Children's Home run by Our Place (2008) Limited in Worcestershire

Inspection report children’s home: SC407929 1 SC407929 Registered provider: Our Place (2008) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care for 10 children who have learning disabilities. Children may stay after they reach 18 years old. The registered person operates a small registered school in a separate building in the grounds. The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2017. The registered manager is appropriately experienced and qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 13 September 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC407929 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2017 Full Good 18/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/09/2016 Full Good 27/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC407929 3

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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.

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Requirement Due date

Restraint in relation to a child is only permitted for the purpose of preventing— injury to any person (including the child); serious damage to the property of any person (including the child); or a child who is accommodated in a secure children’s home from absconding from the home. (Regulation 20 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 17/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that 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)(c)) 17/08/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must co-operate with the child's placing authority in agreeing and signing the child's placement plan. (Regulation 17 (2)). 17/08/18

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Recommendations

 Children should be able to maintain and develop their cultural or religious beliefs as far as practicable and where appropriate, through participation and instruction, and by observing religious requirements including dress and diet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.22)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy warm relationships with staff. Staff understand children’s and young people’s individual needs. Staff help children and young people to keep in touch with family and friends. As a result, young people experience positive and healthy relationships with those who matter to them. Inspection report children’s home: SC407929 4 Children and young people fully engage in key-work sessions using symbols and pictures. They have the opportunity to express their wishes and feelings about what they enjoy. All children and young people have access to an independent advocate to enable them to share any concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Internal care plans are very well written with clear objectives for young people to progress and achieve. However, local authority placement plans are not always signed by the designated person or local authority. This could mean that the longer term aims of the care plan and needs of the child or young person are not clear.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people live healthy lifestyles. They are encouraged to eat healthily, take regular exercise and to develop their self-care. The health and well-being coordinator helps children to improve their health through individualised plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a home that is warm and welcoming. It provides them with safe and nurturing care that meets their needs. A new garden playground with lots of equipment is now in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people have access to a variety of activities and work opportunities to improve their confidence, social skills and social inclusion. However, some young people need more opportunities to explore their culture and religious beliefs as part of their identity.

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

Children and young people feel safe living at this home. Staff know them well and can keep them safe from harm. Staff identify risks to children and young people and follow safeguarding procedures effectively. Incidents of concern are clearly recorded, and managers take effective action.

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

There have not been any incidents of children or young people going missing from the home. Since the last inspection, two children have complained about not receiving their post. The manager took prompt action and the young people were responded to in writing.

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

Physical restraint is used as a last resort and is generally well recorded. However, one isolated restraint record seen during the inspection showed that the measure was not proportionate or in line with regulation. Staff are not making sure that debriefs take place with children after an incident of physical restraint. The registered manager is taking steps to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is exceptionally committed and has an ambitious vision for the service. She is suitably qualified and is improving her knowledge through further higher management qualifications. The registered manager is aspirational for young people and Inspection report children’s home: SC407929 5 drives continuous improvement in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is passionate about providing excellent-quality care to children and young people. She is keen for children and young people to be provided with the best opportunities. The registered manager gives exceptionally robust and effective challenge to professionals to make sure that they prioritise the needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and staff team work in close partnership with a psychologist, speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist to ensure that children and young people’s needs are met holistically. This means that children and young people make significant progress in all areas of their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are very committed and provide a consistent level of care to children and young people. They are able to confidently demonstrate the positive impact that living in the home is having on children’s and young people’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel exceptionally well supported by the manager. They receive regular, high- quality supervision and effective yearly appraisals. Staff talk positively about the development opportunities provided.

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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

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: SC407929 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Our Place (2008) Limited

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Inspectors

Anna Gravelle: social care inspector Rumbi Mangoma: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC407929 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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