Children's Home, Residential special school run by Kedleston (Wings Education) Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report children’s home: SC048552 1 SC048552 Registered provider: Kedleston (Wings Education) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 50 young people, irrespective of gender. It is a privately owned residential special school which is also registered as a children’s home. The home provides care for young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides medium- to long-term placements that are successful in providing stability in young people’s lives. Young people say they feel safe and well cared for by staff. They speak positively of the home and the good relationships they share with staff. The home is currently very settled and young people are continuing to make good progress across all areas of their development. One young person said, ‘It’s a million times better than my last placement.’

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people settle quickly into school and home’s routine, with many achieving a strong sense of belonging. One young person told the inspector that he has happily lived at this home for eight years and, having finished school, is now attending a local college. He has made some good friendships away from the home, and feels part of the local community. For this reason, he is now planning to live locally when he leaves care, Inspection report children’s home: SC048552 2 rather than returning to his placing authority. Staff have helped him and other young people to learn new skills that successfully support their independence as they move into adulthood.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Bullying is not perceived to be a particular concern to young people living at this home. Young people understand that bullying is not tolerated and they voice confidence in staff should they need to raise any concerns with them. Staff are proactive in raising awareness of bullying, and deal immediately with any reported incidents. Discussion, mediation and further awareness raising are routinely used to deter further incidents. Staff work in close cooperation with the local police community support officer to provide workshops that raise awareness of bullying and other unacceptable behaviour, such as making racist comments.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Shortfalls identified at the home’s last full inspection, in June 2017, resulted in five requirements and two recommendations being made in order to improve young people’s safety and promote their well-being. Appropriate action has been taken by managers and staff to make sure that young people’s safety is prioritised and that the home provides a high standard of care and support.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s individual risk assessments have been audited and reviewed. These are regularly updated to make sure that they accurately and consistently reflect young people’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. These provide sufficient guidance to help staff understand how these are to be managed. Senior staff have increased the frequency with which they review these documents, and have undertaken additional training to improve their understanding and recording of risk assessments to ensure that they are clear and comprehensive.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s records are highly detailed and well maintained. Their files have been reviewed and updated to ensure that all essential information has been obtained from placing authorities, and that information recorded avoids non-stigmatising words or comments. Further staff training in recording and report writing has helpfully improved the quality of information maintained.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has amended its arrangements to ensure that young people’s emotional health needs are quickly identified and provided for. Although one of the organisation’s health professionals always attends the initial meeting when a young person is admitted, practice has been improved to ensure that referral information is shared with the clinical team prior to any young person’s admission. This means that they have an early opportunity to make necessary health referrals to other organisations. This prevents delay for young people who need to access other agencies such as adolescent mental health services.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have designed and recently began using child-friendly booklets that provide a helpful illustration of young people’s progress over a three-month period. The ‘my journey’ booklets include details of young people’s individual targets and goals. The work they have undertaken with key workers and other staff to achieve these target and goals is highly detailed and included in these booklets. Each booklet carries the quote, ‘Every Inspection report children’s home: SC048552 3 accomplishment starts with the decision to try.’ These personal records aim to encourage and inspire young people, and provide them with a positive review of their success and achievements.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have completed a full audit of all accommodation on the site of the children’s home to ensure that the environment is safe and free of any potential hazards. External bars that were located below some bungalow windows have been removed. This has improved the homely appearance of these bungalows, and has allowed the windows to be opened without restriction. Managers have implemented routine daily checks to identify any maintenance requirements or damage. This means that repairs and general maintenance are carried out without unnecessary delay.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has strengthened its quality assurance arrangements. Care managers and senior staff have revised designated tasks that successfully contribute to the registered manager’s monitoring arrangements. Together, the home’s internal and external monitoring arrangements provide good evaluation of the service, identifying the home’s strengths and areas for further development. Patterns and trends are successfully identified, and are used to inform the home’s improvement planning.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager provided Ofsted with the report on her six-monthly review of the home’s monitoring activity as required. However, this was an exceptionally lengthy document with a high level of unnecessary detail, rather than a clear and concise evaluative summary that would be helpful to the reader. In addition, it failed to reasonably clarify the plan for the six-month period ahead. Consequently, a recommendation has been made to ensure that reporting is more concise and reflective.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy the range of activities that are available. One young person commented, ‘There is loads to do here.’ Some talked of particularly enjoying horse riding, while others enjoyed riding the home’s motorbikes. Some young people enjoy having their own pets and being able to care for animals that belong to the home. The home has recently rescued and acquired a number of battery hens. Young people are interested and enjoy caring for them. They understand and like the responsibility they have for their care. Consequently, young people feel that they are making a valuable contribution to the home; this has a positive effect, as it helps them to build up and improve their self-esteem.

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/11/2016 Full Good 22/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC048552 4

p.3

Recommendations

 Decide what each six-monthly review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home and any areas of high risk to children. The review does not need to address every part of the Quality Standards, but should clearly identify any actions required for the next six months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

p.4

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.4

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.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kedleston (Wings Education) Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office Suite 1, Ansell Gardens, Holloway Lane, Harmondsworth UB7 0AE

p.4

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Paul Brosnan Inspection report children’s home: SC048552 5 Registered manager: Tracey Hill

p.4

Inspectors

Gillian Walters, social care inspector Charlie Bamber, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC048552 6 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.5

Inspectors

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.6

Inspectors

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

p.6

Inspectors

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

p.6