Children's home run by Buckinghamshire Council

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to five children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 25 September 2019

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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:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership. 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: 2517299 2

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The care of children

Children say they feel safe living in this home. The staff place emphasis on the development of supportive and trusting relationships. As a result, the children thrive. One child said, ‘Some staff are like my family.’ The children can recognise their own achievements and this oozes from them in the pride and confidence that they demonstrate.

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The care of children

The children have been able to continue to stay in contact with the people important to them, using technology and socially distanced visits during the pandemic lockdown period. The staff supported a child to deliver flowers to their unwell grandmother. This helped the child to feel less worried about their grandmother’s health and well-being.

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The care of children

The staff place great value on the children’s education and this is clearly embedded in the ethos of the home. Every child has an educational placement and attendance is good. While there is a real focus on children achieving English and mathematics qualifications, the staff also encourage the children to study academically towards a chosen career path. For example, one child recently completed their level 2 mechanics course, while another child has explored their interest in health and beauty. This approach to education promotes self-driven accomplishments.

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The care of children

The staff are clear on how, and when, to use restorative practices with the children and have a sound knowledge and understanding on what a sanction is. When sanctions are used, they are aimed at individual behaviours and tailored to help children to learn and to make amends for any misdemeanours.

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The safety of children

The children’s home is clean and welcoming with an arrangement of festive-themed activities and decorations for Christmas. Appropriate hygiene facilities are in place for the washing and sanitising of hands.

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The safety of children

The children speak with the staff about how they feel, and the staff listen. The staff provide the children with clear boundaries that help the children to feel protected and nurtured. There is a noticeable reduction in missing from home episodes for one child and a significant difference in another child’s personal care routines and habits. One professional said, ‘The work the staff have done with [child x] is incredible.’

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The safety of children

The children all have current risk assessments to identify potential risks, such as county lines, and child sexual exploitation. The strategies used by the staff to support the children in managing these risks are clear, and they are reviewed robustly after every incident. When appropriate to do so, and with a multi-agency approach, the registered manager has requested deprivation of liberty orders to keep individual children safe.

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The safety of children

The staff demonstrate a good understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities of the children in their care. The staff also recognise and understand their roles in Assurance visit report: 2517299 3 safeguarding the children and can readily identify key external agencies that work together to keep children safe.

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Leaders and managers

The impact of COVID-19 has been managed well. The staff support the children to understand COVID-19 restrictions, in language and context that reflects their individual needs.

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Leaders and managers

The staff team has remained consistent and have supported each other during this time. Their commitment has ensured continuity of care and stability for the children.

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Leaders and managers

The newly appointed manager has applied to Ofsted to become registered. The manager has been working in the home as an assistant team leader since the home opened in May 2019. The manager is insightful and can reflect on the home’s strengths and weaknesses. The manager has implemented a positive achievements folder for the children to take with them when they leave the home, and has started a ‘trip advisor’ scheme where children can rate their experiences after activities. This evidences the manager’s enthusiasm for encapsulating the children’s views, and ensuring that the children are reminded of their successes.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s approach has had a positive impact on the staff morale and team spirit. The staff say that they feel the new manager is very approachable, supportive and gives a clear and consistent approach in her leadership role. The staff say that this has been helpful to underpin consistency and reduce confusion between the staff. The staff say that communication has greatly improved, and that they value and benefit their clinical group supervision sessions.

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Leaders and managers

The manager’s workforce development plan still requires improvement. It lacks triangulation with the home’s statement of purpose and does not include the details for managing and improving poor performance. This omission does not impact on the quality of care for the children; however, it does leave scope and margin for an inconsistent approach to staff management.

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Recommendations

 Those with a leadership and/or management role should be visible and accessible to staff and able to deliver their leadership and/or management responsibilities. Any registered manager employed in the home should have sufficient capacity to ensure that the Quality Standards are met for each child in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.7)  The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should: Assurance visit report: 2517299 4 - detail the necessary management and staffing structure (including any staff commissioned to provide health and education), the experience and qualifications of staff currently working within the staffing structure and any further training required for those staff, to enable the delivery of the home’s Statement of

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Recommendations

Purpose; - detail the processes and agreed timescales for staff to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding, health and safety and mandatory qualifications); - detail the process for managing and improving poor performance; - detail the process and timescales for supervision of practice (see regulation 33 (4) (b)) and keep appropriate records for staff in the home. The plan should be updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home’s manager. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Buckinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 1UY

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Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2517299 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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