Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Unique reference number SC039056 Inspection date 23/10/2012 Inspector Martha Nethaway Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 23/02/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority owned children's home is registered to provide short breaks for up to nine children and young people. The home caters for children with learning difficulties, physical disabilities, complex health needs and challenging behaviours allied to their learning difficulties.

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Brief description of the service

The home is registered to care for up to five children under short break arrangements and up to four children under other arrangements.

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The inspection judgements and what they mean

Outstanding : a service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements Good : a service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements Adequate : a service that only meets minimum requirements Inadequate : a service that does not meet minimum requirements

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Overall effectiveness

The overall effectiveness is judged to be good .

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Overall effectiveness

The effectiveness with which the home provides care is good. This is achieved through well-structured short breaks. There is a progressive partnership working with parents and carers which is integral to the planning of the short breaks for children and young people. Children and young people using the service are safe and feel safe. Staff promote positive outcomes for all children and young people. Children and young people are making good progress in relation to their development, health, social skills and education.

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people’s views are regularly sought. Their views help influence the organisation of activities and recreational fun at the home. The quality of the relationships between staff and young people in the home is good. Staff work hard to ensure that children and young people’s experiences are positive while they are away from their parents and carers.

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Overall effectiveness

Leadership and management in the home are good. Staff are well organised, inspired and motivated to deliver good quality care and this achieves good outcomes for children and young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for children and young people are good .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are provided with many opportunities to enjoy different experiences and develop social contacts beyond their own home. One parent commented, ‘the short breaks are really valuable and rewarding for young people. And I also get a break from caring all the time.’ Children and young people are enjoying positive benefits from their short break stays, as are children and young people who are staying for longer at the home. Disabled children and young people’s unique and individual needs are fully taken into account and planned for in consultation with parents and carers. As a result, all-encompassing support is provided.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people’s health care needs are fully met. Children and young people with more complex needs are provided with good care to meet their needs. For example, they have access to other professionals such as, the primary health care trust and the children’s outreach team. Consequently, progressive steps are taken to meet children and young people’s complex health needs, through training, advice and joint working.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are all attending special schools and continue at their own school while receiving short breaks. Their attendance levels at school are high and their educational experiences are in an inclusive learning environment. Children and young people are supported to use different forms of communication that are familiar to the child. For example, using signing or pictures as visual aids. In some instances some young people use electronic communication aids. This results in children and young people benefiting from a consistent learning environment.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people enjoy and participate fully in their community with effective staff support. They regularly access local shops, museums, local parks and live art performances and festivals. Children and young people say they love visiting their local park where they use the outdoor play areas. Disabled children and young people also benefit from using additional facilities at the home. They enjoy using the ball pool, sensory room and an adapted outdoor garden area.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are being prepared for the next stage of their independence. They are receiving good support to achieve their aspirations. Parents and staff work jointly to support the options that are available. This helps achieve the best outcomes for young people.

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Quality of care

Children and young people enjoy positive relationships with staff and with each other. Staff provide good support to children and young people to learn social rules. For example, sharing toys and taking turns to play games. As a result, children and young people benefit from learning new skills. This promotes maximum participation in meaningful daily living activities.

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Quality of care

Children and young people’s participation is being effectively facilitated. Staff are good at removing and minimising barriers to social inclusion. Staff use communication passports to promote children and young people’s choice and autonomy. As a result, they are supported at a practical level with a personalised tool for communication. Children and young people are encouraged to attend house meetings where they discuss festivals, food and activities. An inclusive approach is also taken with parents and carers. One member of staff commented, ‘we have started a series of coffee mornings and we are also starting a newsletter.’

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Quality of care

Children and young people are cared for in line with their individual short break care plan. The home’s contribution to these plans is of a good quality. Staff adopt a child centred approach, in an accessible format from the perspective of the child. Consequently, this allows staff to help and support children and young people consistently.

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Quality of care

Children and young people’s cultural background and personal identity are identified and positively addressed in both daily living and care planning. Staff provide care that empowers disabled children and young people to make choices and to be involved in any decisions about their needs. This includes consulting with parents and carers. As a result, children and young people’s rights are being promoted and care is individualised.

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Quality of care

The home is appropriately located, designed and maintained. The home’s facilities are organised into three separate living areas. All children and young people enjoy their own bedrooms with specialised adapted beds. They all have access to fully adapted bathrooms and shower rooms. As a result, children and young people enjoy the facilities that are easy to use.

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Safeguarding children and young people

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

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children and young people living here are safe and feel safe. They are growing up in circumstances consistent with safe and effective care. Staff are provided with appropriate policies, procedures and training. This integrated approach ensures practice that safeguards the well-being and welfare of disabled children and young people. Children and young people are provided with good levels of supervision. Their whereabouts are always known to staff. There have been no occasions where a child has gone missing from the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children and young people’s positive behaviour is promoted and underpinned by positive behaviour plans. Staff regularly use rewards such as, verbal praise and further reinforcements through recreational activities that the child likes. As a result, this encourages children and young people to change undesirable behaviours. The prevalence of challenging behaviours such as, aggression or self-inflicted injurious behaviours has reduced over time. This is attributed to the effective use of prevention and de-escalation strategies.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Recruitment and selection of staff is good. The home consistently adopts robust and thorough procedures at all stages of the recruitment process. Staff are safe and trustworthy.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Health and safety is well managed through the effective implementation of policies, procedures and risk assessments. All children and young people are provided with personalised risk assessments. They are provided with safe opportunities to learn and develop. In addition, children and young people are encouraged to participate in fire evacuations so that they know the correct action to take in the event of an emergency.

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Leadership and management

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

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Leadership and management

The home is effectively and efficiently managed, including the permanent employment of a suitably registered manager. The registered manager is well supported by a number of experienced senior staff. Leadership and management is well organised through well-defined roles and clear areas of responsibility. Ofsted have received no complaints about this home since the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

The home has a good capacity to demonstrate continual improvement. Leaders and managers understand the areas of strength and those needing further development. They foster a clear focus on good outcomes for children and young people. There is an effective development plan in place for the home. For example, the home is continually monitoring records to ensure they are of sufficient quality. The home has addressed the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. All this positive action shows good commitment and priority to the safety and welfare of children and young people.

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Leadership and management

The home effectively meets the current practice and objectives set out in the statement of purpose. Children and young people’s residential short breaks care is seen as a positive option. The home employs a sufficient number of staff who are effectively supervised and supported. A good programme of continual professional training is being implemented. For example, training on mental health and intensive interaction communication techniques is provided. The majority of staff are appropriately qualified to a professional standard.

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Leadership and management

Records are well managed. Staff ensure that important information is passed on and communicated between staff and other professionals. Records are maintained to a good standard. The records contribute to an understanding of the child’s life, experiences and plans for the future.

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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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