in the same way. There is a thorough matching process conducted from the receipt of referrals. This process ensures that plans are in place to address any potential areas of difficulty from the time the new child moves in.

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

Children rarely go missing from home and when this does occur the staff are proactive in their attempts to locate the children and maintain telephone contact with them. The staff use their rapport with the children to ensure that the children tell them where they are, and that they agree to meet for a welfare check or to be collected. A parent said, ‘He is safe. He doesn’t run away. He used to run away a lot. He doesn’t smoke weed anymore. He has blips but his attitude has changed. He’s going to school. Generally doing really well.’ The staff work closely to ensure that the children receive safe and consistent boundaries, and they often deflect any negative behaviours through focusing on the positive changes that the children are making.

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

The staff are skilled in behaviour management, and successfully use de-escalation methods. Their approach of allowing the children time to digest information assists with Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 5 de-escalating heightened moods and behaviours. This prevents situations from escalating to the point where a physical intervention is required. The staff have not had to use physical intervention in the home for over two years.

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

The use of sanctions is minimal. When used they appropriately relate to the child’s behaviour. The staff follow up these sanctions with the children in key-work sessions to minimise a repeat. The recording of any incidents are detailed and contain information about the incidents and the debriefs that occur. This comprehensive review of incidents ensures that the staff can learn from any lessons learned.

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

The staff use the children’s key-work sessions to discuss matters of safety, such as safe use of the internet and free time away from the home. These conversations and the use of individual agreements help the children to have an increased awareness of risk and how to avoid and/or minimise these. This approach has led to a decrease in the children’s levels of aggressive behaviours and has, in some cases, enabled children to return to living with their families.

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

Children are relaxed and at ease with the staff, and this has enabled them to have significant conversations in which children have disclosed past traumatic experiences.

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

The staff ensure that the children are aware of potential risks, such as sexual child sexual exploitation, through group and individual discussions. The staff have completed the required training and relevant refresher courses. This training is scheduled to ensure that the staff are working with current knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the deputy manager has become the registered manager. She has worked at the home for several years and possesses the required level 5 qualification. The manager’s knowledge of the home and the fact that she has been deputy manager and acting manager prior to commencing the role provide the home with stable leadership.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a very small core staff team and uses regular agency staff to cover two vacancies. The team is sensitively managing some recent changes within the staffing arrangements. The team ensures that the children continue to be cared for by a familiar staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the progress that the children are making. She ensures that the staff are working with them to fulfil their potential. The allocation of specific areas of responsibility provides members of the staff team with a sense of ownership and pride in their working with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have commenced having group sessions with the home’s clinical psychologist. This clinical input provides the staff with an additional source of support in identifying alternative strategies that they can use in their work with the children. Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 6 The staff speak positively about their supervision sessions. However, staff files sampled demonstrate that that supervision and appraisals are not occurring at the frequency specified in the home’s policies. This prevents the staff from having the space and ability to discuss and reflect on their practice and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager conducts file audits at least once a month to ensure that the children’s files contain all the relevant information. The manager uses her monthly audits and those of the home’s independent visitor and feedback received from the children, their families and professionals to enhance standards within the home. The independent visitor’s monthly reports do not address all the required aspects detailed in regulation. This was highlighted at the last inspection. The independent visitor reports should comment on whether the practice within the home is promoting the children’s overall safety and their well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The feedback from parents and professionals is positive and describes a close partnership working with the staff team.

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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 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: SC452107 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC452107 8 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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