Children's Home run by White Orchid Care Limited in Milton Keynes

Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 1 SC465588 Registered provider: White Orchid Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This service is a 52-week, four-bedded therapeutic children’s home for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, aged between six and 14 years old. It is run by a small private organisation.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 November 2017

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 January 2017

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 It is evident that children are afforded an outstanding level of individualised care from a passionate and committed staff team.  There have been no changes to placements since the last inspection, with all children living in the home for over two years.  Children achieve excellent outcomes which result in sustained improvements. For example, children have stopped destructive behaviour and are able to manage their own behaviour and engage and be part of the group.  Children thrive in the relaxed and therapeutic environment created by staff. They feel it is their home and that staff genuinely care for them.  Managers are creative and, through their child-centred approach, they have created a culture of high aspiration.  Children are now able to reflect on their behaviours and, through the therapy being offered, can now regulate their own emotions.  Children make excellent progress in education. Educational achievement and

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

attendance is high, taking into account children’s starting points at the time of placement.  Staff retention is excellent. Managers understand the importance of building and sustaining attachments for the children.  Staff are proactive at anticipating risks and fully involve children in discussions about this. During frequent key-work sessions, staff reflect on children’s unsafe behaviours with them.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Audits of records of safeguarding concerns and referrals could be stronger to promote the clearer recording of decision-making.  Children’s goals and targets are not always evident enough to enable staff and managers to see clearly what progress children are making.  External monitoring does not always provide sufficient challenge or evaluation of the quality of care and how well children are being safeguarded. Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2017 Full Outstanding 20/04/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/07/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 4

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that staff engage proactively to contribute fully to the relevant plans for the child’s care on an ongoing basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.3) In particular, ensure that targets for children are clearly detailed and that progress is demonstrated.  Ensure the regulation 44 reports are more evaluative and challenging. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)  Ensure that it is evident that any allegation is addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 4, paragraph 9.17) In particular, ensure that audit trials are strengthened to demonstrate action taken.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff team has been successful in creating a successful therapeutic approach to care. This children’s home feels like a family home, with staff creating a warm and nurturing space where children learn about what a safe family home can feel like. Children are accepted by staff for who they are and they clearly thrive in this environment. Children grow, both in their emotional development and in their social well-being. They achieve beyond expectations. Children describe the home as ‘my home’ and ‘it’s pretty cool’. Staff are passionate about, and take seriously, their roles as corporate parents. The attachments children have with staff are instrumental to the success of children’s placements. Staff love working in the home. One member of staff stated, ‘It feels like one big family; relaxed like a family home with fun and laughter. I am proud to work here.’ Similar sentiments were also evident in observations of staff

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

and their interactions with children. The relationships and attachments that have been formed, particularly with key workers, are vital to the progress that children have made. The individualised care provided is exceptional. All the children who live in this home have done so for over two years. Staff go out of their way to ensure that children feel valued and that they are given a wealth of experiences. Children who previously found attachments difficult are now able to talk to staff and have developed a genuine bond with these important people. Children understand and reflect on what safe relationships look and feel like. Children make outstanding progress. This was evident both in observations and in speaking to professionals and staff. Children who were previously angry and frustrated, and were finding it difficult to live with others, are now happy, calm and able to regulate their own behaviour. For the majority of children, previous aggressive outbursts have all

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 5 but ceased. Through the therapeutic input provided, children are now able to face some of their difficult emotions. Staff guide children through difficult times and children are confident that staff will support them. Targets for children are recorded within day-to- day care plans, but it is difficult to extract these goals from the information. This reduces the ability of staff to review comprehensively children’s progress. A more systematic approach would better support the measurement and demonstration of improvements. Children’s views are taken into account in all areas of their care. Staff adapt practice in response to monitoring and feedback activity. For example, this has enabled managers to identify that engagement in children’s meetings had reduced. As a result, these meetings have been reviewed and changed, with children leading the meetings. The

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

manager has also reviewed how children are involved in their care plans and has developed a new care plan, called ‘my plan’. These documents take full account of children’s views, hopes and aspirations. Staff support children to attend school regularly, and to achieve and reach their full potential in education. Staff have successfully encouraged children to read more books and they support children well with their homework. Staff have made homework enjoyable and this is now part of the daily routine in the home. As a result, children engage in their education and are now more confident to read in school. Children enjoy day-to-day experiences like any other child who lives in a warm and protected family. They join local clubs and go on regular outings and holidays. They have fun and they thrive as a result. Their experiences together and with staff enhance their life chances. Staff support children to be as independent as possible given their age. The steps

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

children take towards independence are carefully considered for each child. Staff support and give children advice about taking increasing responsibility for keeping themselves safe and how to manage unsafe behaviours and relationships. Staff fully prepare children for their futures, with the ambition that all the children will go on to live with foster families. Well-planned decisions are made, with the manager and staff advocating well for children to ensure that transitions are appropriate and tailored to each child.

p.5

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

Staff understand very well children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Highly effective planning and positive relationships between staff and children help to minimise risks inside and outside of the home. Children now have a strong sense of safety and this is reflected in their behaviours. Children have not gone missing from the home and physical interventions have markedly reduced. Eight incidents where physical intervention was used were recorded since the last inspection in January 2017. This is a marked improvement from the same period the previous year, when 59 such incidents were recorded. Staff successfully defuse incidents and are very proactive in how they manage situations. Children regularly take themselves to another area to calm, and they talk to staff when they feel upset. They have developed effective strategies to manage and regulate their own emotions. This has led to significant changes in children’s experiences.

p.5

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

Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 6 Staff are consistent in their management of behaviour and positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Staff use role modelling and open discussions to highlight and demonstrate what acceptable behaviour looks like. Children use this learning in a positive way to reflect on their own behaviour. Staff use sanctions appropriately to reinforce boundaries, enabling children to begin to understand the impact of their behaviour and to increase their sense of personal responsibility. Staff focus on rewarding positive behaviours and this is seen within everyday practice. The use of incentive charts and the ‘gold coin challenge’ has been highly effective in changing negative behaviours and also demonstrates a therapeutic way of working. Children are encouraged to treat each other with respect through appropriate role modelling and the reinforcement of boundaries. When there are conflicts, or children find

p.6

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

it difficult to be in each other’s company, staff intervene sensitively, while reminding children that some behaviours are unacceptable. Children also support and comfort each other at difficult times. Staff and managers have made effective links with the local safeguarding team, and a small number of referrals have been made. Staff are confident in reporting any concerns and know who they should contact. A creative approach to safeguarding practice and learning is in place; for example, children are involved in creating safety quizzes and then testing their knowledge on staff. The recording and auditing of safeguarding concerns need to be improved to ensure that they include details of which professionals have been contacted.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager left the home in July 2017 to pursue different responsibilities within the organisation. The assistant manager has since been successfully registered with Ofsted. The previous registered manager has provided appropriate support and this has further enhanced the skills of the leadership team. Staff feel very well supported and encouraged to undertake their roles. The new manager has looked at ways to empower further the senior staff. Managers have a high expectation of the staff team, and this has contributed to a culture where practice exceeds expectations. Staff work very well together and use research and team meetings to share learning and to further develop as a team. A passion to provide the highest quality of care was evident amongst managers and staff. They are fully committed to achieving the best for the children and have embedded a child-centred approach. Staff generate creative ideas and everyone has a

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

clear understanding of children’s progress. The manager demonstrates a clear insight into children’s plans and takes effective action when other professionals are not fulfilling their responsibilities. The managers ensure that the home is properly staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the children. Agency staff are not used. This ensures that a high quality and consistent level of service is delivered to all the children. Staff retention is excellent. Leaders recognise the importance of sustaining these relationships with the children and appropriately focus on how to retain staff and ensure that they are happy and confident in their roles. Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 7 The manager is very aware of the strengths and weaknesses in this home and is open to areas that she feels need to be improved further. Monitoring takes place, is evaluative and identifies any areas for improvement; this enables managers to reflect on current

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

practice. Leaders have recognised the need to strengthen further external monitoring and the challenge this provides. Although some improvements are evident, plans are yet to be fully implemented. Training opportunities for staff to develop their skills in supporting the children are comprehensive. Therapeutic training is offered to staff alongside communication with therapists to ensure that the training has the desired impact.

p.7

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.

p.7

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: SC465588 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: White Orchid Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1LF

p.8

Inspector

Emeline Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC465588 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9