Children's home run by St Christopher’s Fellowship

Inspection report children’s home: 2495375 1 Registered provider: St Christopher’s Fellowship Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to nine children who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and who may have experienced adversity because of abuse, neglect, family dysfunction, loss or other trauma. Staff use concepts and theoretical models drawn from social pedagogy and attachment theory in their work with the children. One of the nine beds available is a training flat to support with the transition to independent living. The home is run by a national charity. It is a commissioned service to meet the needs of the children living in the host authority. This home was registered with Ofsted in November 2018. The manager was registered with Ofsted at the same time.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children receive a service that is continually developing to meet their respective needs. Social workers and local authority managers highlighted the positive intervention and the significantly improved outcomes for children. A social worker described the home as a ‘fabulous place’ and a manager described staff as ‘flexible, caring and supportive’. Inspection report children’s home: 2495375 2 Leaders and managers have addressed the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. Children now receive better protection, as a result of the regular reviewing of risk assessments and behaviour management strategies. Improved record-keeping also demonstrates the good work being undertaken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making progress educationally from their starting points. There are improvements in their school attendance and also with applying for college and employment. Older children who are not in education are able to obtain vocational qualifications and work on their functional skills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Health arrangements have improved. Children are engaging in mental health services and they now attend most of their health appointments. However, there is an ongoing anxiety issue, which has resulted in several missed dental appointments. Children are growing in confidence and maturity, which improves their self-esteem and self-belief. They are more aspirational, and they are actively working on their individual goals. Key-work sessions further enable them to set targets and discuss issues of concern.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children feel that the staff care about them and they like the family atmosphere of the home. However, they would like a gym, the television to be repaired and to be able to log into their computers. Children continue to enjoy a range of activities and new experiences, such as a cable car ride.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children generally move out of the home in a planned manner. Although children leave the home, staff continue to provide a stable, nurturing base for them, through their ongoing outreach work. The home’s admission procedures have improved. A focus on careful matching has ensured minimal disruption to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Occasionally, staff have to use sanctions to help the children understand the consequences of their actions. However, a reward system is preferred, which enables children to earn additional money. This relates to their daily targets and helps to reinforce positive behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff educate the children about their vulnerability to grooming, the risks of criminal and sexual exploitation and what constitutes healthy relationships. This strengthens the children’s knowledge and awareness regarding their personal safety. Staff also benefit from training in relation to gangs, criminal exploitation and contextual safeguarding.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children said that they feel safe in the home. Episodes of going missing from care have reduced dramatically. Children have trusting relationships with staff, which enable them to openly disclose safeguarding concerns. Staff have been able to pass on this crucial information to the police, which has helped to identify known adults criminally exploiting children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Multi-agency working and strong partnership arrangements with the host authority and the police ensure that managers are aware of the local safeguarding concerns. Monthly visits from the police team will also enable the children to understand the Inspection report children’s home: 2495375 3 protective role of the police and provide further support to the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has made a very positive journey since the last inspection. Leaders and managers are reflective, creative and solution-focused. Lessons are learned from challenging periods and the aim is for continual improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff stated that they feel valued, well supported and more confident in their roles. Team meetings now have a greater focus on improving practice and the children are also invited to team meetings to discuss their needs.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/06/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; and

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children attend their dental appointments. 01/03/2020 Inspection report children’s home: 2495375 4

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Recommendations

 The home should ensure that the home presents as a homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, consider children’s wish for a gym room and ensure that the television in the lounge is working and children can log into the computers.

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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

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: St Christopher’s Fellowship

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: St Christopher’s Fellowship, 1 Putney High Street, London, Wandsworth SW15 1SZ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Lucellta Wallace-Esnard

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Inspector

Sharon Payne, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2495375 5 to 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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