Children's Home, Residential special school run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC415138 Inspection date 29/11/2011 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/03/2011 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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About this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the Inspections of children’s homes – framework for inspection (March 2011) and the evaluation schedule for children's homes.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service that exceeds minimum requirements Satisfactory : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Brief description of the service

This resource centre provides short break care for up to six children and/or young people in need, aged between 8 and 17 years of age who have learning and/or physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments. The service is managed by a local authority.

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

This service provides high quality care for young people who have a learning disabilities, significant health needs, associated physical disabilities and sensory impairment. Young people benefit from personalised and well planned care based on comprehensive assessment of their individual needs. The young people receive excellent care in a friendly and welcoming home. The service is highly valued by parents and professionals. A parent of one of the young people who has received short break care for several years has described the service as “A home from home”.

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Overall effectiveness

The provision of care contributes to significant improvements in the development of social behaviours, independence and personal skills. Young people benefit from improved outcomes in education, health and skills development. They benefit from outstanding relationships with staff and each other. There is a clear and effective focus on the importance of young people’s rights, choice, privacy and fulfilment. Young people's views and opinions on their care are actively sought, valued and acted upon.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people develop and thrive as they are protected from harm by excellent safeguarding procedures. They are cared for by a team who are well trained. The staff team have the specialist skills and knowledge to deliver a high level of care and support. Managers are highly knowledgeable and dedicated. They are forward thinking and continually strive to achieve better outcomes for the young people. They implement effective monitoring processes to provide continuous quality assurance. The maintenance of excellent standards and constant exploration for further improvement are an outstanding strength of this service.

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Overall effectiveness

There are no new recommendations or requirements as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from service provision which values young people who have with diverse individual needs. The service provision is to meet the needs of young people who have a learning disability, significant health needs, associated physical disabilities and sensory impairment. The service provides care which has a specialist understanding of the diverse and complex needs of the young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people develop and gain self-esteem because they and their parents are fully consulted in all aspects of care provision and service delivery. The service provides young people with the opportunity to widen their experiences and expand their skills. The young people thrive because of the stimulating activities and the high level of attention provided.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people develop socially and emotionally as they are encouraged to develop relationships with each other and develop positive behaviours within clear boundaries. Young people have and enjoy excellent relationships with staff and each other.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from a wide range of educational opportunities. The short breaks resource is consistent in liaising with schools and education providers to regularly update the needs of the young people. Both social and education staff contribute to the young people’s care plans. Young people are offered opportunities to learn about the wider community and current issues through play, visits, activities and holidays. Young people learn and develop because the service is committed to multi-disciplinary partnerships and work effectively alongside education providers.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive a service where their health promotion is of paramount importance. The quality of care is maximised from the care provided by highly skilled and well trained staff, thereby maximising health outcomes. The provision of specialist equipment and adaptations which meet the specific medical and physical needs of young people further ensure that health and medical needs are fully addressed. Formal processes and procedures are in place to ensure a rigorous approach to the meeting of medical needs. The health needs of each young person are detailed within individualised placement planning, with the full inclusion of family, significant others and medical practitioners. Young people benefit from a proactive approach to including them as far as possible in having their health care needs met.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people can engage in a diverse range of indoor and outdoor activities. This includes active play in a secure and stimulating outdoor play area and a range of creative and relaxing activities within the home. As a result young people experience a wide range of leisure and learning activities which promote their development, health and enjoyment. In addition to the short break provision, young people can attend and participate in outreach groups, Youth Clubs and regular opportunities to go on holidays. The range of service provision widens the experiences which young people can experience and allows them to enjoy and achieve to their maximum potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The promotion of equality and diversity is outstanding. Community involvement is given a high priority as is the opportunity to mix with peers. Children and young people attend community events and themed events occur in-house around cultural and religious festivals. Steps are underway to foster greater involvement in the centre by local minority. The philosophy of the service is the 'Every Disabled Child Matters' and this is stated in the Statement of Purpose.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from proactive inter-agency work in regards to young people’s transition to adult services. Young people play an active role in their transition plans and are enabled through a variety of methods to communicate their views. As a result young people are supported into adulthood in contributing to choices made about their futures.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people thrive from the care provided by a highly trained and experienced team of staff. The team are committed, cohesive and motivated. Young people are cared for in an environment which actively promotes positive behaviour and constructive relationships. The young people are rewarded through praise and encouragement which reinforces the benefits of positive behaviour. As a result young people receive specialist care which addresses their individual needs. This quality of care ensures that young people enjoy positive and constructive relationships with the social care team.

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Quality of care

Young people are respected and valued. The service provides an environment where they can express themselves. The specialist team have a commitment to inclusion and participation. The service facilitates young people’s communication through a range of communication strategies for all young people. Young people have a variety of forums to communicate their needs, including their own Youth Council. Young people benefit from an approach which values their participation and promotes their views.

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Quality of care

Young people are valued as individuals with unique needs. This is reflected in their care planning which is routinely reviewed and updated. Care planning is fully inclusive of needs relating to young people’s cultural background and personal identity. The care plans are regularly reviewed and monitored by both management and the staff team. Each young person is cared for in line with their individual placement plan. Communication between staff, parents and associated agencies is very strong and highly effective. The professional staff team are proactive in ensuring that pertinent information is sought and used to inform care plans, thereby ensuring the best quality of care for the young people.

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Quality of care

Young people’s placement planning and review of care is fully inclusive of their health, social care and educational needs. The planning of placements is fully inclusive of parents. Placement planning is proactive and ensures that young people’s wishes and feelings are sought and acted upon.

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from an environment which has been designed and adapted to meet the needs of the young people who have a diverse range of disabilities and specific needs. The building quality is of a high specification and provides an ideal space to meet the needs of the young people. The provision is secure and safe and maintained to a high standard. The standard of décor and furnishings throughout the home is exceptionally high. The accommodation is spacious and offers space for communal and private time. There are excellent levels of privacy for young people; they have their own bedroom and en-suite bathrooms. Each room has been individually designed with a specific theme. The furnishings, décor and attention to detail are immaculate and convey tremendous attention to detail. The home environment ensures that young people are kept safe and cared for to the highest standard.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The provision has an excellent record with regards to safeguarding children and young people. The emphasis on safeguarding practices and strategies is embedded within the functioning of the service. Young people are protected and safe because the robust policies and procedures are effectively implemented by well trained and competent staff. Safeguarding strategies and practice are supported by a comprehensive range of systems to record, report and monitor the care of young people. The safeguarding policies ensure that safeguarding practice is responsive to the needs of disabled children. The staff team are routinely trained in a wide range of areas related to safeguarding, including training on recognised restraint training.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Positive behaviour strategies are developed formally in a comprehensive behaviour support plan. These strategies are implemented within education, home and the short break provision. Physical restraint methods have not been used within this service. This can be attributed to excellent behaviour management practice. As a result of proactive behaviour management young people are observed to improve in their interaction with staff and each other.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Bullying is not evident within this provision. The young people engage in regular workshops to educate on themes related to bullying. The ethos and daily routines reinforce and monitor positive relationships. The home has a clear no tolerance approach to bullying and they are committed to ensure that any young person experiencing bullying would be supported to exercise their right to raise concerns.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has a good missing from care procedure and protocol developed with the police and local authority. The home has been proactive in securing the protocol and meeting with the police. Excellent implementation of safe care practice and high levels of supervision ensure young people are kept safe and do not go missing.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that provides the appropriate level of security to ensure their safety and well-being. Regular fire, maintenance and equipment checks further promote the safety of young people. The home provides a range of activities, equipment and facilities for groups of young people and some specific to individual young people. As a result young people's individual needs and preferences are met.

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Leadership and management

The leadership and management of the children's home are outstanding .

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Leadership and management

The quality of the leadership and management of the short breaks service is exceptional. The Registered Manager is highly knowledgeable, motivated and passionate in delivering the highest standards to the young people and families who use the service. The manager has ambition and a clear vision for the direction of the service and the development of resources. Young people’s needs are secured because the operation of the provision clearly reflects the aims of the Statement of Purpose.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive outstanding care from a dedicated and stable staff team. The staff team functions efficiently with clear roles and responsibilities. The staff report feeling very well supported in their role. Staff members receive regular and meaningful supervision which enables them to explore their learning needs and goals. Regular weekly team meetings provide a forum for the staff team to communicate information, review and revise young people’s placement plans and function as a well informed team. The management and staff team function effectively and ensure consistently high standards to the delivery of care to young people.

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Leadership and management

Management routinely undertake monitoring practice to quality assure systems and practice. The policies, procedures and operational practices of the homes are clear, consistent and understood by the wider staff team. Effective Regulation 33 visits further monitor care practice, which is further reinforced by the registered manager’s quality assurance reports, which identify areas for development and target dates. These processes mean that care remains consistently high for young people.

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Leadership and management

The staff and management team demonstrate a proactive and strong commitment to promoting diversity and equality in the home. The provision of care embraces diversity and ensures that needs such as ethnic, religious, social, cultural and economic backgrounds are fully met. The service provision recognises the young people as individuals and strives to ensure that the young people receive equality of opportunity. The service provision is to meet the needs of young people who have a learning disability, significant health needs, associated physical disabilities and sensory impairment. Central to the delivery of care is an ethos of promoting a positive view of diversity and disability.

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Leadership and management

The service demonstrates excellence in record keeping. Information is comprehensive, up to date, individualised and transparent. The providers have implemented systems which ensure that records are monitored and reviewed regularly. Records contribute to an understanding of young people's lives and are up to date and stored securely. All significant events relating to the protection of young people accommodated in the home are notified by the Registered Manager of the home to the appropriate authorities and appropriate action is taken following the incident.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive exceptional care as a result of well managed staff practice. There is a constant and consistent ethos for service improvement which centres on the positive outcomes and welfare of young people at all times.

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Leadership and management

Equality and diversity practice is outstanding .

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