Children's Home run by Semi-independent House Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report children’s home: 1259547 1 Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by an independent provider and is registered to provide care for up to three children and young people. The home provides care for children and young people who have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 3 September 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 declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the service provided for young people has deteriorated in some areas. A concern running through this interim inspection is that staff do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities. This has a far-reaching impact on the quality of care provided. The new manager is enthusiastic. He has identified areas of weakness and has initiated numerous changes to strengthen how the home is run. However, more time is needed to see the impact of these changes.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not always work in accordance with agreed care plans and there are inconsistencies in approach. For example, updates to plans which have been discussed and agreed within the team are not written up as revised plans. Another example of inconsistency is the way in which staff use sanctions. As a result of this inconsistency, behaviour management strategies are weakened, and young people are not confident about the approach staff may take. Inspection report children’s home: 1259547 2 Staff do not always follow the home’s written procedures and good-practice models. For example, staff have used the police to support them to manage behaviour. This highlights that staff are not confident in their own ability to manage behaviours. Additionally, staff failed to ensure that a young person was seen by a health professional after he received a head injury.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Boundary-setting is not consistent and is often ineffective. One young person has adopted an entrenched pattern of spending much of the day in his bedroom, opting not to engage in education and with his care plan. Staff are advocating for a new education resource to be agreed with external agencies. However, in the interim period they are failing to promote his welfare by not engaging him in purposeful and beneficial activities.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regardless of these shortfalls, some young people have made progress. A parent attributed the quality of care provided for her son to his successful reintegration into the family home. A young person’s positive school attendance has continued, supported by staff, despite the young person experiencing instability during the admission period.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager knows the young people well and understands their differing needs. The team has worked hard with a young person who is difficult to engage. This young person is spending increasing periods of time away from the home. The team is working closely with external agencies to track the young person’s whereabouts and encourage his return to the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements and recommendations set at the time of the last inspection have been responded to. The actions taken have improved the quality of care for young people. Improvements include the following:

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

 an updated guide for children and young people;  updated compatibility risk assessments;  the home’s register now holds the information required by regulation;  duty rosters have been improved and now show the hours worked by staff;  checks have been strengthened to ensure that agency staff have undertaken core training;  improved management arrangements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s new registered manager is appropriately qualified and experienced.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1259547 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(c)) 05/04/2019

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Recommendation

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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. Inspection report children’s home: 1259547 4 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: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector:

Mary Timms, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1259547 5 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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