Children's home run by Island Choices Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1241939 1 Registered provider: Island Choices Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. This home was registered on 30 November 2016. Prior to this, it was registered as part of the organisation’s sister home approximately one mile away.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved on from the home since the last inspection. This was a planned move which the home coordinated well. Three young people have moved into the home since the last inspection, and all have been in placement for at least six months. The managers no longer take short-term placements, which previously had disrupted the continued progress of those already living in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are making progress while living at the home, through good planning and continued review of plans. Staff have had training to meet the needs of those placed, including understanding of autistic spectrum disorders and online training in drug and Inspection report children’s home: 1241939 2 alcohol misuse. Staff would benefit from further liaison and training with the local drug and alcohol service to understand trends and patterns in the locality.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who live at the home are actively encouraged to attend education, and the importance of education is regularly promoted. Two young people attend school regularly and one, who is not emotionally ready to engage in education, has been supported through a variety of ways in order to prepare for later engagement. He has had tutors in school, at home and at a local library, but this has not been successful. The staff at the home have successfully engaged him in Assessment and Qualifications Alliance short courses, and use daily living skills to teach maths and practical skills such as budgeting. The young person is due to start vocational courses on a farm in the coming days, which in the circumstances is a good achievement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works effectively with partner agencies to promote positive outcomes for young people. Examples include regular meetings with education professionals to maintain a young person’s motivation, and also to ensure that the work set is manageable and appropriate. It also liaises with social workers to share information and to arrange for referrals to support services, such as child and adolescent mental health services and the drug and alcohol support team.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding and child protection are a high priority at the home. There has been no need to raise any concerns to the designated officer, although managers at the home are seeking refresher training with him. Other concerns are raised to young people’s social workers when needed. Managers escalate concerns if they feel that there has not been a satisfactory response. This has led to the consideration of possible use of a child abduction warning notice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people do go missing from care. On these occasions, staff look for them in known locations, and young people usually stay in contact via mobile phone. Agreements with social workers ensure that there are clear plans of response, should a young person be missing. The setting seeks support that will directly or indirectly minimise missing episodes, for example support by the local drug and alcohol support services.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has made a concerted effort to meet the one requirement and three recommendations set at the last inspection. All have been met. Specifically, a lone- working risk assessment has now been implemented, and it is clear on when it is appropriate for staff to work alone and the precautionary measures to be followed in this instance. Young people’s needs and current presentation are also regularly reviewed to ensure that lone working remains safe. The home has been redecorated in many areas, giving a more homely, bright and clean feeling. The safeguarding policy has been updated to include the action to take should one young person harm another. As previously mentioned, the home is no longer accepting short-term placements, which previously have disrupted those in longer-term, often settled, placements. In addition to responding to requirements and recommendations, the management team utilises

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

evaluative feedback and areas for improvement to continually improve the service, as identified by the independent visitor in line with regulation 44. Inspection report children’s home: 1241939 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

Specifically, source relevant training for staff from the local drug and alcohol services 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 difference 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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: 1241939 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 67 Argyll Street, Ryde PO33 3BY

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: William Stanbridge

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1241939 5 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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