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

Unique reference number SC415138 Inspection date 15/11/2012 Inspector Susan Mullin Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/03/2012 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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Brief description of the service

This resource centre provides short-break care for up to six young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments. The service is managed by a local authority.

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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

This inspection of the centre found that the service provides an outstanding standard of care to young people who have short breaks. Relationships between staff and young people are positive, caring and supportive. Staff are very knowledgeable and are more than able to care for all of the young people's individual and diverse needs. Robust and very detailed systems are in place to assess, monitor and review care needs ensuring that the care delivered is of a very high standard.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people staying at the centre experience emotional warmth and competent care, as staff actively work to promote their welfare. Almost all the staff group have been working in the centre for a substantial length of time and have formed long- term positive relationships with the young people. This is a major strength as the staff team is resilient, committed and loyal to each other and to the young people. There are excellent levels of staff training and robust recruitment procedures to further ensure young people are kept safe and feel protected.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people are provided with a wealth of varied activities, which promote their enjoyment and learning in all aspects of their lives. Staff are exceptionally experienced in communication skills, enabling young people to have their views and opinions heard. There are robust and comprehensive care plans in place and good communication between staff and other agencies, which helps reduce challenging behaviour and ensures consistency for young people.

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Overall effectiveness

An extremely competent Registered Manager ensures the robust monitoring procedures are considered regularly to inform practice. Staff are continually striving to develop their standards of care and continue to improve outcomes for young people. A visiting social worker said, 'The resource centre has made many, many young people and their families very happy.’

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Overall effectiveness

There were no requirements or recommendations set 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 individualised support which helps them grow in confidence. Young people enjoy caring, professional relationships with staff, that enable them to get the best from each stay at the centre. Staff are aware of young people's strengths and vulnerabilities and help to nurture their talents and interests. Young people are offered a wealth of experiences that they may not have had, these extend their world and promote their learning, skills and enjoyment while being away from home. The centre provides the young people with a stable, secure and nurturing environment. Staff encourage and respect the young people's individual identities and celebrate their differences, which has a positive impact on their self- confidence and self-esteem. Comments from parents include, 'I have discussed my son's care programme with the staff and he gets lots of physical activity and the staff know him very well and meet his needs well. I have asked for a compliments slip to

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Outcomes for children and young people

be sent to me as I want to praise the staff for their efforts.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people enjoy an extensive variety of activities, which the staff enable them to participate in. These include using the facilities at the home such as the garden where they can cycle, go-kart and enjoy the plentiful play equipment. Within the home they learn from stimulating games and technology, such as the overhead projectors which are interactive. Young people also use the local community and attend a local youth club and enjoy time there with their peers. During school holidays the young people also go on day trips to cultural sites such as, zoos, farms and theme parks. All young people are encouraged to take part in new experiences in line with their age and abilities. The centre is involved in accessing local and wider community activities and partnership working with other agencies. For example, the centre hosts several community events a year, primarily for families and friends to attend. Young people also assist in the community by raising money for other local

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Outcomes for children and young people

charities and are supported in a Zumba dancing class and a family fun day. A social worker stated, 'The staff befriend the young people when they come into the centre and they benefit from going out and about into the community, whereas some parents cannot do that with the other constraints that they have in the home.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from comprehensive individual health plans, which clearly identify any emotional and/or physical health needs and ensure staff are clear how to meet these needs. Staff encourage young people to eat a healthy home-cooked diet and to try new foods. As a result young people are actively supported to lead a healthy lifestyle.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s views are actively sought through the centre's own Children's Council forum, which meets regularly in the centre. Staff encourage and support young people to influence any decisions about their care and the way the centre operates, for example influencing the choice of facilities it provides. By improving personalised communication with young people using their preferred method of communication, which may include signs and symbols, young people’s understanding and esteem is improved. This fully enables young people to express their views.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Staff fully recognise the value of education and maintain effective links with all teachers from the young people's schools. Staff attend review meetings and provide key information about young people's day-to-day lives and their progress. Good communication between the centre and schools ensures educational outcomes are at the forefront of the young person’s future plans.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people live at home with family and carers and the staff offer support within the family home. Excellent levels of communication ensure young people and parent/carers feel happy when young people spend time at the home. One parent said ' I feel very happy with the service and I can relax as I know my son is well cared for.' A social worker stated, 'The parents I liaise with get some well-deserved respite when their children are staying in the centre and it gives them the chance to have some quality time to themselves.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people receive excellent and carefully thought out support to develop their independent living skills in conjunction with their age and understanding. Support offered to young people and families when in transition and preparing to move on to adult services is excellent, with staff finding the right level of support for each individual young person's needs.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people receive an excellent standard of care. Young people enjoy genuine and meaningful relationships with the staff. A parent said, 'My son has built up trust with care staff and really enjoys going to the centre.’ All staff have high aspirations for the young people and this helps create a sense of belonging. One member of staff said, 'We look after young people from a variety of places around the word. We have Afro Caribbean, Polish and Asian young people and we are careful to determine their cultural needs and by working closely with the parents, we are able to put those needs into a care plan and ensure they are cared for in line with their unique requirements. The families are very grateful, as their beliefs are very important to them.’

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Quality of care

Young people are encouraged to express their views through regular young people's meetings using communication aids suitable to their level of comprehension. The centre promotes many different methods of communication and by taking their time, they are able to fully meet all the young people’s individual needs. Young people are actively involved in the running of the centre and recently helped choose new equipment for their interactive playroom. A parent said, 'The centre has a huge amount of games and toys and the staff are very creative with the children during playtime.’

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Quality of care

The short-breaks centre provides a clear complaints procedure and information about this is available to young people and their families in the Statement of Purpose and young person’s guide. Staff take any comments about practice seriously and would seek early resolution. However, no complaints have been made in writing or through any other means of communication, such as picture exchange.

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Quality of care

All young people receive packages of care that are specifically personalised to address particular support and medical needs. The recording of all accidents, the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medication, is managed in line with legal requirements. Procedures for the transfer of medication when a young person moves between school and the centre are thorough, preventing the opportunity for mistakes in any stage of the dispensing process. Staff receive regularly updated training in the administration of medication. First aid training prepares staff to deal with minor accidents or specific health related emergencies. Clear communication requirements ensure that parents are fully informed of any health related concerns or incidents. Young people have their dignity protected by staff when they are undertaking personal care.

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Quality of care

Young people are learning to understand the nutritional value of eating a good diet and the centre provides a healthy environment with wholesome home-cooked meals. They also have an appreciation of different cultures and a range of international cuisine. Needs relating to young people's cultural background and personal identity are identified and positively addressed in both daily living and care planning. For example, young people are encouraged and supported to explore their ethnic backgrounds.

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Quality of care

Young people enjoy staying in an environment which is homely, safe and well maintained. During each stay, where possible, the young person returns to the same themed bedroom. The whole house is uniquely personalised and child friendly with murals and decorations specifically child-focused. The layout of the unit is well- designed and fully adapted to ensure that young people with physical disabilities are able to move around freely. With living and communal areas being set at ground floor level the centre enables unrestricted access for those young people using wheelchairs. A comprehensive range of facilities include adapted bathing, overhead and mobile hoists in two bedrooms and fully purpose-built bathrooms incorporating specialised equipment. The centre has an excellent multi-sensory room and an interactive playroom that young people really enjoy spending time in. These facilities considerably improve children’s physical and emotional experiences and provide

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Quality of care

further specialised communication opportunities.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The service is outstanding at keeping children and young people safe and feeling safe. Young people benefit from effective arrangements to safeguard and promote their welfare. The centre is a local authority resource and so has direct links with the Local Safeguarding Board which delivers their training. All staff are competent and appropriately trained in safeguarding procedures. Any issues of a child protection nature are managed appropriately, ensuring the safety of the young person remains paramount.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Risk assessments and short-stay care plans are robust and reviewed regularly. Positive and negative changes in young people’s behaviour are constantly discussed and plans updated to meet their individual and changing needs. Effective behaviour management plans are in place, which promote de-escalation techniques rather than physical intervention, which is very rarely used.

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Safeguarding children and young people

A written procedure for action should young people go absent without authority is in place that follows national guidance and the children’s home's regulations. Where required and in accordance with individual care plans, parents and other people of significance in the lives of young people are aware that they would be immediately informed of any unauthorised absences. The physical security arrangements in place are robust but do not take away the homely atmosphere of the centre. High levels of staffing and the vigilant supervision of young people have meant there have been no occurrences requiring notification. Additionally, as a result of the high levels of supervision, staff report that bullying is not an issue of concern. A social worker said, 'The communication from the centre is very good, usually by telephone or emails. I am kept in touch with any issues relating to a young person that I have placed there.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from a very stable, competent and passionate staff team. The home has a comprehensive, robust recruitment and selection procedure. All staff working in the home are subject to strict vetting and monitoring systems to ensure the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The short-breaks service fully complies with local authority health and safety procedures. Staff receive training in safe moving and handling. For example, using overhead hoists, electric beds, specialised bathing areas and they have access to a mobile manual hoist; this facilitates safe personal handling practices. Regular fire safety checks, general checks and maintenance arrangements, ensure the home is physically safe and secure. Staff have received fire safety training to enable them to minimise the risks to young people in the event of a fire at the home. Fire drills are held at regular periods and all equipment is serviced regularly. This ensures that the centre is a safe place for young people to stay in and for staff to work in.

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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 centre that is competently and effectively managed in line with its Statement of Purpose. Management arrangements are clear and the centre is well resourced to ensure that young people receive excellent levels of support. The Statement of Purpose and young person's guide are kept under review and serve to inform young people, parents and placing authorities about the services available within the centre.

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Leadership and management

The stability of the team is a strength of the service, staff have a very good understanding of the needs of the individual young people in their care. There is a commitment from all staff to anti-discriminatory practice and to supporting individual's needs relating to their identity. Staff say they are well supported and regularly supervised. Mandatory training provided for all staff, ensures that the care team are fully equipped to meet the changing service requirements and needs of the young people. Additional specialist training, focused upon particular needs of individual young people, confirm that staff have skills to care for a broad range of disabilities. Staff are competent at the role they perform and have established positive relationships with young people, parents and other agencies. Feedback from stakeholders is highly complementary about the communication between the centre and them and about the commitment of staff to the young people.

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Leadership and management

The generous staffing complement ensures that there are always sufficient staff on shift to be able to respond to young people's needs. The low staff turnover and the stability of the diverse staff team ensure that the young people benefit from consistent care by a motivated staff team. A member of staff stated, 'We have a fantastic manager who always has time for us and I can talk to her about anything. Communication is effective and the young people love to come here, they are relaxed and happy.’

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Leadership and management

The service received no recommendations or requirements at the last inspection. The manager demonstrates an excellent awareness of the development needs of the service and there is a strong drive to improve care practices throughout. Quality assurance systems, in terms of monitoring under Regulation 34 and Regulation 33, are undertaken regularly. Where shortfalls are identified they are addressed quickly and thoroughly. The home also has a comprehensive quality assurance process for young people, parents, social workers and the staff team, which is incorporated in to the yearly development plan.

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Leadership and management

The centre ensures that young people benefit from receiving regular reviews of their care. Good communication tools used with the young people means their views are conveyed during the review process. A social worker said, 'We have regular reviews at the centre for the young people and the staff always prepare a report for me, which covers what the young person has been doing and how they are getting on. It also includes any achievements they have made and what improvements have been made in the previous six months of short stays. This is extremely useful to have this information prior to the review.’

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Leadership and management

Good quality records that are clear, comprehensive and up to date contribute to a real understanding of the young people's lives. All notifications of significant events relating to the protection of young people are reported to the appropriate authorities and appropriate action is taken.

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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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