Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Unique reference number SC380956 Inspection date 02/10/2013 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 09/01/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This local authority children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home provides a service for families with young people on the verge of coming into the care system and struggling to maintain their education. The short break is agreed with the young person and their families or carers. Stays at the home are short breaks of one or two nights' duration usually within a two-weekly period.

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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

Young people make good progress in a number of key areas. Notably they develop their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth; make improvements in their educational attendance; gain confidence in expressing their views and keep safe. As a result of the exceptional care they receive young people's welfare significantly improves. Young people feel cared for and valued which enables them to make progress in other areas. A young person said, 'I feel really protected and that they would care for me and that means a lot. I trust them completely, not just here every day but that they will always be here for me if I need them to be'.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people feel safe and good attention to safeguarding ensures they are safe. Young people particularly benefit from the strong, proactive approach to engaging them in positive, inclusive activities. This enables young people to learn social and life skills and develop more appropriate coping mechanisms. A parent stated, 'I think it’s brilliant, it’s a really good place. Being there really calms her down because she can get really irate. Decisions are made jointly and I can approach them at any time. They always contact me and she loves it there'.

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Overall effectiveness

This is a good home overall. The manager understands its strengths and has taken steps to secure further improvement in young people's care. This is evident in the excellent methods used to capture young people’s views on all aspects of their care. No breaches of regulation or shortfalls in meeting the national minimum standards are identified as a result of this inspection.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people build strong, nurturing relationships with staff as a result of engaging in positive inclusive activities. This effectively enables young people to build sustainable attachments while gaining confidence in forming relationships and their communication skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people’s holistic and individual needs are identified and planned for. As a result young people develop an understanding of their specific needs and their cultural backgrounds, thereby promoting their sense of self and belonging.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's holistic health needs are well met in line with their care plans. Young people are actively involved in working with staff in the home's vegetable garden and learning how to cook the food they produce. In addition, they participate in in regular exercise as a result of their engagement with the bicycle project and inclusion in organised activities. Consequently, young people learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and take pride in their improved personal fitness and food knowledge.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people are fully supported to attend school and the home support parents in identifying appropriate educational placements. As a result young people are able to progress to attendance in mainstream education provision. Young people further benefit from participation in the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) programme within the home. Young people earn certificates for a wide range of subjects, including practical and day-to-day life skills. Young people's confidence in their abilities and self-esteem are improved as they learn to enjoy learning and take pride in their achievements. A staff member said, 'the look on their face when they have achieved this and know they can do it is wonderful’.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people gain social and life skills through opportunities to make a positive contribution to their home and community. Involvement in planning re-decoration for the home and participating in the decorating itself allowed young people to invest in their time in the home while developing confidence in their choices. Involvement in the bicycle project within the community enhances young people’s social skills and confidence in their abilities to communicate with others.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The manager and staff have built good, effective relationships with parents. As a result some young people's relationships with their parents and family members are much improved. In addition, parents gain confidence in their abilities and that they will be supported by the home. Consequently young people are able to remain safely in the family home. A social worker wrote, 'just this week I have had a discussion where plans have been made for the respite staff to undertake some work with a young person around safe social media and relationships and in this the parents are to be given the information so that they can deliver the same messages. This was an outcome of listening to the parents request for this to happen'.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people learn a range of life skills within their time in the home. This effectively prepares those that are moving on to independence to understand what they will need to successfully prepare for adulthood.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Young people, their family members and professionals are consistently positive about the excellent support and care young people receive from the experienced, motivated staff team. Nurturing, enthusiastic staff members genuinely care for and respect each young person. Staff recognise when young people's anger and frustration at past life experiences is an issue and respond skilfully with sensitivity to enable young people to express their emotions safely. This effectively allows positive, caring relationships to be maintained. As a result, relationships between young people and staff are exceptional and young people are fully supported to make good progress. A young person said, 'since I have been coming here I have calmed right down and have learnt other ways of talking to people and how to walk away if I get angry'.

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Quality of care

Young people receive unswerving care in line with excellent individual placement and day-to-day care plans. Young people's individual and holistic needs are comprehensively addressed in care plans and once identified, followed through in practice. Listening to young people and incorporating their views in all aspects of their care is a major strength within this home. As a result young people feel individually valued and that they have a positive contribution to make in all aspects of their lives. Young people's increased confidence in their abilities empowers them to develop further skills and bolster their sense of self and well-being. A young person said 'they understand me here and help me understand myself'.

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Quality of care

Young people know how to make a complaint but there have not been any complaints made by them. They confidently use the ‘Niggles Book’ to request any changes sure in the knowledge that they will be heard. For example, change the night they are visiting. Young people's meetings and conversation with staff when engaged in activities together, such as the bicycle project, gardening or cooking, provide young people with further opportunities to express their wishes and views. As a result, young people learn negotiation skills and confidently express themselves both verbally and in writing in the knowledge that what they have to say will be heard and valued. A social worker commented, 'I know that the staff have endeavoured to make any necessary changes to meet the differing needs of the young people, especially those with additional needs'.

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Quality of care

The home works in partnership with young people's parents and social workers to ensure their holistic health needs are met. In addition the emphasis on healthy food and positive activities, for example, the bicycle project, allows young people to benefit from and enjoy discovering healthy lifestyles. Education is highly valued and young people learn new life and practical skills through their active involvement in the AQA programme within the home. This effectively promotes self-esteem and confidence in their abilities to learn. A member of staff stated, 'they learnt new skills in using their hands but also maths because they had to plan things and they learn to love bike riding and being out in the open and fresh air'.

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Quality of care

Young people thrive within a culture that enables and encourages them to participate in a range of inclusive activities both within the home and in the community. As a result, young people build social and life skills while making friends and having fun.

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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 feel safe within this home. A young person said 'this is a haven for me. I feel completely safe and I can trust everyone here'. A parent stated, '(name) absolutely loves coming here and loves all the staff. She feels safe here, the house is like her home'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Such are the positive relationships within the home and young people’s enthusiasm to stay for respite, there have not been any missing episodes. Comprehensive missing person protocols ensure that staff would know what to do if there were to be an episode.

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Safeguarding children and young people

An experienced, nurturing and enthusiastic staff team demonstrate positive behaviours to young people at all times. Staff fully understand young people's requirements. Individual behaviour management plans and risk assessments effectively encompass any special needs. Young people value their relationships with staff, learn alternative coping mechanisms and respond appropriately. As a result there has not been the need for any physical intervention or sanction for over a year. A social worker stated, 'the young person that I have placed here has Autistic Spectrum Disorder and has some impaired understanding of social situations and emotional understanding. Staff are aware and are able to support the young person to understand what is happening and how others might perceive things differently. They then help the young person to work out an appropriate way to respond.'

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Safeguarding children and young people

Strong local authority recruitment procedures are effectively applied ensuring that staff are carefully selected before appointment. The manager and staff fully understand their safeguarding responsibilities and reporting arrangements. Young people are effectively protected by these measures.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people's physical safety is assured by good health and safety procedures. Established systems for the routine checking and servicing of all fire equipment and other appliances are followed within requisite timescales. Regular practice evacuations, including at night-time, ensure that young people know how to leave the building safely and quickly in case 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

An experienced and committed manager knows the young people in her care well and is ambitious for their futures. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection. Nevertheless the manager has worked hard to ensure that improvements are made. This is amply demonstrated by the growth in methods used to capture young people’s views and wishes on all aspects of their care.

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Leadership and management

Local authorities, parents and young people receive full, comprehensive information about the service to be provided in the home's Statement of Purpose, children's guide and welcome pack. This ensures young people and their families make the choice of whether they want to attend the provision from a position of knowledge thereby promoting opportunities for success. Young people, their family members and professionals all report the significant impact attending for respite has had on young people. This is further evidenced by strong individual progress reports which young people can see now and will support them in later life. A young person said, 'they ask my opinion on everything and I can read everything about me and sign it'.

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Leadership and management

Regular monitoring of the home's operations ensures quality of care continues to meet young people's needs. Clear knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses are identified. The manager uses information gathered as part of the monitoring processes, including the physical environment, to inform development within the home and ensure the safety of young people in her care.

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Leadership and management

High staffing levels ensure the home meets the needs of the young people. All staff report that they receive good levels of support and supervision in order for them to continue in their roles. Staff are trained in all core areas and a strong training plan covers identified needs and refresher courses. Young people are cared for by staff who are qualified to meet their needs. An independent reviewing officer wrote, 'their (the staff) input has been invaluable, they are committed to working with the social worker and other agencies in relation to any issues arising with the child. Including how to keep them safe from harm and some intricate work around relationships'.

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Leadership and management

Young people are protected by multi-agency decision making as the manager communicates with and notifies agencies, including Ofsted, of any significant incidents. Comprehensive records provide a clear view of young people's day-to-day lives and progress. Records contribute to young people's understanding of their development now and for the future. Records are securely kept and diligently maintained.

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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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