Children's home run by The Ryes College Limited in Babergh

Interim inspection report children’s home: SC429754 1 SC429754 Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered for four children who have a complex combination of needs. The organisation also provides education. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There was one requirement and one recommendation made at the last inspection; both have been met. At this inspection, two requirements and one recommendation have been raised.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has been in post since January 2018 and is in the process of completing a relevant level 5 qualification.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three children have left the home, including one child who has been admitted and discharged since the last inspection. This was due to staff being unable to meet the child’s needs and to ensure the safety and well-being of the other children accommodated. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC429754 2 One child has successfully returned home, with staff currently undertaking outreach work to support him. Three children have been admitted to the home. Transitions into the home are planned. The manager visits the children and provides them with information about the home prior to their admission. Children have the opportunity to visit the home before they move in.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Bullying at the home has increased. Staff record conversations with children who have bullied others. However, there is little evidence of work being undertaken with the child affected. There is no evaluation of these incidents, which means that opportunities may be missed to reflect fully on incidents and lessons learned.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Damage caused inside and outside of the home requires repair to provide children with a homely and welcoming environment. However, children’s bedrooms are personalised, and staff support children to keep their rooms clean and tidy.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been an increase in some challenging behaviours, such as a child causing damage at the home. However, the staff have been proactive in looking at trends, patterns and triggers and have started to pre-empt some behaviours. The staff understand that certain situations have the potential to trigger unwanted behaviour, and they put plans in place to support the child involved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no incidents of children going missing. Incidents of physical intervention have decreased since the last inspection. Staff understand the importance of positive relationships with the children to defuse unwanted behaviours.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive regular supervision. However, a new member of staff did not receive fortnightly supervision as set out in their induction plan. Consequently, this member of staff was not provided with the level of support that they should have been able to expect.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have begun to make some progress since the last inspection. They have built good and trusting relationships with a consistent staff team that knows and understands their individual needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children participate in activities in the community with staff. This gives children the opportunity to develop social skills and to enjoy the same opportunities as their peers.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children have good educational attendance. Staff see education as an important part of the children’s day and support them to attend. Some children have taken examinations during the summer period. Care staff have worked closely with education staff to achieve this.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff understand the importance of recognising and celebrating children’s achievements. There is an instant reward box that is used to recognise when children do well. The reason for the reward is recorded and children make a comment. This supports children who require instant recognition to understand the positive consequences of their actions. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC429754 3 Effective weekly and monthly monitoring systems support staff and children to plot progress in all aspects of the children’s lives. These systems are used to form part of the children’s review reports. Social workers, parents and other professionals can identify progress or work that needs to be undertaken to support the child. The manager also uses feedback from the independent visitor to improve the quality of care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a sound understanding of safeguarding and have undertaken all mandatory training. Staff have already obtained or are in the process of undertaking a relevant level 3 qualification.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff understand the importance of children’s relationships with their families. The staff work closely with the social workers and families to ensure that children benefit from safe and meaningful family visits.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/05/2018 Full Good 17/01/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 19/07/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Interim inspection report children’s home: SC429754 4

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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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— mutual respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) and (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, undertake and record conversations between staff and all of the children involved in each incident of bullying. 26/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that new staff receive supervision at the frequency set out by the organisation. 26/10/2018

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that the decor of the building is maintained so as to provide a homely, domestic environment. Interim inspection report children’s home: SC429754 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

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.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2e, Skyview House, 9 Church Field Road, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2YA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: James Fischer II

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: SC429754 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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