Children's Home run by Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 1 SC065792 Registered provider: Childhood First

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A registered charity owns and runs this children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is a therapeutic community based on an integrated therapy model.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 28 to 29 November 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 31 January 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because: Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 2  The staff are dedicated and enthusiastic about their work. They speak with pride about the children and the progress that each child is making.  The children can safely challenge each other’s behaviour and explore their feelings, and they are becoming mindful of others.  Children with histories of poor or no school attendance are achieving exceptionally high levels of attendance and participation.  The home is adaptable in helping the children become aware of potential risks that they may encounter in life.  The managers and the staff are forward thinking and aspirational in their goal setting for the children.  The children are becoming increasingly able to self-regulate their emotions.  Managers ensure that the staff training is animated and bespoke to ensure that the children and the staff benefit.  The managers are motivational, lead by example and are continually striving to

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/09/2016 Full Outstanding 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/11/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home uses an integrated systemic approach. The work with the children is child-led, and tailored to each individual child’s needs. The exceptional changes and progress that the children are making is demonstrable. This progress has been achieved through the caring and trusting relationships that the staff build with the children. The staff team is highly effective in co-parenting and partnership working with the children’s families, former carers and the other professionals involved in the children’s lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff are enthusiastic about their work, and speak with pride about the children and the progress that each child is making. The children know that the staff care deeply about them, and this is evident in their interactions. The staff are committed to their key children, and will come in when off duty to facilitate meetings and family contact, or to attend special events. The team goes to great lengths to ensure that family contact is coordinated, to best meet the children’s needs. In some cases, staff support the children in travelling great distances to see their relatives. This level of commitment provides the children and their families with continuity in their visits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children and the staff participate in community and daily meetings. These gatherings are spaces in which the children can safely challenge each other, discuss matters that may be troubling them and explore their feelings and/or group dynamics. The topics covered demonstrate that the children are open to sharing some very painful feelings. These meetings provide the children with safe forums to have these conversations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

School attendance and participation in lessons have improved for all of the children. Some of them are now achieving 100% school attendance. This is despite some children having been out of school for extended periods prior to moving in. If children are not in school when they arrive, they have a full programme of home tuition until a school place is identified. The managers expertly match the children’s needs with the various local provisions. This individualised approach to sourcing school placements is enabling the children to flourish, and to experience school life in a way that they have not done previously. A teacher spoke positively, saying, ‘[Child] has been out of mainstream school for 18 months and is on a phased return. It is brilliant. [Child] has exceeded our expectations.’ He went on to describe how the child should achieve a number of GCSEs if their current progress continues.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff encourage the children to have a healthy, active lifestyle, and support them to access any medical support that they may need. The children engage in a wide range of activities and experiences that include theatre trips, hill walking and holidays. Many of these the children have not experienced prior to moving in. Children who were initially resistant to getting involved in these types of activities are now eager and active participants.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to develop age-appropriate independence skills at all stages of Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 4 their life at the home. A child, who at the last inspection would not interact with others, was busily helping a staff member to cook the dinner. As they get older, the children are encouraged to seek part-time employment so that they can start to understand the benefits of earning their own money. A child spoke excitedly about having already completed her application form for a local children’s playground, despite knowing that she is not eligible to work until early 2018. The child’s completion of the form and the focused way that she speaks about wanting to work reflect the aspirational perspective that the staff continually work to achieve, with her and the other children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff ensure that the children learn to respect each other’s differences. This individualised approach promotes a sense of tolerance and equality that is important when living in a group. The children can become competitive, but the staff consciously address this to ensure that there is no sense of favouritism.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children’s views and wishes are built into all aspects of the service, from the planning of activities to the vibrant mural that incorporates how each child wanted to be represented. The layout of the artwork enables future children to be included in the design, along with the existing group. This forward thinking demonstrates an ongoing commitment to the children. It also indicates to the children living at the home that they will still be a part of the home after they move out.

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

Children have become increasingly able to self-regulate their emotions without reverting to previous behaviours such as self-harm. The children are encouraged to explore their feelings, and talk or write about them. The staff are able to help the children as they work through their varied and changeable emotions. A child wrote, ‘I hate feeling really angry all the time. I have dug myself a big hole and don’t know how to get out of it.’ This frank admission demonstrates that the children are able to voice their feelings, knowing and trusting that the staff will support them to address any anxieties that may arise. A social worker spoke of one child, saying, ‘When unwell, her self-harming increased, but she doesn’t do this anymore and can be supported in just being sad.’

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

The children’s monthly updates analyse all aspects of their care, such as school attendance and serious incidents. The home has weekly meetings to review the use of any physical interventions. The children are encouraged to express themselves as part of debrief sessions after significant events. These debriefing conversations enable the children and the staff to be reflective. The continual analysis of these events helps the staff to work with the children to identify any triggers and the true causes behind the children’s behaviours. This process is successfully reducing recurrences.

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

A social worker said, ‘I believe that the children are 100% safe here and that the children know that they are safe.’ A child said, ‘It is good here. I feel safe.’ She spoke about having less time out unsupervised due to the home’s location and being new to the home. Generally, unsupervised time is gradually increased as the children become older and more settled. It is extremely rare for a child to go missing from home. Should this occur, the staff are clear about the protocol to follow, which is individual to each Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 5 child.

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

The location risk assessments and the children’s individual risk assessments are comprehensive, and identify any known or potential risks. These risks are well managed to ensure the children’s safety. The assessing of risks commences prior to the children’s arrival, with matching assessments and pre-visits. These assessments are routinely updated as and when required. Fire checks detail when children have refused to evacuate the house. Failure to respond to the fire alarm is then discussed in the daily meeting. This ensures that the children appreciate the seriousness of needing to respond to fire alarms.

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

The staff manage the children’s behaviours well, and put consistent boundaries in place to ensure that the children feel safe and protected. The staff work expertly with the children, who often display very challenging behaviours, until these behaviours greatly reduce.

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

The staff have ongoing discussions with the children about internet safety and other risks that they may face. These conversations include suggestions such as the children printing off any pages that upset them, to show and discuss with the staff. This empowers the children, and reinforces the fact that the staff will support them through any upset or distress. The staff working in this non-risk-averse way ensures that the children understand potential risks, yet still maintain access to websites such as Facebook and other social media that their peers use.

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

Staff training is meticulously coordinated to ensure that the staff are working with current information and practice. In addition to the mandatory training, the staff undergo training that is specific to the children’s needs. A recent example is the autistic spectrum disorder training in which staff used live examples, creating a bespoke approach. The staff and the older children watched a drama-based safeguarding presentation about the risk of grooming and child sexual exploitation. This creative approach provided the children and the staff with a deeper understanding of how the children may encounter and deal with the issues.

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

The community and daily meetings enable the staff and the children to discuss any concerns or upset, negating the need for formal complaints to be raised. The staff monitor any situations that could develop into bullying. This proactive approach prevents any issues escalating to that extent. The home successfully works in conjunction with other professionals to support the children if they make any allegations. The prompt actions of the staff and the managers ensure that the children feel listened to. This has also led to the children making disclosures about their past experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has worked at the home for several years. He holds a relevant level 4 qualification and is a qualified child psychotherapeutic counsellor. He has continued supervising new staff for a part of their probationary period. This has enabled him to build a positive rapport with them and establish relationships that would otherwise take Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 6 much longer to develop. A staff member described the manager by saying that he, ‘Listens to everyone’s points of view, is fair and always wants the best. He cares about the team.’ The staff describe how the managers lead by example. They say that the supervision and appraisal system provides them with the support that they need. The staff can see how they are progressing, and how and where they can develop into their roles and future roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers and the staff actively advocate for the children and challenge decisions as required. They also actively source provisions such as education to ensure that the children’s very specific needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers work closely together. They have high expectations of the children, and are equally aspirational for their staff team. Since the last inspection, the staff team has increased in size, with additional posts being created. This has had a positive result in that a number of the staff have been promoted to more senior positions. The home’s development plan demonstrates the managers’ aspirations for the children, the staff and the home. The managers are continually striving to enhance the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has monthly visits from an independent visitor. The recent change of visitor is providing the home with insight and queries from a new perspective. The managers are using the findings to enhance their internal monitoring and development, such as the recently revised filing and auditing systems. The quality of care report gives a detailed overview of the progress that the children and the home have made in the period. The manager identifies areas of strengths and points for further development in an evaluative way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A family member said, ‘I’m happy with how things are going. There have been changes of staff in recent months. The changes are managed as carefully and as best that they can.’ A parent said, ‘It is a really good place for [child] to be. I have never seen a staff member not look like they are happy to be here. They are really good at their jobs and go above and beyond. [Child] is in the best place she can be.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The feedback from family members, carers and professionals is extremely positive about the progress that their children are making. All praise the staff for the inclusive way that they are kept informed and updated about the children’s care planning. A social worker said, ‘The emotional support offered is tireless. They [the staff] never give up. They prepare the older ones for independence with realistic goals. I can’t speak highly enough of them.’ Another social worker said, ‘[Child] has benefited from having weekly therapy. This, and the care from the home, enables [child] to reflect and look at things, and how they can change.’

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 7 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: SC065792 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 210 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JX

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC065792 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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