Children's Home run by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615067 1

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Northamptonshire Childrens Trust limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority home that is registered to care for seven children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has recently been re-registered because of a change in the local authority operational structure. However, this organisational change has not impacted the day- to-day operation of the home.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit was conducted to review a restriction notice that Ofsted imposed on the home. This restriction notice was imposed in response to serious and widespread shortfalls that were identified during Ofsted’s assurance visit to the home in September 2020.

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This monitoring visit

The management and staff have worked hard to address the shortfalls. They have made a lot of progress. As a result, the restriction notice has been lifted so that the home can now admit more young people. However, requirements made at the last visit remain because the developing culture and practice is not yet fully embedded. The requirements will be reviewed again at Ofsted’s next visit.

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This monitoring visit

A new impact risk assessment has been developed that is more in-depth and is likely to provide managers with better information about young people who are referred for admission. Senior leaders are now committed to involving the registered manager fully in decision-making processes about admissions. Additionally, senior managers are now committed to admitting young people in a planned way to ensure that disruption to existing residents is minimised. Because the restriction notice has prevented new young people from moving into the home, these new systems have not yet been tested. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615067 2 Staff are working their way through an intensive training programme, which has included training about criminal exploitation. Therefore, staff now have the necessary skills and knowledge to address any challenges presented when new young people are admitted to the home. Staff are much more child-focussed and

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This monitoring visit

provide a more therapeutic approach to young people.

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This monitoring visit

One young person is preparing to move out of the home. Staff have listened and responded to the views of the young person. As a result, a good transition plan has been implemented. This is likely to help the young person to settle quickly into her new home.

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This monitoring visit

Young people are now more settled. A young person said that she is happy in the home and gets on well with the staff and other young people. However, because of new recording systems, staff spend more time in the office, which she does not like. Managers agreed that this could easily be resolved by providing staff with a laptop to enable them to complete their electronic records while they are with the young people. However, staff and young people say that the internet access is poor.

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This monitoring visit

Safeguarding concerns are addressed quickly and appropriately. However, a safeguarding concern was not reported to managers in a timely manner. This had the potential to leave young people vulnerable over a weekend. New reporting systems have been implemented and staff now have a better understanding of whistle-blowing procedures.

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Recent inspection history

N/A Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615067 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 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.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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. (Regulation 11 (1)(2)(a)(ix)) 31/01/2021

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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 that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)) 31/01/2021

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— 31/01/2021 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615067 4 that staff—

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(iv))

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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—

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. (Regulation 13 (1)(b)) 31/01/2021

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire Childrens Trust limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2615067 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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