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

Unique reference number SC472449 Inspection date 26/02/2014 Inspector Lynne Busby Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Date of last inspection 10/12/2013 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Brief description of the service

This children's home, run by a local authority, provides care for five young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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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 is the first full inspection as it is a new purpose built children's home. The staff and children moved from an existing home in December 2013.

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Overall effectiveness

The outcomes achieved by the young people are impressive when compared to their starting point on admission to the home. This is particularly notable in their education and attendance, developing their personal identity and confidence. Young people have had opportunities to maximise their learning through staff support and all achievements are celebrated.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people respond positively to the ethos of the home where they are valued and supported. This has enabled them to develop strong relationships with staff. Young people say, 'staff are always there to help'. Care planning is highly individualised and inclusive, reflecting young people's views. There is an excellent monitoring system which ensures plans are up-to-date and clearly indicate outcomes young people are working towards.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's heath and well-being is given high priority. Young people are encouraged to develop healthy lifestyles through diet and exercise. Staff work closely with health professionals who say ''staff ensure health needs are fully met and will request advice and support where required'.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's views are central to the home and there are a range of opportunities which they can participate in both within the home and the wider community. This includes young people's meetings, anti-bullying conferences and the children in care council. These ensure young people are fully included in all levels of decision making which affects their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

The manager and staff are passionate about improving outcomes and have a clear agenda to ensure young people have the best opportunities to increase life chances.

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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 have made exceptional progress since coming to live in the home. This has been enabled by a committed and experienced staff team who provide a nurturing supportive environment; where young people are able to progress both socially and emotionally and develop a sense of belonging.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from having clear contact arrangements which are set out in their care plans. Staff work closely with parents and professionals to ensure appropriate and constructive contact is facilitated. Parents say that ''the staff are all brilliant we could not wish for better'. Where appropriate young people's friends and family can visit and are welcome to stay for meals. This promotes a relaxed environment for young people to enjoy contact.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people have progressed significantly in their attendance at school. Achievements are recognised and celebrated both through awards from school and praise from staff. Young people have aspirations for their future careers. Staff have been supportive in enabling young people to overcome educational barriers as some had limited attendance in education before they lived at the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people's health needs are very well met. Young people are encouraged to have an understanding of their own health needs. Staff work sensitively with young people where body image is a factor, promoting healthy eating rather than dieting. The benefits of physical exercise is encouraged and young people play football, bike ride and go to the gym.

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Outcomes for children and young people

Young people benefit from individualised programmes for preparation for adulthood. For example, attendance at a short course which provides opportunities to understand the skills required to live independently. The home encourages young people to have bank accounts and develop financial skills. Developing life skills is an integral part of the home and all young people help prepare and cook meals and are responsible for their laundry. These skills help young people develop confidence and builds their self-esteem in preparing for adult life.

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Outcomes for children and young people

The culture and ethos of the home is to treat young people as individuals and develop mutual respect. This enables young people to manage their behaviours and do not engage in risk taking or offending behaviours.

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Quality of care

The quality of the care is outstanding . Young people benefit from excellent relationships with staff. Practice is exceptionally child-centred and personalised. Young people say staff care about them and one said 'my key worker is like another mum'. Staff are skilled and imaginative in ways of working with young people to ensure they have positive experiences that build resilience and expand horizons.

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Quality of care

Young people are fully supported in education and staff liaise with schools. Staff have consistently high aspirations for all young people and attend open evening and education planning meetings so they have a clear understanding of how young people are achieving. Young people's learning is promoted in the home with opportunities to complete other training such as first aid. This is excellent and promotes young people's learning with staff support.

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Quality of care

Young people's views are taken seriously they are consulted about all aspects of their life and about living in the home. Young people's views were central to the move to the new home. They were consulted about decorations, furnishings for bedrooms and visited the site while it was being built. This demonstrated that this was their home and helped with the move. Young people are eager to show visitors round and are proud of their bedrooms which are personalised and reflect their identity.

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Quality of care

Young people attend regular children's meetings which are independently chaired. There is also an advocate and young people are clear about their role. Young people say they feel listened to and know how to make a complaint. However, all young people say they are happy and settled and like living in the home.

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Quality of care

Care plans are comprehensive and provide information that focuses on individual need including cultural, religious and personal identities. Young people are clear about their plans for the future and attend their reviews which some have an opportunity to chair. This is excellent practice clearly indicating this is their review. Senior staff carry out monitoring of care plans to ensure all information is up-to-date and well recorded.

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Quality of care

Staff have developed strong working practices with partner agencies such as the looked after children's nurse and the child and adolescent mental health service. These services offer advice and guidance to staff which ensures young people's individual needs are identified and met. Young people are supported with sexual health, substance misuse issues and there has been some success with smoking cessation support.

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Quality of care

Young people have opportunities to participate in a range of activities such as attending football, bowling, trips to France and London. Staff ensure young people's individual interests are taken into account. All provide valuable experiences which expand young people's horizons.

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Quality of care

The home is maintained to a high standard. The communal areas are bright and homely and give young people a space where they can relax and watch television, play computer games or socialise with each other.

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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 say they are safe and feel safe. When young people are away from the home staff will contact the them either by texting or ringing to make sure they are safe. Young people say 'they nag but it's only because they want us to be safe'. Staff are well trained and are fully aware of child protection procedures which they follow in practice if required. They are aware of the whistleblowing procedure and feel confident they would be supported if necessary. There are excellent opportunities for staff to be involved in other safeguarding projects such as 'harmful sexual behaviour practitioners group'. This expands staff opportunities to develop networks and gain knowledge which can be disseminated to the staff team.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people recognise that at times there is bullying but staff intervene and challenge any issues. Bullying is high on the agenda of the home with some young people taking on the role of anti-bullying ambassadors for the region and attends national events. Young people and staff are proud of their achievements. They will attend local events and schools to give information about anti-bullying, which is innovative practice. This provides young people with opportunities to help others and develop skills for life.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people have developed trusting relationships with staff and say they are available to talk to if they have any concerns. Young people say they know how to make a complaint and feel listened to. There are a number of people who young people can see including an independent advocate and complaints officer. Social care professionals say 'Staff have empowered young people to take things forward if they have any issues'.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people benefit from clear behaviour management strategies which are individualised, Staff support young people to make positive relationships and develop skills in managing their own behaviours. This has resulted in few physical interventions. Sanctions are fair and proportionate

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Safeguarding children and young people

Recruitment and selection processes are robust. These measures positively promote the safety of the young people by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them. Young people are included in the recruitment process following training and are fully supported by the participation officer in being part of the decision making for new staff.

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Safeguarding children and young people

Young people live in a home that has been newly built to high specifications. Regular checks are completed on all electrical, gas and fire safety to ensure they remain in good working order. Risk assessments are undertaken on the building and grounds which alert staff to any hazards.

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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 manager is very experienced and provides strong leadership and has a passion for continuing improvement in care practices at the home. The staff group are mainly well-established and are dedicated to delivering tailored care to support young people's individual needs. This is evident in the progress young people have made in particular how they have been empowered to voice their opinions and contribute to the running of the home.

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Leadership and management

Staffing levels are appropriate to meet young people's needs. Staff are well supported through regular supervisions, annual appraisals and training and development which is given a high priority and ensures they are kept up-to-date with professional practice information.

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Leadership and management

The Statement of Purpose sets out the aims and functions of the service. The home meets the aims and objectives of this document. This is available to all interested parties. The children's guide is colourful with information about the home and includes useful contact numbers such as children's rights.

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Leadership and management

There are robust monitoring systems in place to ensure the home is providing good levels of care. The manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and areas for further improvements. There is a realistic development plan with timescales for completion. A monthly visit is undertaken by a person external to the home and any recommendations are actioned by the manager.

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Leadership and management

Young people are central to the running of the home and the wider organisations. They are involved in meetings about their future and all are confident to express their views. The manager and staff have excellent links with organisations in the area that give support and guidance to young people and promotes their safety.

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Leadership and management

There were no requirements or recommendations raised at the last inspection.

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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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