Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottinghamshire

Unique reference number SC036737 Inspection date 18/10/2012 Inspector Judith Longden Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 15/03/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is a local authority children's home providing residential and short break services for 16 children with physical disabilities and complex health care needs.

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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 outstanding .

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Overall effectiveness

The home provides excellent personalised and well planned care that takes account of the individual and complex needs of each young person. The home has excellent procedures and protocols that ensure young people are kept safe and protected from harm. Staff implement a positive behaviour management strategy and have excellent relationships with young people.

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Overall effectiveness

The young people make excellent progress in all aspects of their welfare and development. The home has a new manager who has applied for registration with Ofsted. Staff are well trained and have a variety of skills and qualifications. One parent said, 'It’s a special place, I cannot fault it, it is outstanding.'

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Overall effectiveness

One recommendation is made in relation to supervision and one recommendation relating to the young people's guide. However, these shortfalls do not significantly impact negatively on the welfare or safety of young people.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure the Children's Guide includes a summary of how a child can contact their Independent Reviewing Officer, the Children's Rights Director, Ofsted and how to secure access to an independent advocate (NMS 13.5)  ensure all staff are provided with regular supervision. (NMS 19.4)

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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 make excellent progress in achieving positive outcomes in all areas. The home has had a significant impact in supporting this progress, especially with regard to young people gaining independence skills, increased confidence and improved self-esteem. Young people engage in decision making and make choices about their care. They participate in activities that help promote a positive self- image, for example they are encouraged to use mirrors, make self-portraits and undergo beauty treatments such as having their nails painted. Progress and achievement is recorded and evaluated with young people at key work meetings and in photo books. These provide young people with a record of their time at the home. As a result they make exceptional progress towards developing a positive self-view and increased confidence.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are as healthy as they can be within the confines of their extremely complex health needs. They benefit from a varied and healthy menu that provides a balanced diet and takes into account their medical dietary needs and their preferences. Young people help to choose and prepare meals at levels that reflect their individual abilities, giving them the opportunity to learn new skills. One young person said, 'The food is excellent.' Outdoor activities, such as fruit picking at a farm, and exercise are encouraged in order to promote healthy living. Young people also benefit from quiet time and relaxation opportunities. Their health is further promoted by the implementation of daily personal hygiene routines. Young people are making significant progress in achieving responsibility for their own hygiene and health needs. For example some young people are able to purchase a toothbrush and clean

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Outcomes for children and young people

their own teeth with minimal prompts from staff. Some young people have been assessed as able to self-medicate.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from access to a wide range of activities that provide new and challenging experiences. They are encouraged to engage in community activities as well as enjoying activities in the home. This supports them to feel part of their wider community and enjoy the activities and social life this provides. One social worker said 'Inclusion is high on the agenda.' Young people have recently given a showcase performance at a local theatre. This involved young people choosing the music, taking part in the choreography, using the computer to generate photographic images and providing art work for the show. The rehearsals and performance were filmed and each young person has a copy. This reminds them of the skills they have developed and achievements they have made.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people achieve excellent outcomes in their education and this is complemented by the provision of learning activities in the home. Young people are proud of their progress and achievement in school. One young person read to staff and another young person read their poem about a robin that they had performed to the whole school for harvest festival. Staff praise young people's progress and this encourages them to achieve their educational potential.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are supported to learn basic self-care and independence skills appropriate to their age and understanding. Young people learn life skills such as baking, shopping, household chores and self-care skills that they would not have the opportunity to learn at home. This means young people learn skills appropriate to their age and understanding and learn to make decisions and choices. Staff help them to prepare for change and adjust to living in different environments such as the adult care service. For example, young people are provided with photographs and information about their new home. Young people help in the home and learn household skills. They also learn road safety, how to access community services, how to apply for a bus pass, how to use transport and how to manage basic financial transactions such as paying a bus fare. As a result young people receive care to help them prepare for transition to adult care.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from excellent contact with their parents and family. The home communicates very effectively with parents and social workers. Young people are encouraged to develop social interactions with other young people in the home and in the community. As a result people who play an important role in young people's lives are actively involved in the care they receive.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people receive outstanding quality of care from a motivated staff team who have high aspirations for all the young people. A social worker said, 'There is nowhere better for young people.' Care is highly personalised, well planned and based on the individual needs of the young person. One parent said, 'The care is so individual, they take my child to see their football team. My child's health needs are met even down to staff not eating chocolate with nuts in before coming on duty when our child is in.' A social worker commented that 'Individual care and creativity in care does not get lost here.'

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Quality of care

Young people using the service have complex needs and many have communication difficulties arising from their disabilities. The home has excellent processes and methods in place to enable young people to express their views despite these difficulties. The manager continues to implement new and creative ideas to continue to improve consultation. This means young people are able to participate in making choices about routines, activities and life in the home using various formats and communication methods. Young people also participate in decision making about the décor in the home. As a result young people are able to contribute to their care and have a say in the running of the home.

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Quality of care

Young people are supported if they wish to complain. Good information in a variety of formats is available to young people on how to complain or comment on the care they receive. Parents, family members and social workers views are regularly sought to support the care of the young people. Key workers contact parents before and after each short break visit. This ensures the planning of the short breaks is fully inclusive of the parents and takes into account the views of young people and the friendship groups that have been established. One parent said, ' Please don't change a thing, it makes a tremendous difference to know your child is happy and having a good time when they are away.' Young people benefit from excellent relationships with staff and develop skills in communication to enhance their social interaction. One young person said 'Staff are lovely.'

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Quality of care

Young people who access this service have a high level of clinical need, disability and associated learning difficulties. The provision is staffed by social care professionals and qualified health professionals. This ensures the holistic health and care needs of the young people are met. Very good health care plans are developed which identify the complex health needs of young people and ensure there are actions in place to address these needs. The plans are reviewed regularly and daily routines are implemented by staff who are trained in a variety of health matters and have qualifications in safe handling and administration of medicines. Young people have access to various medical professionals including bereavement counsellors. This ensures young people receive support and develop confidence in their emotional well-being. Staff work closely with all medical professionals to ensure continuity in the health care of young people using the short break service. As a result the

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Quality of care

physical, emotional and psychological health of young people is promoted.

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Quality of care

Young people take part in a variety of activities and leisure pursuits within the home and extensive gardens. This includes access to the sensory garden, soft play areas, art and crafts and specialist equipment such as a cinema and touch screen television. Staff encourage young people to engage in a variety of activities such as trips to the park and nature reserves, the library and the cinema. This enables young people to enjoy their interests as well as engaging in the community. As a result young people benefit from access to a wide range of activities and events they would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. One parent said the home had, 'Adopted a can do attitude in providing activities for young people.'

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Quality of care

Staff are proactive in supporting educational attendance and achievement. Communication between education providers and staff is excellent. Key workers visit the school and attend parent evenings. The home provides computers and quiet areas for young people to support their school work. Staff support young people who are due to leave school and encourage them to identify further learning opportunities. This means there is continuity in the learning for young people.

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Quality of care

Young people live in a home that provides a safe but stimulating environment. The home is extremely well maintained and decorated and young people participate in choosing the décor. The home offers excellent facilities and resources that provide a variety of stimulating activities and also areas where young people can relax. Extensive gardens, sensory areas and outside play areas provide an environment where young people can experience a wide range of outdoor activities. This promotes their development and confidence.

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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

Young people have profound physical disabilities and associated learning difficulties and staff recognise that some aggressive behaviour may be evident due to their inability to communicate and the frustration that brings. It is therefore pivotal to the prevention of bullying that staff understand the communication needs of young people and employ constant observation of interactions. Positive behaviour is encouraged by giving lots of praise and frequent expressions of approval. This is supported by strong positive relationships between young people and staff. The use of sanctions is rare with none being used for two years. This is because staff support young people to be safe and behave positively rather than impose sanctions for negative behaviour. Staff are trained in restraint and physical intervention but there have been no incidents in 18 months. The formats for recording sanctions, physical interventions and restraint are excellent. As a result young people interact positively

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Safeguarding children and young people

with staff and each other and behave appropriately.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people are kept safe as a result of a range of robust procedures and protocols implemented by an experienced and well trained staff team. Young people are protected from unsuitable people gaining employment by a good recruitment process that is currently being improved to ensure it is even more robust with parents participating in the recruitment and selection of staff. Visitors to the home are asked to sign in and identification is checked. This further ensures young people are protected from significant harm.

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Safeguarding children and young people

An extensive range of proportionate risk assessments enable young people to experience new challenges and develop new skills whilst remaining safe. Young people are encouraged to understand how to keep themselves safe with work on topics such as 'stranger danger' and road safety. Young people are safeguarded by high levels of supervision and there have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home. Staff are aware of the procedures to follow should a young person be absent.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The home has excellent policies and procedures for safeguarding practices in respect of child protection and handling allegations Staff receive very good safeguarding training and are clear on their role in the safeguarding process.

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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 wellbeing. Regular fire, maintenance and equipment checks further promote the safety of young people. Regular day and night fire drills are held and young people have individual evacuation procedures. As a result, young people who have experienced difficulty during fire drills are supported to understand the dangers of fire and evacuate safely.

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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

Young people live in a home that continues to show improvement in a number of areas and there is evidence of positive changes particularly in the safety of young people. The requirement made at the last inspection has been met and the manager now submits a regular review of the quality of care to Ofsted as required. There are two recommendations made as a result of this inspection. These relate to supervision of staff and the provision of contact details in the young person's guide. However, these shortfalls do not significantly impact on the welfare or safety of young people.

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Leadership and management

The home has appointed a new manager who has applied for registration with Ofsted. The manager has created a challenging development plan for the future improvement of the service and is implementing more robust procedures and processes to improve the care and safety of young people. The home continues to develop good links with the local community and other agencies.

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Leadership and management

Young people are provided with good information about the home in an easy to read welcome guide provided in various formats appropriate to their communication needs. However, the contact details for Ofsted have been omitted from the young people's guide, although young people do have this information provided elsewhere. A recommendation is therefore made to update the young person's guide to ensure full and accurate information is provided. The home has a comprehensive statement of purpose that provides a detailed account of the service provided. This is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains accurate.

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Leadership and management

Staff have a range of skills, qualifications and experience and bring different strengths to the service. Some staff are increasing their responsibilities and taking a lead role in specific areas such as improving communication. The staff rota ensures young people's needs are met through the provision of sufficient staffing. Young people are aware of who is working with them at all times. Staff are assigned to specific units for a substantial length of time to ensure there is continuity in the care of young people.

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Leadership and management

Staff receive an excellent induction and an extensive variety of training and development opportunities. Staff on the induction programme are supported by a mentor in addition to their line manager. Staff benefit from attending mandatory training on topics such as safeguarding as well as a range of training relevant to young people's needs, for example understanding loss and grief. Health training is provided by the nurses who work alongside the social care staff. This ensures consistency in training in this area. Senior staff are developing skills in leadership and team management through the provision of in-house and external training. All training is relevant and of high quality and staff are able to put their learning into practice. As a result they are able to improve their competency and ensure young people's needs are met.

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Leadership and management

Staff are not always supervised in accordance with their supervision agreement or the authorities supervision policy. There are some minor shortfalls in the frequency of supervision. Records do not always indicate clear actions or timescales for action resulting from discussions. In addition records do not indicate the time or length of supervision. This means supervision systems are not sufficiently robust. However, staff say they are well supported and that supervision is good.

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Leadership and management

The home has excellent procedures for monitoring the quality of the service provided and the welfare of the young people. The registered provider undertakes visits to the home in accordance with regulations and carries out checks to ensure the quality of service remains good and the welfare of young people is monitored. The manager monitors records kept by the home to identify any concerns, patterns or trends. Records are stored securely and information sharing is in accordance with data protection. All significant events relating to the protection of young people in the home are notified as appropriate and actions taken as required. As a result the quality of care and the welfare and protection of young people is monitored.

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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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