Children's Home run by N H Care Limited in Birmingham

Unique reference number SC432966 Inspection date 26/03/2013 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 25/10/2012 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This is home is part of a private children's care organisation and is registered to accommodate four young people with learning disabilities; one child may also have a physical disability.

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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 home provides exceptional standards of care for young people who have autism, learning disabilities and associated physical disabilities. They benefit from highly individualised and well planned care, based on a comprehensive assessment of their unique needs. The service is highly valued by parents and professionals. A relative of one of the young people who lives in the home stated ‘I could not desire any better. They treat him like their own. He is happy and so I am happy.’

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Overall effectiveness

Effectively managed staff teams provide an exceptional quality of care. Young people are valued and develop within this service. Young people are safe and say they feel safe. Safeguarding practices are sound and young people learn how to keep themselves safe. The home provides clear individualised, well-planned care taking into account the diverse needs of the young people. The outcomes achieved by young people are exceptional and the impact that the home has had in supporting this progress and achieving these outcomes is clearly evidenced.

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Overall effectiveness

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 about their care are actively sought, valued and acted upon. This means young people contribute to how the home operates and to the delivery of care.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people receive high levels of support and guidance to attend and achieve at school. They are encouraged to participate in a wide range of activities. Young people have their health promoted and are taught how to keep themselves healthy. Young people receive support from a committed, knowledgeable and experienced staff team. Relationships between young people and staff are excellent and young people are positive about the home, staff, manager and quality of care.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager is highly motivated, dedicated and enthusiastic. She provides strong leadership to ensure the delivery of consistent and meticulous standards of care. The manager continually strives to achieve better outcomes for the young people. The implementation of rigorous and effective monitoring processes provides 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 recommendations or requirements as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Outcomes for young people are outstanding .

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people thrive and develop within this home. They are nurtured and valued. They benefit from consistency in care and boundaries. Young people learn to develop positive attachments and relationships with carers. As a result, young people develop improved emotional resilience and gain a positive self-view. For example a professional described the progress of one young person who has suffered considerable emotional trauma; ‘The stability of the environment has helped him to come to terms with his trauma. They want to make sure he feels loved, and valued. He has struggled to build relationships but with the consistency of the staff and their understanding of his needs, he is progressing very well in this area.’

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are receiving an outstanding service that is clearly focused on their emotional well-being and health needs. Young people have very detailed health care plans as part of their wider placement plan. This means their physical, psychological and emotional needs are met. This is underpinned by effective reviewing of progress and close liaison with relevant professionals. The home's manager and staff act as strong advocates for the needs of young people in relation to accessing external advice and services. Young people are able to access therapeutic support to help them learn about and deal with specific emotional issues that are affecting their lives

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have excellent attendance and make exceptional progress in education. A head teacher stated in relation to one young person, ‘There has been an immense improvement in attendance and participation since being in their care. Behaviours, attitude and social presentation are all tremendously improved.’ One education professional commented ‘The home is proactive with the school to communicate about behaviours which may transfer through the day. They want to ensure there is continuity of care for the young person.’ The continuity and consistency in behaviour management approach from both the school and home has enabled young people to thrive in education.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from regular and appropriate contact with their families and friends. This enables them to develop and sustain positive relationships with those people who are important to them. Staff encourage the families to feel part of the home and to visit regularly. The staff team work sensitively and flexibly to promote positive contacts. Specifically tailored contact arrangements are organised wherever possible, according to the needs of those involved, for the benefit of the young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The promotion of equality and diversity is an outstanding strength of the home. Young people have their diverse cultural, religious and identity needs met by an enthusiastic staff team. Creative strategies used enable young people to have knowledge and understanding of their culture and background. One example is a young person learning the Arabic alphabet through the use of an electronic tablet. This enables him to learn about and engage with his religion. Young people attend community events and themed events occur in-house around cultural and religious festivals. This means young people participate in community involvement and exercise citizenship. As a result, their knowledge and tolerance of other religions and cultures is further developed.

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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, through a variety of methods, communicate their views. As a result, young people are supported into adulthood in contributing to choices made about their futures. They feel involved, respected and valued.

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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 outstanding quality of care at the home. Staff have consistently high aspirations for all young people and place the well-being of young people at the centre of their professional practice. They are conscientious in developing new knowledge and skills to improve the delivery of care. For example one member of staff is currently studying for a degree in Mental Health studies and the Registered Manager is progressing her professional skills.

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Quality of care

The home has a commitment to inclusion and participation. Young people grow in confidence and flourish with the quality of the care they receive. They are empowered because they have individualised communication strategies which utilise a range of non-verbal communication methods. Young people are more self-assured because they can give meaning to and communicate about their daily care, education and experiences. Young people feel empowered and enabled to have a say about their care and future plans.

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Quality of care

Young people receive a children’s guide in a variety of formats. This contains comprehensive information on their care, advocacy, contacts and the details for Ofsted and the Children’s Rights Director. Young people know how to make a complaint to staff and outside agencies. There have been no complaints from young people since the last inspection. A robust procedure is in place should young people raise concerns. Care plans, placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are highly individualised, exceptionally comprehensive, detailed and up to date. Placement planning is proactive and ensures that young people are involved in contributing to their care. Regular reviews of plans ensure young people receive consistent care and that the staff team has clarity to provide effective support to children.

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Quality of care

Young people's health and safety is effectively promoted through the home's policies and procedures for the safe storage and administration of medication. Medication is very well managed. This ensures that the health needs of young people are fully promoted. Regular audits of medication levels and checks on records ensure that medication is always correctly administered. Staff are able to respond to accidents and unforeseen medical needs because they have access to first aid boxes and have been trained in basic first aid skills. Young people's health and safety is further promoted through consistent monitoring of all accidents and injuries that occur in the home.

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Quality of care

Staff build exceptionally effective partnerships with external agencies and social work professionals. One professional discussed working with the home to secure a re- assessment of a young person’s disability. The worker commented ‘They are being a voice for him and fighting his corner. They are focused on the long-term to enable him to achieve his potential.’ Another social worker stated ‘I have timed my visits to observe staff interactions and see the routines which they have. The observations were very positive the staff and manager are highly skilled in working with the young people and engaging them positively. It was a relaxed and organised atmosphere. It was very positive; let me say I left smiling.’

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Quality of care

Young people benefit from an environment that meets the individual needs of the young people who live there. The standard of décor and the furnishings throughout the home is excellent. The accommodation is spacious and offers space for communal and independent time. Young people are able to personalise their bedrooms and this ensures that their individual tastes and preferences are respected and valued.

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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 are safe and say unequivocally that they feel safe. Stringent work practices and comprehensive, regularly updated risk assessments ensure that young people are safe from harm and their welfare is fully promoted. Robust safeguarding policies and procedures are effectively implemented by a well-trained and competent staff team. The safeguarding policies ensure that safeguarding practice is responsive to the needs of disabled children. This results in an environment that is protective, nurturing and alert to any concerns. Staff have a robust understanding of safeguarding issues and consistently review safe working practices to ensure they meet individual children’s needs. Staff participate in a range of safeguarding training which is refreshed regularly. In addition, team training sessions reinforce existing knowledge and make sure that child protection knowledge is up to date. This results in a staff team that are fully

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Safeguarding children and young people

competent in recognising and responding appropriately to concerns over the safety of young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no reported incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. 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 practices and high levels of supervision ensure young people are kept safe and do not go missing. All staff are clear about how to quickly act to protect young people if a missing incident occurred.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Staff promote positive behaviour among young people at all times. Young people benefit from individualised reward and incentive schemes and are encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour. Young people say that the rules of the home are fair. Records demonstrate that good behaviour is recognised and rewarded. Sanctions are rarely used, but when they are used they are proportionate, fair and effective.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Restraint is rarely used at the home and only for the purpose of protecting young people from serious harm. There have been minimal physical interventions within this home since the last inspection. The use of restraint has not been a characteristic of the home’s approach to behaviour management. Staff are suitably trained to undertake any physical intervention and recording of such incidents is in line with the legislative framework. A proactive staff team, focused on promoting positive behaviour, ensures behaviour management is focused on diversion, distraction and de-escalation.

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Safeguarding children and young people

The recruitment processes in the home are highly effective. All staff are subject to rigorous checks prior to starting employment in the home. As a result, young people are protected from access to adults who may wish to cause them harm. The staff team are stable and largely unchanged since the last inspection. Where new staff have joined, they are appropriately recruited and supported by a thorough training programme.

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Safeguarding children and young people

There have been no allegations or complaints made since the last inspection and young people report no incidents of bullying within the home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that provides an appropriate level of security to ensure their safety and well-being. Fire evacuation procedures are practised regularly and are understood by staff and young people. Regular fire, maintenance and equipment checks further promote the safety of young people. Maintenance within the home is of an extremely high standard, with staff implementing consistent monitoring and security to ensure the safety of children.

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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 home is exceptional. The Registered Manager is highly knowledgeable, motivated and passionate about delivering the highest standards to the young people and families who use the home. The manager is ambitious and has a clear vision for the direction of the home. Young people’s needs are secured because the operation of the provision is dedicated to improving their outcomes.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager has effectively addressed the requirement and two recommendations raised at the previous inspection. Consequently, the requirement relating to staff training ensures robust standards of care delivery. The recommendations relating to the home’s protocol for young people missing from care and engaging advocacy services means multi-agency partnerships provide enhanced levels of safeguarding for young people. Young people benefit from a home which demonstrates a capacity for continuing improvement.

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Leadership and management

Young people receive outstanding care from a committed, cohesive and stable staff team. The team functions efficiently and there are clear roles and responsibilities. The management and staff team function effectively and ensure consistently high standards are achieved in the delivery of care to young people.

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Leadership and management

Leadership is inspiring and stimulates the enthusiasm of staff. Staff feel supported and enabled to progress their own professional skills and knowledge. They receive consistent and regular supervision. This results in a staff team that are able to share their concerns and discuss their ideas for improvement. Staff training needs are well met through the provision of a high quality training programme. Furthermore, staff are encouraged to further develop their knowledge and skills as part of their continuing professional development. All staff hold a recognised qualification, or are working towards one, to enable them to support young people effectively and improve the quality of care provided. Young people achieve significantly improved outcomes because of the highly competent staff team.

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Leadership and management

There are clear development plans to promote improvement for young people, staff and the home environment. The development of the home is based upon the needs and outcomes for the young people. The effective operation of the home is further reinforced with rigorous monitoring arrangements. Extensive and detailed quality assurance systems are undertaken internally and by external visitors. Rigorous monitoring and effective management of the home drives continued improvement.

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Leadership and management

Young people's records are up to date, comprehensive and stored securely. They contribute to a thorough understanding of the young person's life, experiences and plans for the future. Young people are encouraged to participate in work to record their time at the home. Young people benefit from staff helping complete memory books in very creative ways. The Registered Manager has systems in place to notify relevant agencies, including Ofsted, of significant events to ensure the protection of young people by multi- agency decision making. There have been no serious incidents requiring notification to statutory bodies since the last inspection.

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Leadership and management

There are no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection. The staff and management team continues to demonstrate a high commitment to delivering exceptional standards of care to young people.

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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 and the evaluation schedule for the inspection of children's homes.

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