Children's Home, Residential special school run by The Senad Group Limited in Derbyshire

Unique reference number SC404596 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Registered person The Senad Group Limited Registered person address 1 St. Georges House Vernon Gate DERBY DE1 1UQ Responsible individual Mark Flynn Registered manager Karen Patricia Parkinson Date of last inspection 26/11/2013 2 of 10 Inspection date 13/08/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness adequate

Outcomes for children and young people good Quality of care good Keeping children and young people safe adequate Leadership and management adequate

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Overall effectiveness

This home had a full inspection in July 2014 with an overall judgment of inadequate. This inspection has judged the home to be providing an adequate service. Leaders and managers have ensured robust action plans have been implemented to resolve shortfalls. This has resulted in clear improvement since the last inspection.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people's health needs are promoted through routine and specialist health care. They are encouraged to have a well-balanced diet and active lifestyle. They make good progress in engaging with school and further education. Preparation for independence is effective and provides opportunities for young people to develop skills for independent living.

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Overall effectiveness

Safeguarding practices promote the safety of young people. Where young people exhibit risk taking behaviours, the home are proactive in multi-agency working to safeguard young people and minimise risks.

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Overall effectiveness

Two requirements have been made as a result of this inspection. These relate to staff training and children’s records. These factors do not have an adverse impact on the care of young people. 3 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned service forms part of a residential school. It accommodates up to 56 young people who have communication difficulties or are diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/11/2013 Interim good progress 02/07/2013 Full good 24/01/2013 Interim inadequate progress 03/07/2012 Full good

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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 that all persons employed receive appropriate training, with specific regard to self- harm training (Regulation 27 (4) (a)) 10/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure the home maintains in respect of each child who is accommodated in a children's home a permanent, up to date, signed and dated record which includes the information in Schedule 3, which ensures these records provide clarity in regards to current care planning. (Regulation 28) 10/09/2014 4 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people speak positively about staff and managers. These trusting relationships increase young people’s ability to form and sustain attachments with staff. Consequently, young people’s social development and emotional resilience improve, leading to improved positive self-esteem.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people benefit from excellent educational attainment and attendance. They attend the provider's registered school, with some progressing to further education, undertaking academic and vocational studies. A social worker said of a young person 'He has really progressed since moving to the home. He has come on leaps and bounds. He did not attend school for three years and now he attends school, he is more social, confident, has improved self-esteem and now engages in activities.' This means young people's life chances in adulthood are likely to increase through successful engagement and achievement in education.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people have made very good progress in their health. They experience routine health care, healthy diets and active lifestyles. They benefit from advice, guidance and support by staff and other professionals on a range of issues, including access to a range of in-house therapists. Consequently, this leads to improved overall health outcomes for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Incidents of risk taking behaviours are infrequent. Some young people engage in risk- taking behaviours, including self-injurious behaviours. In such circumstances, clear multi-disciplinary safeguarding processes provide a robust response. This means the home minimises potential risk and promotes improved outcomes for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people and their families benefit from regular and appropriate contact. This enables young people to develop and maintain their identity. Additionally it ensures young people sustain positive relationships with those people who are important to them.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people develop skills that will benefit them as they move into adulthood. They learn skills such as, cooking, shopping, laundry and maintaining their own living space. These improved skills enable young people to build upon their ability to care for themselves with their eventual move to independence.

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Quality of care good

5 of 10 Young people progress because of the quality of the care they receive. They develop positive and constructive relationships with the staff team and with each other. One young person who has lived in the home for several years and has progressed to the semi-independent accommodation said 'The staff are great. They are always here, they let you develop your skills and become more independent, but support is there if you want and need it.' A parent said 'Care is excellent. My daughter is happier than she has ever been. She is relaxed, content, achieving and surpassing what we expected.'

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Quality of care good

Young people feel they are able to express their views and feelings and contribute to the running of the home. Some young people feel that as they get older they prefer one-to-one time with staff, in preference to young people's meetings. Young person's meetings are still held and often led by the young people. The recruitment of a new Head of Care included some young people being involved in the recruitment process. These combined processes mean young people are actively involved in the running of the home and in their individual care.

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Quality of care good

All young people have individualised care plans, behaviour plans and risk assessments in place. Plans are inclusive of identified needs including those relating to culture, religion, language and ethnicity. Long serving managers and staff understand the needs and current circumstances of young people. However, some plans are not clearly linked, and as such, lack the necessary clarity to provide an overview of young people and their current circumstances. This has the potential to impact on young people. New or relief staff are likely to struggle to meet young people’s needs, without having information which summarises the current holistic needs of young people.

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Quality of care good

Staff work proactively with a range of professionals to meet the specific needs of young people. This means a multi-agency team works cohesively to improve outcomes for young people. One professional stated 'The staff are very good and I am regularly updated.'

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Quality of care good

Young people access relevant services to meet their physical, psychological and emotional needs. Staff support young people with routine health examinations and ensure prompt treatment when young people are ill or have had an accident. Young people benefit from the input of a team of therapists. Additionally, staff participate in consultations with a psychotherapist to gain a better understanding of the psychological and emotional needs of individual young people. This integrated health care provision ensures young people’s holistic health care needs are met.

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Quality of care good

Arrangements for the administration and recording of medication have improved since the last inspection. The administration and recording is in line with the homes' medication policy. All staff have now completed necessary medication training. Improved arrangements to the auditing of medication ensure that any discrepancies are highlighted in a timely manner. Consequently, these combined improvements ensure a robust medication process protects young people from potential medication 6 of 10 errors.

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Quality of care good

Education is central to the home's provision, with young people moving to the college after attending the providers registered school. Education and care staff have effective communication regarding the education and care routines. As a result, young people are making progress towards achieving their goals.

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Quality of care good

Staff ensure young people participate in a range of purposeful and enjoyable activities. At the time of the inspection a comprehensive plan of activities for the summer holidays were being enjoyed by young people, including Spa days, trips to places of interest, theme parks, meals out and a wide range of sporting activities. Young people confirm that they are given choices in respect of activities they would like to participate in and are given free time to socialise with friends away from the home and in the local community. This ensures they develop their social skills, confidence, friendship networks and their sense of independence.

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Quality of care good

Young people benefit from a spacious home, which is designed and maintained to good standards. The interior and exterior of the home are ideal for ensuring that young people are kept safe and benefit from surroundings that provide opportunity for privacy and communal living.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people report feeling safe living in this home. One young person said 'I feel safe here because staff put things in place to make me feel safe, keep me busy, make me feel happy, look after me. I feel safe because I can discuss things with them.' They confirm that there is no bullying in the home and have confidence, that if bullying did occur, staff would effectively deal with it.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The management team have implemented improved arrangements to ensure robust care provision for young people who self-harm. Staff awareness in relation to self- injurious behaviours has improved because the manager has provided staff with training resources about self-harm. The home have utilised a senior staff members' knowledge on mental health issues to provide workshops at team meetings. However, external training is not available until September. Further improvements include the direct input of a psychotherapist, occupational and speech and language therapist to work with young people who self-harm. Some young people do continue to exhibit self-injurious behaviours, however when such incidents occur, risk assessments, care planning and staffing ratios are reviewed in line with emerging risks and needs. Consequently, staff have the necessary clarity to effectively support young people and risks are minimised through responsive care provision.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Young people rarely go missing from care in this home. Since the last inspection the missing from care policy and procedures have been improved in line with amended regulation. The policy is being reviewed by the local police service. This will ensure 7 of 10 the providers’ policy is compatible with current statutory guidance and protocols. These combined improvements are intended to ensure effective action if a young person were to go missing.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

Fire safety arrangements are more robust, with fire drills undertaken more frequently. This ensures all young people know how to evacuate the home and are kept safe.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The use of physical restraint in the home is minimal. Staff who undertake any restraints are suitably trained and equipped with the skills to de-escalate situations to avoid the need for physical intervention. This means that young people learn to modify their behaviours without staff having to use physical intervention.

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Keeping children and young people safe adequate

The physical environment is well maintained. Fire drills and checks are regularly undertaken. Good quality health and safety systems remain in place. This means that young people benefit from living in a protective environment. Risk assessments are clear and proportionate.

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Leadership and management adequate

The manager became registered in this post in November 2013. She has a National Vocational Qualification at Level 4 in Residential Child Care Management and is currently undertaking the Level 5 Diploma. These are suitable qualifications. She has substantial relevant childcare and managerial experience of residential childcare within this service.

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Leadership and management adequate

The last full inspection of this home resulted in an overall judgement of inadequate. There were 10 requirements and six recommendations set at the last inspection. The management team have satisfactorily addressed all of the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. This illustrates that leaders and managers are able to promote improvement and understand the strengths and weaknesses of practice within the home.

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Leadership and management adequate

All staff have now received training, which covers mandatory areas such as first aid, food hygiene, restraint training and fire safety. This means staff are able to ensure young people’s safety and their welfare needs are not compromised.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager and staff now receive regular supervision in line with the home's own policy. This better supports the manager and staff and ensures that staff performance is monitored and young people safeguarded.

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Leadership and management adequate

The Registered Manager's own monitoring of the home is improved with the inclusion of consultation with young people, parents and placing authorities to form an opinion on quality of care in the home. This means monitoring is more effective in identifying shortfalls and improving care provision. 8 of 10 The Registered Manager is clear about the admission criteria for young people and ensures the local authority is notified of the admission and discharge of young people into the home. This means the local authority can be clear on the needs of the young people placed within the area and the potential services they will require.

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Leadership and management adequate

Improved arrangements to ensuring placement plans are signed and agreed by local authorities and parent’s means the home are providing a sound admission process for young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Improvements to case files have ensured all information as required under regulation are recorded. Additionally, young people are now consistently signing their records and therefore it is clear that they have read and contributed their views on their care.

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Leadership and management adequate

Records of allegations and investigations are contained in the staff member’s confidential file and stored securely. Records clearly demonstrate actions taken in relation to allegations and subsequent disciplinary hearings.

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Leadership and management adequate

Arrangements for dealing with incidents of suspected bullying have been improved, with individual guides for young people and clear guidelines for staff. This means approaches to tackling bullying are understood by staff and young people and a robust system is in place to respond when issues have been raised.

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Leadership and management adequate

The management team have implemented staff rotas that accurately reflect staffing arrangements. This means managers can effectively monitor care provision and effectively plan ahead to meet the individual needs of young people.

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Leadership and management adequate

Sanctions records are consistent in content and make clear the effectiveness of the sanction. This means it is possible to identify if the sanction was effective or not.

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Leadership and management adequate

Young people benefit from improved care planning in relation to promoting equality and diversity needs. This means that, if required, sexual identity issues are explored in a sensitive manner. This means young people’s care is fully personalised to meet their individual needs.

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Leadership and management adequate

Complaints which have arisen since the last inspection have been progressed in line with the homes' own complaints policy. Records are clear and demonstrate actions taken to resolve concerns within set timescales. Formal complaints which cannot be resolved at an early stage are escalated to senior managers. This process includes proactive work with parents and safeguarding professionals. Consequently, complaints procedures are rigorous to ensure young people benefit from improved care provision.

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Leadership and management adequate

Improvements to leadership arrangements include the recruitment of a Head of Care to support the Registered Manager. Leaders and managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and have clear development plans in place to promote 9 of 10 improvement. Managers are dedicated and passionate about driving improvement, striving towards improved outcomes to young people and sustaining raised standards.

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Leadership and management adequate

The home demonstrates a very sound capacity for continuing improvement based on its record of accomplishment and performance since the last inspection. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management adequate

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Judgement Description

Outstanding A service of exceptional quality that significantly exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Good A service of high quality that exceeds minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Adequate A service that only meets minimum requirements.

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Judgement Description

Inadequate A service that does not meet minimum requirements.

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Information 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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Information 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 framework of inspection for children's homes.

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