Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

Inspection report children’s home: SC466993 1 SC466993 Registered provider: Worcestershire County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a local authority. It is registered for up to three young people aged 10 to 18, who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in January 2017. The registered manager is appropriately experienced.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC466993 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/08/2017 Full Good 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 12/10/2016 Full Good 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC466993 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

The registered person must co-operate with the child’s placing authority in agreeing and signing the child’s placement plan. (Regulation 17 (2)) 12/10/2018

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a well-decorated and comfortable house that they are proud of. They have large bedrooms with double beds and televisions. Young people enjoy living in this home; they look after it and their belongings. This adds to their sense of self- worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that young people make significant progress from their starting points. They develop their confidence and educational achievements through meaningful key-working sessions. For example, young people who have not previously received education for some time improve their attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Internal placement plans are young person-friendly and very well written. They monitor young people’s progress and achievements. However, some local authority placement plans were not in place or signed by the designated person during this inspection. This could mean that the longer-term aims and needs of the young person are not met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff team have exceptionally warm and nurturing relationships with young people. As a result, young people want to spend time in their home and improve their risk-taking behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager and staff team go to great lengths to make sure that they work in close partnership with young people’s friends and family. They maintain family links by enabling young people to have family time, both inside and outside of the home. This means that young people do not go missing and feel settled in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people engage in a variety of positive opportunities that they enjoy. For example, one young person has been learning to drive. Staff ensure that young people have fun, enjoy activity days out and going on holiday. Another holiday is planned on a canal boat. Inspection report children’s home: SC466993 4

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of physical restraint. This is because staff understand the individual needs of each young person and follow consistent guidance and boundaries that young people respond to.

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

There have not been any complaints or incidents of bullying since the last inspection. This is because of the thorough matching risk assessments that take place. Incidents of challenging behaviour are well recorded and demonstrate staff competency in de- escalation.

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

Risk assessments are clear and very well written. They are regularly reviewed to keep young people safe and enable positive risk taking. This means that young people make progress with their behaviour and experience an array of opportunities.

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

There has only been one episode when a young person went missing since the last inspection. This was well managed, and a return home interview took place. There have not been any significant safeguarding issues since the last inspection. Staff spoken to during this inspection were very knowledgeable about safeguarding processes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is exceptionally innovative and passionate about his role. He persistently promotes creative ideas to sustain the highest-quality care for children. He is highly committed and provides young people with a variety of positive opportunities and experiences. The registered manager is suitably qualified and has extensive experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that excellent-quality care is provided to young people through a consistent and very skilled staff team. The registered manager makes sure that transitions are meticulously planned, and that young people receive a very warm welcome. When young people leave, they stay in contact with staff and continue to visit. This is because of the distinctive leadership of the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has completed a well-evaluated and succinct review of the quality of care provided. He is always keen to develop the service and to ensure that young people make significant progress. Professionals, including social workers, independent reviewing officers and an advocate, speak exceptionally positively about the quality of care provided to young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel extremely well supported by the manager. They describe him as always approachable and exceptionally knowledgeable. They receive regular, high-quality supervision and effective yearly appraisals. All staff are up to date with their mandatory training and receive a wide range of external specialist training. Inspection report children’s home: SC466993 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: SC466993 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Worcester WR5 2NP

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC466993 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 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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