Children's home run by City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council in Bradford

Unique reference number SC431696 Inspection date 26/11/2013 Inspector Angela Whiteley Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 19/08/2013 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 local authority children's home is registered to provide a short breaks service for up to 10 children and young people with a learning and/or a physical disability, many of whom have other very complex health needs, including sensory impairment.

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Brief description of the service

The service operates from a building which has been specifically adapted to meet the needs of children and young people with disabilities. Accommodation is on one level with two separate sensory rooms and a hydro-therapy pool. The home is equipped with hoists, adapted bathroom and toilet facilities.

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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

Children and young people enjoy short breaks in a safe and stimulating environment with high levels of support. Professionals speak positively about strong communication links with staff, and families confirm they are very happy with the care provided and the support and advice they receive.

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people have highly personalised and well-planned packages of care. Detailed risk assessments and health care plans are tailored to individual needs. Documents are reviewed regularly through consultation with parents, carers and nursing professionals to keep children and young people safe. However, some young people do not have up-to-date placing authority care plans or pathway plans. Staff are proactive in chasing these missing documents and request meetings where changes in care packages are needed. This ensures young people are cared for in line with their individual plans and have opportunity to understand and contribute to their reviews.

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Overall effectiveness

Most children and young people who visit this service have no verbal communication. Staff use a variety of communication techniques to consult with children and young people about their care, such as gestures, body language, pictures, touch and sign language. The introduction of young people’s meetings gives further opportunity for them to express their views and wishes.

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people benefit from excellent relationships with staff that they trust to keep them safe. The staff team have a wealth of experience and knowledge and fully understand the complex needs of the children and young people who visit the service for short breaks. Staff receive specific training and have individual training plans to ensure they have the level of skill required to care for children and young people who have profound physical and learning difficulties and highly complex health needs.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager has a good overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and demonstrates a commitment to developing the service further. An area for development is identified in respect of staff recruitment processes. This is an administrative shortfall and does not impact on the quality of care or outcomes for children and young people.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure young people's files contain all the information and documents specified in Schedule 3 of this regulation. In particular, ensure there is an up to date, signed copy of the placing authority plan for the care of the child or pathway plan. (Regulation 28 (1)(a-c) & Schedule 3 (18)) 14/01/2014

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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 all personnel responsible for recruitment and selection of staff consistently follow good recruitment practice. In particular, ensure thorough checking and recording of the reasons for gaps in employment history. (NMS 16.2)

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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

Children and young people who visit this short break service gain huge benefit from their long-term care arrangements. They receive high levels of care from competent, well-trained staff team that know them and their family well. This gives children and young people stability and familiarity of their surroundings. They have the opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves in a stimulating environment and achieve significant personal milestones at their own pace.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people are supported by staff to maintain the highest level of physical and emotional health. Staff recognise and respond promptly to any health issues. Detailed individual health care plans provide clear information for staff enabling them to manage the daily complex health needs of children and young people. The home has a range of aids and adaptations to facilitate and promote safe care. For example specialist high-sided cot beds, hoists and adapted bathrooms. This enables children and young people to be as comfortable and independent as possible.

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Outcomes for children and young people

A dedicated cook provides children and young people with healthy and nutritious meals that take full account of their likes, dislikes and religious requirements, while following health required diet plans. Some children and young people are gastrostomy fed; others have specific diet plans. Some are encouraged to feed themselves or are supported by staff at meal times this promotes their health and well-being. Meals are a social occasion taken at a large family dining table creating an inclusive environment.

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Outcomes for children and young people

As a result of access to a wide range of experiences, children and young people make exceptional progress in developing their skills and confidence. They fully participate in a number of diverse activities of their own choosing, both within the home and the wider community. Examples of this include, arts and crafts, walks, and visits to the park, garden centre and donkey sanctuary. Access to their own transport widens opportunities further and has enabled visits to take place to the seaside and sea-life centre.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Children and young people visit the home up to two nights a week and occasionally have longer stays. They benefit from a strong sense of identity, reinforced by their families. Parents regularly telephone the home and receive reassurance from staff about their child. This level of contact reassures children and young people and helps them to settle quickly.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding .

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Quality of care

Children and young people show how happy they are during their visits to the home through their gestures, behaviour, facial expressions and sounds. Staff use individual communication techniques developed through discussions with school staff, parents and other professionals. This enables children and young people to express their views and wishes and contribute to the running of the home and to their care planning. Children and young people are encouraged to bring their favourite bedding and toys and to personalise their bedrooms with photographs, pictures and their own art work.

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Quality of care

Children and young people receive quality care from a stable staff team that know them and their families well. Staff promote individuality and show high regard for children and young people’s dignity they are treated with respect and sensitivity to help develop confidence and self-esteem. An independent reviewing officer said, ‘staff work closely with parents, it’s a very welcoming culture.’

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Quality of care

Staff are proactive in their support of children and young people’s education, health and activities. There is excellent access to support services to meet complex health needs such as, the continuing care nursing team, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians and speech and language therapists. Staff receive specialist health training to ensure they have the skills to manage individual children and young people’s medical needs. Multi-agency professionals regularly review plans to reflect children and young people’s needs. This ensures children and young people receive continuity of care and support at a level that they require.

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Quality of care

While parents directly oversee their children and young people’s education, staff promote attendance and celebrate all achievements. Staff have excellent links with schools and regularly visit and attend educational review meetings to ensure educational needs remain fully met. They promote diversity and cultural needs through detailed placement planning and demonstrate that inclusion is an important area of care planning. Staff optimise every opportunity to help children and young people engage in the wider community which helps build confidence and self- esteem.

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Quality of care

Children and young people enjoy a caring and nurturing environment. The home provides a safe, spacious, stimulating and welcoming environment. All areas are accessible by all children and young people. A well-designed sensory room, a hydro- therapy pool and secure outdoor play space with adventure play equipment provides additional opportunities for children and young people to develop skills and confidence and to enjoy themselves in a safe environment.

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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

Children and young people are safe at the home, and their parents also feel that they are safe there. This is because staff have an excellent understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures and understand the particular vulnerabilities in relation to children and young people’s complex needs. Staff receive quality training, which enables them to respond promptly to any concerns about children and young people’s welfare. Detailed care plans and individual risk and health assessments are reviewed regularly by multi-professionals, which helps to protect children and young people from harm. There are no child protection referrals from this home.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children and young people enjoy their short breaks in an environment where staff are highly vigilant to the potential for any risk of harm. The very high levels of supervision ensure any inappropriate behaviour is managed sensitively and in line with individual behaviour management plans. There are no issues of bullying at this home. Staff are trained in the appropriate use of physical restraint, but rarely use any form of physical intervention, preferring to use guidance, support and re- direction. There are no incidents of children or young people going missing from the home and sanctions are not used.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Arrangements for dealing with medication are safe and effectively managed. This means children and young people receive the correct medication when they need it.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children and young people are safeguarded by strong recruitment procedures, which ensure only adults suitable to work with vulnerable children and young people are employed at the home. However, some employment history checks are not sufficiently detailed and may potentially place children and young people at risk of harm. The Registered Manger is addressing this discrepancy through supervision confirming and recording more accurate dates and details of any gaps in employment history. This has had no negative impact on the outcomes for children. There are also suitable systems in place to ensure that visitors to the home are suitably vetted and supervised to protect children and young people.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Children and young people live in a physically safe environment. They are protected from hazards by effective health and safety procedures being put into practice. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks to ensure premises are safe. Additionally, a full fire evacuation drill has been completed to ensure staff; children and young people know what to do in case of an emergency evacuation.

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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

Children and young people benefit from their short break stays because the Registered Manager manages the home effectively. She is very experienced and qualified and is assisted in her management tasks by a competent and experienced deputy and senior family support worker. The long established staff team are supported to undertake their roles through the provision of quality training and regular supervision and team meetings. Staff feel valued by their managers and say they are very happy with the support they receive.

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Leadership and management

Staffing ratios are high to ensure children and young people receive the high levels of support detailed in their care plans. The team offer a good balance of age, gender and ethnicity, which respects the personal care needs of children and young people. Partnership working with parents is a particular strength of the home. Staff not only support and care for the needs of the children and young people and help them give their views about their care. They also understand the needs of the families and have excellent communication with them, which helps to inform care planning.

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Leadership and management

The Registered Manager uses monthly monitoring reports to improve the provision of care for children and young people. Independent scrutiny of the home is also an effective monitoring mechanism. The Registered Manager has ensured the recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met. She fully understands the strengths of the home and speedily addresses any shortfalls to improve outcomes for children and young people. The home has a comprehensive development plan that is reviewed regularly to drive forward further improvements. Other improvements have been made, such as the refurbishment of the sensory room and improving links with adult service providers. This demonstrates to children and young people that they are valued by the service.

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Leadership and management

Children and young people’s records are well organised and generally present a good overall picture of their experiences at the home. However some placing authority care plans and pathway plans are not up-to-date or are missing. The absence of this information hinders staff in supporting children and young people, particularly at times of transition to adult services. This does not allow children and young people a full understanding of their care journey. Although this has minimum impact on children and young people as plans are regularly reviewed and are progressing a requirement is raised to enable the home to maintain compliance with regulations.

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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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