Children's home run by The Place Young People’s Company

Inspection report children‟s home: 2484055 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People‟s Company

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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 four-bedded home aims to provide high-quality, nurturing care for children who have experienced a range of difficulties, including attachment difficulties, trauma and loss. The manager is registered with Ofsted. She has several years‟ experience and possesses the required level 5 qualification.

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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 good

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

N/A N/A N/A Inspection report children‟s home: 2484055 2

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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

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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details of the child‟s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

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a description of the measure and its duration;

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details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 01/03/2019 Inspection report children‟s home: 2484055 3 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)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, clarify the recording process for restraints that involve the home‟s staff but which occur on school premises.

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home‟s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.4) In particular, ensure that records are completed fully, with attention to detail and accuracy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the home‟s first inspection following registration in August 2018. Three children transferred from the former provision and a new child moved in a day later. The move of premises has been managed sensitively and has enabled the children to take ownership of their home. The children spoke fondly about their new house and said that they liked the old one but „prefer it here‟. The relationships between staff and children are warm and affectionate. A staff member described the children as being like „extended family‟. Parents and social workers praised the positive relationships that children have with the staff. They described how the children are thriving and making good progress because of the structure, routine and participation in a wide range of activities. Children attend the organisation‟s school and have 100% attendance. Alternative educational activities have been organised for the new child until he can be enrolled at

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

school. A child moved into the home during the inspection and was very excited to finally be in his new home. His social worker spoke positively about how the staff had scheduled introductory visits to meet him. They also arranged for him to visit the house and meet the other children prior to moving in. These visits provided the child with an awareness of the house, his bedroom, the staff and, most importantly, the other children. The care and attention shown in coordinating his move included managing the children‟s excitement and anxieties about a new child coming to live with them. This was particularly important as another child had recently moved out and the staff were still working with the children in relation to their feelings about him leaving. Inspection report children‟s home: 2484055 4

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

Since moving premises, the number of incidents and physical interventions have significantly reduced. The manager, deputy manager and staff believe that the children see their new home as a fresh start. The children are supported to learn tolerance and empathy towards each other. This is improving, and they are becoming increasingly better at self-regulating their emotions. The children‟s behaviour and support plans incorporate their risk assessments. These plans are updated, as required, with information and strategies formed within team discussions and meetings with the clinical team. The staff usually provide clear and consistent boundaries. However, there have been occasions when this has not been the case. These inconsistencies have been addressed by the managers to ensure that the children receive a consistent approach. The recording of physical intervention needs to be reviewed to ensure that records

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

contain the required information. There is a lack of clarity in the recording processes for holds that occur on school premises but involve care staff. This can lead to events being missed or being double-counted. This lack of clarity provides misleading information, and results in confusion about whether the use of holds is increasing or decreasing. There have been no episodes of children going missing from the home. Staff followed the appropriate protocols during the sole episode of a child going missing from school. Staff training is monitored and evaluated to ensure that staff undertake courses and relevant refresher training at the appropriate intervals. The topics covered are designed to enable the staff to work with the children with up-to-date knowledge of legislation, regulations and risks. Aspects of the décor are being repaired following damage caused by flooding from a damaged radiator. The staff have made the living area feel as homely as it can be while

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has several years‟ experience in the care sector and possesses the required level 5 qualification. She and her deputy manager have high expectations for the children. The managers have a clear understanding of the children‟s progress and their future goals and objectives. They advocate on the children‟s behalf. Some children also have access to an independent visitor or advocate. The staff describe the managers as supportive and approachable. They say that they receive formal support during supervision and additional support as required. The managers use their audit process to review the home‟s records. A recent review focused on the effectiveness of the sanctions that have been imposed. This analysis demonstrated that sanctions have not all been in keeping with the behaviour that staff were trying to address with the children. These internal reviews ensure that the staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the Inspection report children‟s home: 2484055 5 home. The main weakness they identified is being addressed. This relates to communicating to the team the importance of accuracy within the recording systems. The managers challenge decisions that are ineffective or inappropriate. This was evidenced during the inspection, and those challenges were approached firmly and professionally. The relationships formed with families and professionals are positive. A social worker confirmed that a child who had recently left the home felt that this was „a good place to live‟.

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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: 2484055 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People‟s Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 7 Jericho Lane, Barkestone, Nottingham, Leicestershire NG13 0HF

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Inspector:

Sonia Hay, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 2484055 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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