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

Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 1 SC035364 Registered provider: Northamptonshire County Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home accommodates up to six young people aged between 11 and 17.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

From 2014 to 2018, the home provided a unique therapeutic service to children and their families. The aim of the service was for young people to return to their family (or identified carer) after completing the MST/FIT programme (Multi systemic therapy / Family integrated treatment).

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Currently, the delivery of the MST/FIT model is under consultation. Therefore, while staff continue to practise some of the methods of this programme, the programme is not being delivered in its entirety. It is highly unlikely that this therapeutic model will continue.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home has an acting manager who has been in post since December 2018. His application to be registered has now been made to Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 21 February 2019

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 07/08/2018 Full Outstanding 12/07/2017 Full Good 17/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 3

p.2

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.

p.3

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, an understanding of acceptable behaviour, and positive responses to other children and adults.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children.

p.3

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(2)(a)(ix) and (xii)) 31/05/2019

p.3

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.3

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

p.3

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 31/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The management team has worked hard to meet the requirements that were set at the interim inspection, which are still within timescale for completion. Four out of the five requirements are met or in the process of being met. An action plan has been devised that addresses improvements that need to be made and which summarises and implements lessons learned.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One unmet requirement has been made again. This relates to the home’s statement of purpose, which is unclear about exactly what the home will be offering. An additional requirement has been set. This relates to staff’s understanding and ability to respond to children’s challenging behaviours effectively.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The progress and experience of children in the home are good. They are achieving positive outcomes, and their lives begin to stabilise within a relatively short period after admission. All children reported feeling happy and safe. A child said, ‘Staff are brilliant. They have helped me a lot and I like all of them.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Management and staff are skilled at engaging children. Positive relationships, clear boundaries and proactive behaviour management are evident. Elements of the therapeutic model remain embedded into practice. A restorative justice approach is taken in response to challenging behaviour. Behaviour management strategies are highly effective. They provide children with a high level of stability and security.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some staff, however, fail to consider children’s behaviours in the context of their adverse histories. The management has already identified this as an area of development.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in full-time education. Staff understand the importance of this and encourage children to strive to reach their full potential. One child who was not attending education is now back in school. A teacher said, ‘Prior to him being at the home, his behaviour had really deteriorated. His behaviours have now significantly improved. Prior to him being there, he would not engage with anyone. But he now seems a lot happier and is engaging in education.’

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Management and staff encourage children to take part in activities, stay active and follow their interests. Children’s views are continually sought, and they feel listened to. All children have started to engage in at least one activity that they thoroughly enjoy and speak about with enthusiasm.

p.4

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

Children feel safe in the home. Staff are attuned to children’s needs and show great warmth in their interactions with children. Staff understand how to ensure children’s safety and well-being. An independant reviewing officer said, ‘Children are presenting Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 5 very differently to how they were in their previous placement. Their behaviours have stabilised, and they report feeling safer. They seem much less tense, and staff have got to know them well and very quickly.’

p.4

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

Despite one child having a significant history of going missing and being assessed as high risk, such incidents have stopped. The staff’s understanding of risk and ability to develop a positive relationship with this child have been significant in reducing his vulnerability.

p.5

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

There are very few incidents of physical intervention. Positive relationships and specific behaviour management strategies ensure that staff can defuse challenging behaviours. Physical intervention is used in a safe way and only when necessary to safeguard children. There are detailed records of all incidents. These are carefully reviewed by the management team.

p.5

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

Key-work sessions are a significant strength of the home. A therapeutic approach is used to explore events and fully consider children’s thoughts and feelings when incidents occur. The creative, planned approach is non-threatening for children and enables them to speak openly about their behaviours. This highly beneficial approach assists children in beginning to understand any risks associated with their behaviours.

p.5

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

Well-written, clear risk assessments assist staff in ensuring children’s safety. Children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities are highlighted with clear expectations about what staff should do to minimise and manage risks.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has gone through an unsettled period. There has been a change to the manager, and several members of staff from another home have joined a staff team that was well established. Differences in the style of care offered to children are being explored by managers. Despite changes, management and staff are committed to developing a cohesive staff team that is focused on the needs of children. Staff morale is improving. All staff spoke with enthusiasm about their love of working in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The acting manager is very child focused. He is passionate about ensuring that children are fully involved in decision-making and have choices about their lives. He has an informed and considered approach to managing children’s complex behaviours. He is a ‘hands-on’ manager who is highly respected by all the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy managers are also strong and dedicated individuals. They understand the home’s strengths and weaknesses.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision that gives them the opportunity to share their views about the functioning of the home. Reflective supervision ensures that practice is monitored and adapted in line with children’s changing and emerging needs. Staff also attend regular team meetings. Team meetings are used well to develop effective Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 6 strategies that meet the needs of children.

p.5

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.

p.6

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: SC035364 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Camrose Early Years Centre, Tenby Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN5 7DF

p.7

Inspector

Davinia Lawton, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035364 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8