Setting run by Northamptonshire County Council

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a local authority and is registered to care for four young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:  children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 2572248 2

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The care of children

Young people are well cared for. They are making good progress. For example, young people’s emotional health continues to improve. Young people like living at this home. Overall, they get on well with each other.

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The care of children

Most young people are in college or school. One young person is not currently enrolled at a school but does engage well with home tuition. The registered manager communicates effectively with external professionals to expedite enrolment for this young person at a school.

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The care of children

Young people are supported well to see their family and friends. They enjoy a wide range of activities, which have become more extensive since the COVID-19 restrictions have eased. For example, young people enjoy horse riding, swimming and visiting museums. They have enjoyed decorating the home in readiness for Halloween.

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The care of children

Staff encourage young people to follow the government guidance about keeping themselves and others safe during the pandemic. Visitors, staff and young people are monitored carefully with regards to COVID-19.

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The safety of children

Young people say that they feel safe living at this home. Staff understand how to keep young people safe. Risk assessments help to reduce risks for young people.

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The safety of children

Staff know the importance of building warm and nurturing relationships with young people, and they do this well. The strength of their relationships helps young people to calm when they are agitated or upset. Therefore, significant incidents are reducing.

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The safety of children

Incidents of young people going missing from the home have also reduced significantly because of the positive relationships between staff and young people.

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Leaders and managers

The operation of this home has significantly improved since it opened nine months ago. This newly registered home struggled because young people were placed there without consideration of the risks they would pose to the young people already residing in the home, and due to the lack of skills and experience of the newly established staff team. This meant that young people felt unsafe and were at risk of exploitation and criminalisation. Since opening, three young people have been moved from the home because of the risks they posed to themselves or others. However, this is an improving picture because young people are now better matched and are making progress. Risks for young people have reduced significantly.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is qualified and experienced. Staff feel very well supported by him and his management team. However, staff supervision and team meetings Assurance visit report: 2572248 3 have not occurred as they should. This has meant that, during a difficult period, staff had the least support. This situation is starting to improve but large gaps remain for some individual supervision meetings.

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Leaders and managers

Staff retention has been poor, with five staff leaving since the home opened. Three new staff have started, with further new staff due to commence their roles imminently. Young people struggle to make meaningful relationships when there are staff changes. Nevertheless, the newly admitted young people have not experienced too many staff changes. Young people say that they like the staff and that staff listen to them.

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Leaders and managers

Feedback from external professionals is overwhelmingly positive. They feel that young people are well cared for and safe.

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Leaders and managers

Records are clear and informative. Managers make meaningful reflective comments on the records to help improve the service for young people.

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended 30/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 2572248 4 that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 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 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 the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(e)) 30/12/2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Northamptonshire County Council, One Angel Square, 4 Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2572248 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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