Children's home run by Bramley Care Limited

Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 1 SC068272 Registered provider: Bramley Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to 10 young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is one of a number of homes owned by the same provider, which operates a school from the same site as this home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 29 to 30 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: 28 February 2017

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because: Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 2  The staff build highly effective relationships with young people.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Safeguarding is understood well by staff who act appropriately if concerns arise.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The staff meticulously assess risks and how these can be reduced.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make excellent educational progress.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have plenty of opportunities to have fun, engage in activities that they enjoy and try new interests.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 When young people arrive, the warm and nurturing welcome they receive lays a strong foundation for their positive engagement in the support the home provides.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The registered manager leads and manages the home exceptionally well.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Behaviour management and therapy are strengths of staff’s practice. This assists young people in developing more healthy lifestyles, and helps them to regulate their behaviours more successfully.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The staff actively promote respect and tolerance of others.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Relationships with other professionals are developed and supported effectively.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers take opportunities to be involved in external research, and they use this learning to improve the care provided.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The staff do not always identify potential health and safety concerns.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/10/2016 Full Outstanding 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/10/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded; (Regulation 12(2)(c)) In particular, the registered provider must ensure that the staff identify and reduce the potential impact of any health and safety concerns, such as trailing wires. 31/12/2017

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people make excellent progress here. Seven young people rated their care between eight and 10 out of 10. One young person said: ‘The staff put all [of our] pieces back together again and help us to take responsibility. If we fall back there is a net [which the staff provide] to help us bounce back and walk on our own again.’ Young people have excellent relationships with the staff. These relationships provide young people with a secure base from which to make progress, particularly in respect of their behaviour. The staff promote young people’s dignity and rights in all aspects of their work. For example, the staff help young people to obtain advocates, and sensitively support young people to address health needs such as enuresis.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A warm and inclusive welcome helps young people to decide if they wish to live here and to be involved in the programmes offered. Decisions about which young people should live together are thoughtfully considered and managed well. One social worker said that she was very positive about how the staff supported the young person when he arrived. This helped him to settle well, and assisted the staff to identify quickly his needs, and to plan effectively to meet them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The support for young people’s education and the links to educational establishments are very effective. Young people’s engagement with their education and learning quickly Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 4 improves from the time they arrive at the home. Where young people previously had fragmented attendance at school, this has improved. Young people receive recognition and praise for their achievements and progress, and they develop clear ambitions for their futures. While there is a school on site, the home’s links to external educational provisions assist young people to go to educational placements which match their ambitions for the future. Almost all young people spoke positively about their education and progress, and were proud of their achievements.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Healthy lifestyles are promoted and supported well. Young people’s varied health needs are identified and met swiftly. Meals and menus support young people to taste new food and provide a well-balanced diet. Young people help to prepare the meals. Young people attend relevant healthcare appointments and staff follow young people’s medication regimes well. Therapy is integral to the services provided, and young people are expected to engage in therapy from the time that they arrive. Young people are positive about the therapy sessions that they attend and how these discussions have helped them to speak about difficult things that have happened in their lives. One young person said: ‘Before, I thought therapy was theoretical. At [name of home] it has helped me to feel more balanced.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people develop appropriate life skills which take account of any risks. The independence programme is tailored to young people’s specific needs, and is changed if needed so that it helps each young person to progress. One young person who struggled to manage a weekly food budget was helped to decide to break this down to fewer days so that he could plan more effectively.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Opportunities for young people to enjoy themselves together, or individually, are plentiful and varied. Some young people attend outside groups they show an interest in, such as sea cadets. Opportunities for outings reflect young people’s interests, such as go-karting. Spontaneous talent shows and card games occur frequently. One young person said the best thing about being here is ‘having fun’.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s views and opinions are seen as important, and are valued. Young people say that they trust the staff with their concerns and worries, and many feel able to talk to all of the staff here. The staff increase each young person’s trust by acting consistently and explaining why things happen; young people confirmed that if a member of staff says something will happen, it does. The daily group meetings allow young people to say how their day has been and talk about what has gone well and what has not. These discussions are expertly facilitated by the staff, and result in meaningful discussions which benefit young people’s social interactions and ability to talk about difficult issues.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are supported to move from the home exceptionally well. The registered provider and manager are willing to go the extra mile in supporting young people’s placements to end well. In one instance, they have worked proactively with a local authority that is finding it hard to place a young person who has very complex needs. This has resulted in stability for the young person while a placement was sought that the young person was positive about. Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 5

p.4

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

The staff promote young people’s safety well; they act on any safeguarding concerns appropriately and effectively to help young people to keep themselves safe. The staff’s knowledge of a range of safeguarding issues, and how these relate to the young people who live here, is good. The staff competently explain how they would manage safeguarding concerns, and know how risks such as child sexual exploitation are relevant to the young people. Young people say that they feel safe here, and one young person said that since living here he had felt safe for the first time in his life.

p.5

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

Young people’s good behaviour is rewarded and celebrated. Young people learn skills which help them to manage and express their feelings better, and to decrease the number of times they resort to difficult behaviours. The staff capitalise on positive aspects of young people’s behaviour, even when this is proving difficult to manage. The staff adeptly reflect on the reasons why young people act in the way they do, and use meetings with the in-house therapy service to consider how best to respond to any concerns and issues young people have.

p.5

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

The frequency and quality of one-to-one sessions with young people help them to focus on what they need to improve, and provide recognition of their achievements. These discussions occur very frequently, sometimes five times a week. The topics discussed link carefully to what is important to young people, their relationships and their views. The records are clear, and helpfully detail what has been discussed.

p.5

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

Negotiation is a strength of the staff team. Young people are encouraged to make choices which will benefit their lives, and to understand the consequences of their actions. The staff constantly try to help young people to behave well, and they tailor what young people have to do to receive rewards to their particular goals, to help them to succeed. Young people clearly want to achieve their goals and are motivated to do so.

p.5

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

Young people rarely go missing. If a young person does go missing, the staff take appropriate action to manage the incident and to reduce the likelihood that the young person will go missing again.

p.5

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

Restraint is appropriately used, when required. Young people know the types of holds the staff use, and the care that young people receive after such incidents is appropriate. One young person said: ‘The hold is not really like being held. They take your arms and walk with you. It’s much better than at my previous home.’ The way that staff learn from any restraints undertaken has been enhanced. Incidents are independently reviewed shortly after a restraint occurs. The manager oversees the results of these reviews and comments on the findings, including any action to be taken.

p.5

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

Recruitment is well organised and takes into consideration the particular skills a person will need to work here. It is effective, with many of the staff remaining in post for some time. Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 6 Health and safety practice needs to be further improved. Records of health and safety checks are well maintained. The staff do not diligently monitor any risks the environment poses to young people and themselves. Wires from electrical appliances are not carefully positioned to avoid them becoming trip hazards. The kitchen bin was not foot operated, which increases the risks of cross-contamination. The bin was changed during the inspection, and the manager took action to ensure that the positioning of wires did not compromise safety.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an accomplished practitioner who has an in-depth understanding and knowledge of young people’s needs, and how to get the best out of her staff team. She has established a well-informed staff team whose members feel supported in their roles and reflect on how their practice meets young people’s needs.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager’s planning and reviewing systems pick up on the needs of individuals, as well as the needs of the group of young people who live here. Her open and inclusive attitude inspires the staff team. The staff are very positive about working in this home, particularly the way the manager provides them with support. One member of staff said, ‘She is very supportive but will challenge you too.’ Young people have excellent relationships with the manager, and confirm that she is fair.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and provider involve the staff in external training and research to enhance the care provided to young people. The staff and young people have engaged in a university research project on a particular issue that is relevant to young people. The therapy staff are working with a university to develop a research project that is designed to improve the national understanding of another important area of need.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people receive consistent care from staff who place young people’s welfare at the centre of their practice. Staff training programmes are meaningful, and are well targeted to issues which promote young people’s well-being and safety. The staff are very positive about the internal and external courses that they attend, and are clear about how they incorporate their learning into daily practice to enhance the care they provide.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Rigorous decisions are made about how many of the staff need to be on shift at any one time. Increased staffing levels are swiftly put into place if a need is identified. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of where and how they need to be deployed in order to provide appropriate levels of care. Shift leaders coordinate this care well. This reduces the potential for young people’s behaviours to escalate, uses staff resources effectively and encourages good relationships between staff and young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The structure of staff support is well considered and is planned effectively. Supervision is frequent and developmental. Individual supervision sessions recognise the good practice of staff. Where improvements to practice are necessary, supervision records confirm what skills or knowledge the supervisee must demonstrate. For example, supervision results might indicate if the supervisee must pass a medication management Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 7 competency test. Group supervision supports the staff to work together effectively and helps them to talk about the emotional impact young people have on them personally. The staff also spoke very positively about each end-of-shift review. These reviews focus on how staff have managed the shift, what has worked well and what they could do better. The staff said that the consistent emphasis on individual and group reflection assists them to work well as a team, to support each other effectively and to provide

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff work very well with other professionals. Professionals said that the staff are approachable and accessible, and provide good quality and timely reports which support decisions that are being made. The monthly reports sent to social workers, and where appropriate to families, comment on each young person’s strengths and areas of concern, and what has improved. Young people’s comments on the reports are included. This empowers young people to feel fully involved in the information the staff share about them.

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: SC068272 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bramley Care Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nicholas House, Riverfront, Enfield, Essex EN1 3FG

p.8

Inspector

Ruth Coler, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC068272 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.

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