Children's home run by Kites Children Services Limited in Colchester

Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 1 SC029560 Registered provider: Kites Children‟s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to six children and young people. The home is a specialist service that has been developed for the care of children whose particular needs cannot be met safely in existing residential homes.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/07/2017 Full Good 07/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/10/2016 Full Good 04/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 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

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their education potential and are helped to do so. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that each child— has access to appropriate equipment, facilities and resources to support the child‟s learning. (Regulation 8 (1)(2)(b)) In particular, that the children have access to a computer or the internet. 04/06/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the effectiveness of the home‟s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(e)) 04/06/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes— the name of the child; details of the child‟s behaviour leading to the use of the measure; the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration; details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure; the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used; the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the 04/06/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 4 measure; and a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person

p.3

Requirement Due date

to do so (“the authorised person”)— has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) In particular reference to the recording of sanctions imposed.

p.4

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Ensure that records are kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home (regulation 36 (schedule 3(14)). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 45, paragraph 9.31)

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy trusting and meaningful relationships with the staff. The staff know the children well and work out the best ways to engage with them. Staff are patient and understand how difficult it may be for the children to learn to trust adults and that the staff only have their best interests and safety at heart. The staff‟s friendly approach gives the children a strong message that staff care about them.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff empower the children to express themselves as individuals, taking into account their age, sexuality and cultural needs. The registered manager and staff take into account fully the individual needs of children living a long way from their family home. They help and support the children to maintain important Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 5 links with their family and to see them regularly.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high, but reasonable, aspirations for the children‟s education. One child said of the educational establishment provided by the organisation, „It‟s the best school I have ever been to.‟ All of the children attend school every day, which the staff team members are very proud of. However, the computer in the home is shared by the registered manager, the staff team and the children. The children comment that they do not have access to the computer or the internet, as the computer is being used by the registered manager and the staff team. This impacts on the time that children can spend using this facility to better their training and educational needs.

p.5

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

Children say that they feel safe and protected. Children gain confidence to talk to staff about their worries and concerns. One child felt safe to tell staff about how they had been sent an inappropriate message from another child. Staff took immediate action to support both of the children involved and to ensure that they were safe. A social worker said, „They [the staff] could not have done anything more in relation to the recent incident and the boundaries in place keep X [the child] and others safe.‟

p.5

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

Staff are skilled at recognising the signs and symptoms of abuse and if children are at risk of being groomed for exploitation. Staff identify and manage risk safely and meet all the statutory safeguarding requirements, including reducing the risk of sexual exploitation. The registered manager and staff work sensitively with other professionals concerning the risks. This helps the children to deal with and to recover from traumatic experiences and to understand the difference between healthy and harmful relationships.

p.5

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

Staff are proactive in preventing children from going missing and there has only been one episode of going missing since the last full inspection. Police missing from care officers say that they have a good relationship with the home‟s staff. They also say that staff have a good understanding of safeguarding and that staff are not afraid to ask for advice in order to keep the children safe. However, the home‟s going missing protocols and logs are in need of updating and monitoring more frequently by the manager. Missing information in relation to return interviews, raised at the last inspection, has not been completed. In addition, if a child were to go missing, there are no clear procedures for the staff team to follow. This has had no impact on the safety of children who live in the home.

p.5

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

There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection and only two sanctions. However, information is missing from the sanctions records. For example, there is no clear information as to why a sanction has been given, the duration of a sanction and its impact, plus there have been no discussions or monitoring by the manager with the child or the staff member. This has had an impact on one of the children living at the home who is unaware of when his sanction will end.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 6 The registered manager was appointed in March 2007. She provides consistently effective leadership, with a strong focus on making a meaningful difference to children‟s lives. She is suitably qualified and an experienced manager.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that people working at the home go through a rigorous selection procedure and their suitability is carefully checked. She makes sure that they have the right personal qualities, enthusiasm, experience, skills and values to work with vulnerable children. The registered manager makes every effort to prevent unsuitable people from working at the home.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff participate in regular team meetings and reflect on children‟s progress, share important information about children‟s plans and discuss the running of the home. These forums provide opportunities for the staff to develop their skills and understanding of legislation, policies and procedures. The staff‟s contribution is an important feature in making sure that they understand their roles, support children consistently and work as a cohesive and effective team.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Visits by an independent person provide detailed and impartial scrutiny of the running of the home. The independent person‟s reports show children‟s progress and experiences and include the views of children about living at the home. The registered manager‟s review of the quality of care is informative.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has met to good effect both requirements and five of the seven recommendations raised at the last inspection.

p.6

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.6

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: SC029560 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kites Children‟s Services Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Langham, Colchester CO4 5PX

p.7

Inspector

Cathy Russell: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC029560 8 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.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8