Children's Home run by Friends Therapeutic Community Trust in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 1 SC025733 Registered provider: Friends Therapeutic Community Trust Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A charitable community trust runs this home, which provides a therapeutic programme of care for up to 17 children. The home caters for a specific range of needs, as detailed in the statement of purpose. The facilities include a registered on-site school and vocational workshops to support accredited work-based learning courses. The community is jointly registered with the Care Quality Commission.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2019.

p.1

Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 22 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 2

p.1

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 this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has improved effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has made several improvements to the quality of care since the last inspection. The manager has met all five requirements raised at the last inspection. The manager has also met four out of five recommendations made at the last inspection.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Currently, there are 11 children living at the home. Since the last inspection, seven children have moved into the home and four moved out. Except for one child, all have moved on from the home to semi-independent or independent living. One child who left, despite not leaving in a planned way, was in an assessment period. An assessment was made that the staff could not meet this child’s needs.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager recognised that the dynamics of the group of children needed improving. She made a considered decision to ensure that the home continued to only support children whose needs staff can meet. The manager has undertaken a strategic review, which has led to changes being made to the home’s admission processes. This has resulted in a shift in the focus of the needs that the staff will support.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have received appropriate training that meets the needs of children who have moved into the home. This had stabilised the home and led to a reduction in incidents.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Requirements relating to management monitoring and oversight have been addressed. There are now good systems to record and analyse themes and trends in behaviours. The manager has a comprehensive understanding of the varying factors that underpin the children’s behaviour. The analysis of behavioural trends demonstrates that there has been a reduction in restraint compared to last year’s data. The analysis of episodes of children going missing from the home allows the manager to identify what support the children need. Reasonable steps are taken to reduce the frequency with which children go missing from the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are considered in their responses to unwanted behaviour and ensure that any consequences for such behaviour are reasonable and proportionate. Consequently, children learn from incidents and develop their understanding of preferred behaviours.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The upkeep and maintenance of the home have improved. Staff said that damages are repaired swiftly. Staff create an environment that is therapeutic yet not clinical. This is impressive, given the restrictions in place for some children. Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 3 Behaviour management plans identify risks known about children before their move to the home. Behavioural triggers and actions to reduce risks are clearly recorded. Information in risk assessments is clearly understood by staff. Social workers said that risky behaviours have reduced since their children moved into the home.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risk assessments are subject to appropriate review and revision, with recent events such as children going missing from the home and self-harm incidents being recorded. The plans provide staff with sufficient information to reduce risks to children effectively.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Restraint is reasonable and proportionate. Events leading up to the restraint, de- escalation techniques, duration of restraint and techniques used are suitably recorded. The manager monitors the restraint records and analyses the trends and patterns in restraint. This enables her to target support where it is needed or celebrate achievements when the frequency of restraint has reduced.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding concerns are managed and responded to appropriately. The manager works collaboratively with other professionals and has the interests of the children at the centre of her practice.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children feel valued, heard and understood. Children can name a person they feel happy to confide in and feel that staff respond reasonably to their wishes and feelings. Children learn new skills because of being at the home, such as mechanical engineering, learning to drive and skills for independence.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Social workers recognise the progress that their children make from their starting points. One social worker said, ‘My child now has a friend, something which he had never had before coming to the home.’ Another social worker said that their child has made great progress in controlling their behaviour and has grown in confidence. All children attend the on-site education. Children said that they are enthused by the learning opportunities available to them. As a result, their engagement in learning increases.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff help children to spend time with people who are important to them. In addition, staff ensure that children attend events that are important, whatever distance the staff need to drive to achieve this.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager is committed to making positive changes for children. Children feel listened to and supported by the manager, who is a strong advocate for them. The depth and breadth of the manager’s experience and professional qualifications enable her to provide targeted support to children that has far-reaching positive consequences.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Opportunities for children at this home are impressive. Children benefit from highly positive experiences and a safe environment in which to express themselves. The supportive and embedded therapeutic community helps them to make changes that give them better life chances and enables them to view themselves positively, often for the first time. Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 4 The recommendation relating to staff supervision is restated. Suitable alternative arrangements have not been made to ensure that staff receive supervision in the absence of the designated supervisor. Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 5

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/11/2019 Full Good 05/02/2019 Full Good 04/10/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 6

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.6

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.

p.6

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’. Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Friends Therapeutic Community Trust

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kajetan Kasinski

p.7

Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC025733 8 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.

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 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: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8