Children's home run by YMCA

Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 1 Registered provider: YMCA

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a charity.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The acting manager has submitted their application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/11/2022 Full Good 28/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child living at the home at the time of inspection. Staff know the child’s past experiences well. With the use of appropriate boundaries and consistency, this is now the longest placement the child has experienced. The child is making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s interests and hobbies are supported and celebrated by staff. The child’s confidence and enthusiasm are growing with the help of the staff and manager. They are accessing more activities in the community. The child is being encouraged to access clubs and organisations that reflect their interests. Staff are supporting the child’s confidence to build peer relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff ensure that an education timetable for the child is in place. A tutor visits the child regularly as part of the timetable. Creative ways to learn are provided by the staff team. This has seen the child become more confident with education. A school place has now been identified and agreed for the child. Past experiences in education have been poor for the child. This development is significant.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child struggled initially when they moved in. The child found it difficult to invest in the home. The environment does not feel homely in places. Staff have started to reintroduce furniture and wall decorations. The environment is improving. The child was excited about the plans to redecorate their bedroom. The child is involved in the process. Their wishes and feelings are captured in discussions and house meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child has a healthy diet and home-cooked food. The child is supported to be independent where possible. They cook meals and share new eating experiences with the staff. The child’s cultural and heritage needs are well met by the staff. The child has positive relationships with a culturally diverse staff team. Some staff have struggled to build a relationship with the child. The manager places emphasis on developing healthy attachments for the child.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been a significant reduction in the number of incidents. The frequency of restraints has lowered. Staff adopt therapeutic theory-based practice to support the child’s needs. This has meant the child can process emotions and feelings in a safer way.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Some incidents that have involved restraint have not been reviewed by the manager in enough depth. This has meant the opportunity for reflection with staff has been missed.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The behaviour support plan provides good guidance for staff in supporting and managing behaviour. Risk assessments are detailed and reviewed. They reflect risk but do not always reflect the progress that the child has made. One risk assessment was not reflective of the child’s behaviour. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 4 There have been no incidents of the child going missing from the home. Safety plans are in place. Staff are good at keeping the child safe and the child feels safe.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Allegations of harm made by the child have been thoroughly investigated by the manager. Information is shared with relevant professionals. There is a shortfall in the recording of follow-up discussions with the child as well as the staff. Risk assessments are in place to ensure that allegations are managed safely and transparently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is led by a committed manager. The manager knows the child and the staff team well. The manager is new to the role. They are still gaining the experience and qualifications required. The manager is supported by an experienced responsible individual. There are vacancies in the home across leadership roles. A new deputy manager has been appointed but has yet to start. A team leader had started at the time of inspection. The manager is applying to be registered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The development plans for the home are not sufficient. The manager understands the development needs of the staff and the building. However, these are not reflected in documents. Oversight from the manager is evident. There are times when more reflection and follow-up with staff is needed. Staff supervision and support have improved with individual meetings with staff planned in advance. New templates for more effective supervision have been introduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The staff feel supported by each other and the manager. Rotas have been difficult to manage, which has been raised by staff. Staff are committed but have requested change is made to how rotas work. Staff said they felt listened to. They are positive about new plans to create a better work-life balance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Monitoring and oversight in the home still require improvement. More robust systems have been put in place since the last inspection. However, vacancies in leadership roles have impacted the effectiveness of these systems. Key documents that relate to the child’s care and well-being are being reviewed and are effective. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 5

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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, The 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 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—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to risk assessments being either in place for known risks or removed when they do not relate to the child. Also, that safety plans are in place for staff when supporting children. 13 August 2024

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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

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that the home’s development and workforce plans are relevant and up to date. 13 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 6 It also relates to the registered person ensuring that oversight of incidents and staff practice are robustly reflected on to drive improvement.

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Recommendation

 The registered person must have systems in place to ensure that staff and managers receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, 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)

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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’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malt Cross, 16 St James’s Street, Nottingham NG1 6FG

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Inspector

Chris Haines, social care inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 8 regulates and inspects 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 2588599 9

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