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

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035352 1 SC035352

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Northamptonshire County Council

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to seven young people. It is a residential home for young people aged between 15 and 18 whose emotional and behavioural difficulties are such that they are unable to live within their own or a substitute family setting.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2012.

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This monitoring visit

This unannounced visit was carried out in response to an anonymous complaint made to Ofsted regarding the way in which a specific incident in the home had been managed. The complaint also raised concerns that young people were not effectively safeguarded in the home and about wider management practice.

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This monitoring visit

The home was judged as requires improvement at the full inspection on 27 and 28 June 2018. Four requirements and one recommendation were made. The home’s progress in meeting these was not the focus of this visit.

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This monitoring visit

The specific incident, which involved a young person refusing to comply with the home’s rules, was looked at during the inspection. This included talking with managers and staff, as well as reviewing documentation. Some shortfalls were noted. Although lessons could be learned about future practice, no widespread safeguarding concerns were identified.

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This monitoring visit

A risk assessment was reviewed. The assessment was of a good quality in terms of identifying the risk. However, it lacked specific guidance about what action staff should take to ensure the safety of the young person. Neither did the risk assessment identify preventative strategies to assist staff to manage young people’s complex behaviours.

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This monitoring visit

Several staff were spoken to during the visit. None of the staff raised any concerns Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035352 2 about their managers. All of the staff were positive about the way that the home is managed. They feel supported by the management team. No concerns were highlighted that would suggest that young people are at risk of harm.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2017 Full Good 25/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035352 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who–

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b), (2)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, direct work should be carried out with young people in order to assist them to recognise and understand the impact of current and historical abuse. 27/07/2018

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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–

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

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

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c), (2)(a)(xii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that young people are helped to understand the 27/07/2018 Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035352 4 impact of violence and bullying between peers.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

(b) that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12(1), (2)(b)) 27/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that–

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b), (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should review systems within the home to ensure that they are safeguarding young people. 27/07/2018

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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 44, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035352 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northamptonshire County Council, John Dryden House, 8–10 The Lakes, Northampton NN4 7YD

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Inspector(s)

Davinia Lawton, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: SC035352 6 achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners o ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Fam Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further educa 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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

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