Children's home run by Northamptonshire County Council in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 1 SC035364 Registered provider: Northamptonshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a children’s home which is run by Northamptonshire County Council. It is registered for up to seven children and young people. It provides a therapeutic environment for children and young people based on the MST-FIT model (Multi Systemic Therapy/Family Integrated Treatment). The MST-FIT model identifies key behaviours that are having a detrimental impact on family dynamics and relationships resulting in the young person being unable to live within the family home. The staff team and a therapist work closely with young people and their families/carers for a period of 12 weeks. The programme delivers intensive family and community-based treatment to help the family change their behaviours. The programme delivers a range of DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy) skills to young people through skills groups and through individual work. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2018.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care. Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 2 Date of last inspection: 12 July 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/07/2017 Full Good 17/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/09/2016 Full Good 10/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are making exceptional progress due to the therapeutic and bespoke care that is being offered to them. Incredibly skilled staff help young people to fully explore their complex histories. A young person said, ‘I really did not want to come here as I did not think it would work for me. But honestly, they have taught me so much. It’s changed my life in ways I never thought possible.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Due to the expertise of the staff and managers and the child-centred approach, young people understand and fully engage with the programme. One young person said, ‘They explain things perfectly. The model is brilliant and because of the skills I have learned, I have totally changed the way I respond to things.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are able to build remarkable relationships with young people in a relatively short period of time. Young people trust staff. Young people’s emotional well-being is seen as a priority by all the staff and managers. Staff understand that young people’s behaviours are a consequence of their histories and experiences. Young people are worked with in a considered, sensitive and nurturing way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel exceptionally valued and listened to. They know that their views are important. Staff regularly consult with young people and value what they have to say.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are able to build extremely positive relationships with young people’s families and/or carers. The non-judgmental, therapeutic approach that is embedded into practice assists to repair young people’s relationships with their family/carers. A parent said, ‘It’s amazing. My child and I have been through lots of services, but none of them have worked. This home is the magic wand that we needed. My child is so different since being there. I cannot rave about the staff enough.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There is a highly commendable ‘family feel’ to the home. Young people and staff sit and eat meals together and clearly enjoy spending time with each other. Young people’s bedrooms are personalised and present as very inviting places for young people to spend time.

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

Young people are safe in this home. They are receiving uncompromising standards of excellent care. Staff know young people exceptionally well and understand the risks relevant to them. Close partnership working and highly effective communication with a number of professionals contribute to ensuring that young people are safeguarded.

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

The confident staff group focuses upon specific safeguarding concerns relevant to young people. This assists in the reduction of risk-taking behaviours. For example, one young person’s incidents of self-harm have significantly reduced. Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 4 The use of restraint is extremely rare in this home. This is attributable to the outstanding relationships between staff and young people. Staff de-escalate situations by calmly talking matters through. Staff focus on rewarding positive behaviours through a ‘token’ reward system. This alternative strategy of discipline helps young people to begin to take responsibility for their behaviour. This assists in creating an environment of accountability and fairness.

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

Direct work is carried out in a way that is engaging for young people. Staff help young people to devise their own ‘safety plans’. Young people also have ‘self-soothe’ boxes which they can refer to during times of crisis. This creative approach ensures that young people are not only fully engaged with the home and the therapeutic model under which it is operating but are enthusiastic and totally committed to it. A therapist said, ‘Staff genuinely do care about young people. Staff take the time to get to know and understand young people’s needs. All staff go above and beyond.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership and management are highly effective. The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She is aspirational and ambitious for young people. The assistant manager is also an integral part of the home. He is particularly knowledgeable about the therapeutic model and about the complex needs of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers and staff are motivated and enthusiastic. They are a tremendously proactive staff group. The staff team is well established and experienced. The majority of staff are suitably qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Transitions into and out of the home are meticulously managed. Visits are carried out to young people in their homes prior to the placement commencing. Young people are also invited to visit the placement ahead of moving in. This thoughtful, well-considered and planned approach provides young people with a calm and structured environment where they are thriving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff hold the manager in high regard. A member of staff said, ‘Management [staff] are really supportive. You can talk things through with them in an open and honest way. They are very knowledgeable. Things have really changed for the better in this home.’ Consequently, staff morale is excellent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has some admirable ideas about the improvement and development of the service. The manager and deputy manager have a clear vision regarding how this can be achieved. This, along with all the other features of this home, is indicative of an organisation committed to improving the lives of young people and providing them with an outstanding service. Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 5

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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: SC035364 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Camrose Early Years Centre, Tenby Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN5 7DF

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Inspector:

Davinia Lawton: social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 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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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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Inspector:

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

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