“children's homes in Coventry”

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Information about this children's home

This is one of three local authority children's homes operating in the city. The home is able to offer care to up to eight young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties who are in the care of the same local authority. Young people may stay on a planned medium- to long-term basis, according to their needs.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Information about this children’s home

This home offers care and accommodation for up to eight young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Young people may stay on a planned medium- to long-term basis, according to their needs.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Requires improvement

There have been changes to the young people living at the home since the last inspection. Some young people have left to live with family or moved to new placements. Other new young people have arrived at the home. Young people feel positive about the care that they receive from staff. One said, ‘I like it here, I am very happy.’ Another said, ‘This is a good place. I have everything I need, and staff always help me.’ A parent of a young person who has moved said, ‘Staff were fantastic. They did all they could.’

Coventry · CV1 5RR

What the inspection judgements mean

are in place, however, the children’s home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children’s home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Requires improvement

Young people live in a large home with plenty of internal space and large external grounds. Due to its age, the home needs improving and updating, and staff have ensured that many areas are homely and comfortable. One room has an area of damage where a leak has caused damage to a ceiling. Managers and staff continue to be vigilant to ensure that the home continues to meet their overall needs. Young people enjoy a variety of activities in the home and local community. A holiday is planned for the half-term break. Some attend the gym, participate in sports, attend local youth clubs, and go shopping and bowling. Young people have opportunities to enhance the quality of their lives.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and outside in the grounds. They have good relationships with staff and their peers. A young person said: „Staff are amazing, always there if you need them.‟ A young person said to his social worker: „There is nothing not to like, it‟s like living in a castle with superstar staff.‟ Young people cited the food as something they particularly like about the home: „Food is amazing. They have some of the best cooks here.‟ The home has recently been redecorated in most communal areas and looks at lot more homely. Staff support young people to become more independent to enable them to have the necessary skills to live independently. They are assessed when they arrive at the home to see what level of independence skills they have. This enables staff to not only know what it is young people need to learn but also provide a base-line so they can see how much they have learnt since arriving in the home. Young people feel safe. Staff have a good understanding of how to keep young

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should oversee the welfare of the children in their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) In particular, review and sign incident logs.  Ensure that young people live in an environment which meets their basic day-to-day needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the

Coventry · CV1 5RR

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

Coventry · CV1 5RR

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

training. Staff say they feel very well supported by each other and the manager. They receive regular practice-based supervision. The manager has recently gone through the registration process and is awaiting the outcome. She has completed the Certificate in Health and Social Care and Level 5 Diploma in Management. She is currently undertaking the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare. She has made positive changes to the home since taking on the role as manager in June 2015. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has good plans to address the shortfalls. She has ensured that all the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have been addressed. Complaints are managed quickly and effectively. Young people have a good understanding of the complaints procedure.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’. An outstanding children’s home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children’s home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children’s home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Recommendations

quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) In particular, continue to make the home a comfortable and homely environment.  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  Ensure the necessary support is given to children to enable them to access their education or training. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.13)

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Requires improvement

A number of young people living at the home are not fluent in speaking English. Staff support their needs and relevant professionals visit the young people at the home, helping them to sort out their circumstances. Interpreters visit these young people twice each week, but some of the young people said that they did not understand how to find out information about how the home works and how to get information in the community. They were unclear about whom to talk to in the home if they had any worries. Consequently, young people are disadvantaged, as they are unable to voice their views or opinions and do not know how or where to seek help.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

is dependent on the young person and what works best for them. Consequently, young people are rarely restrained by staff. Some young people do smoke and occasionally use illegal substances. Appropriate external agencies are involved to help young people reduce their intake. Furthermore, staff take appropriate action and there has been a reduction in taking illegal substances. Staff have a good understanding of how to keep young people safe while using the internet. At the previous inspection, young people were able to access adult sites on the home‟s computers. Appropriate blocks have now been enforced to prevent access to inappropriate sites. Staff work closely with external professionals. A social worker said: „Communication lines are always open. They provide a really good service.‟ Staff fully cooperate with the placing authority and implement the local authority plans for young people. Staff competently care for young people. They have access to good quality

Coventry · CV1 5RR

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people make adequate progress from their starting points. They are mostly complex and challenging young people whose behaviour deteriorates at difficult times in their lives. Staff work hard to manage and support them to move forward with their education, independence skills and managing their own behaviour. A social worker said: „They‟ve really tried hard with him. Staff have been really good. He chooses not to engage.‟ Some young people excel in their education and interests. Staff fully support young people with their education, hobbies and interests. For example, staff have bought a young person who enjoys reading, a kindle. The same young person also enjoys playing the piano so a keyboard has been purchased for him. Young people who enjoy watching football go to football matches with staff. Furthermore, young people have access to a floodlit area to play football. Young people are happy in this home. They enjoy the space it offers both indoors

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meets 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.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets 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 with the given timescales.

Coventry · CV1 5RR

The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 Young people at risk of or experiencing child sexual exploitation are not always kept safe, despite the efforts of managers and staff.  Some young people’s voices are not heard, as effective systems to share information with them are not in place.  Independence work with young people is variable.  Not all staff have regular supervision in line with their organisational policy.  Not all staff have attended refresher training courses in key areas, including child sexual exploitation.  Staff do not always gain feedback from young people following an incident of physical intervention.  Following incidents of young people going missing from care, they are not always offered a return home interview by an independent person.  Recordings of incidents are not always clear and sometimes lack key information such as dates.  Young people are not receiving education, despite staff’s efforts.  The home environment needs attention to maintain a homely and well

Coventry · CV1 5RR

The children’s home strengths

 Young people, family and professionals reported positively about the service offered to young people by staff.  Young people and staff have positive relationships.  Staff support young people’s contact with their friends and family.  Managers and staff have strong links with other professionals and they work well together to help to support young people.  The new registered manager is aware of shortfalls in the service and has plans in place to improve the service. 

Coventry · CV1 5RR

Requires improvement

The registered manager has introduced a number of new initiatives to evidence the progress made by young people in her care. These include a baseline assessment of their needs and a ‘star journey’ tool, illustrating progress over a period. Staff have started to use these tools, but practice is not yet embedded and does not show the difference that these initiatives make for young people. Staff do not always successfully gather the views of young people in the home.