Children's home run by What's Out There Limited

Inspection report children's home: SC465120 1 SC465120 Registered provider: What’s Out There Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for three children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a small company. This is its only children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Leaders and managers are delivering the aims set out in the home’s development plan at a steady pace. The registered manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Requirements set at the previous inspection have been met. Monitoring systems used by the manager to evaluate and analyse the quality of care are becoming more effective. Leaders and managers are reflective and evaluative when they identify ways in which staff can improve their practice.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is being refurbished, which is improving the quality and fabric of the home. Children are involved in this refurbishment project and are making the house more homely by displaying their photographs in the home. Staff are also working hard to make the house less institutional. One member of staff said, ‘We plan to remove the office to create a more child-friendly and homely space.’ Inspection report children's home: SC465120 2 Leaders and managers establish good relationships with other professionals to work together with them to keep children safe. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and adapted to meet the changing needs of the children. These assessments provide staff with clear strategies to minimise risk. Leaders and managers identify when they need to take action to ensure that they are meeting the needs of children, such as providing staff with additional training.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff effectively support children who go missing; they understand what motivates children to go missing and find creative ways to reduce the frequency. Staff understand the protocol to follow when a child is missing and welcome them home with warmth and affection. Leaders and managers are working well with other professionals to review the strategies and risk management plans in relation to a child who is continuing to go missing regularly.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff use rewards and behaviour management strategies that will encourage positive behaviour. These strategies are effective. The use of consequences occurs when there is a need to remove certain items from a child when there is concern about their safety, such as a mobile phone, or item that could be used to self-harm. Members of the care team do not use restraint as a method for managing behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Records that detail the needs of children are in-depth documents that strongly show children’s identity and personality and include information about their experiences before they moved into the home. The aims of the care plan and goals that staff want to support children to achieve are clear in these documents. Children help to keep their own memory book of their experiences and progress in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When new children move into the home, the registered manager considers the impact on all children. However, the records relating to this consideration do not always show how leaders and managers reached the decision that children are a suitable match with each other.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 18/07/2016 Full Inadequate 27/01/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children's home: SC465120 3

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs and where they have fully considered the impact that that placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4). In particular, improve the records that the register manager completes to show how she has considered the impact that the new placement will have on the existing group of children, and include an analysis and conclusion about the suitability of the placement.

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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

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: SC465120 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: What’s Out There Limited

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Inspector

Nicola Lownds, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC465120 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 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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