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

Unique reference number SC477428 Inspector Ann-Marie Born Type of inspection Full

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Provision subtype

Registered person North East Lincolnshire Council Registered person address Vulnerable Children Management Team Western Site, Cambridge Road Grimsby Lincolnshire DN34 5TD Responsible individual Daren Russell Hale Registered manager Shelley McLoughlin Date of last inspection N/A 2 of 10 Inspection date 03/12/2014

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Provision subtype

Previous inspection N/A Enforcement action since last inspection None

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Overall effectiveness good

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

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Overall effectiveness

This is the first inspection since this home opened in September 2014. The skilled and committed management team have worked hard to develop a consistent and motivated staff team. This effective team working, coupled with good individual care planning, has enabled young people to settle extremely well in to their new home together. Consequently young people make beneficial progress in a number of aspects of their lives, notably developing social and life skills and improving communication and mobility. A parent stated, '(Name) is very comfortable here and staff take very good care of her. I feel she is much more sociable since she’s been here and is able to do more physically.'

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Overall effectiveness

Initial development plans are in the process of being appropriately updated to address newly identified areas of need. Nevertheless, there are some areas of development identified at this inspection. These include ensuring staff’s recording in files and plans is consistent; that the home’s Statement of Purpose fully reflects the care provided and that some improvements are made to the fabric of the building to further enhance young people’s care.

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Overall effectiveness

Young people evidently enjoy positive, warm and trusting relationships with staff. This is corroborated by parents and professionals. Consequently young people thrive within this stimulating and nurturing environment. This boosts feelings of belonging 3 of 10 and security enabling young people to gain confidence in their social and life skills. A social worker said, 'she’s made some really good progress considering she’s not been there that long.'

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Overall effectiveness

Young people, their parents and professionals report that young people are safe in this home. Detailed risk assessments and comprehensive behaviour management plans ensure that young people behave appropriately and feel secure. The excellent missing person protocol and individual missing from care ‘grab cards’ empower young people to have the opportunity to participate in inclusive community activities safely. A young person said she felt 'really safe here' and she was ’10 fingers happy it was so good.' 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority long-stay children's home registered to accommodate three young people of either gender with learning or physical disabilities.

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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 that risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel, in particular the floor covering in the lounge and the covers on the radiators in the bathroom (NMS 10.3)  ensure that the home has a clear statement of purpose which is available to and understood by staff and children and is reflected in any policies, procedures and guidance (NMS 13.1)  ensure that all staff are familiar with home’s policies on record keeping, trained to maintain them and to understand the need to be careful, objective and clear when making records. (Children's Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations, Volume 5: Children’s Homes, paragraph 3.28) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people, within their individual abilities, make good progress in developing a positive self-view and an understanding of their backgrounds. As a result of young people's sense of belonging and security in the home they have built sustainable attachments with staff and each other. Young people are able to identify particular staff they feel closest too and with whom they have the strongest bond. Young people feel valued and important enabling them to benefit from the care provided. A young person said, 'I really like all of the staff but my special ones are (name), (name) and (name).'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people’s well-being and self-care skills improve as a result of the sustained support they receive from staff. Effective partnership working with health professionals ensures that all of a young person’s holistic and diverse needs are met. For example, daily physiotherapy sessions with a physiotherapist in the home are starting to improve some young people’s mobility. A staff member said, '(Name) has really being doing well in physiotherapy and was able to stand for the first time recently. All of the staff were so excited, I was crying.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people enjoy attending their schools daily. Young people fully benefit from the effective communication between the home and school ensuring that they receive consistent care. All progress is shared and celebrated enabling young people to achieve to the best of their ability within their individual skills.

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are fully supported to maintain regular contact with family members and other people important to them. Parents report they feel welcome in the home and enjoy visiting their children. Young people are taken to visit their friends and they have friends 'round for tea'. Young people's sense of belonging, inclusion and security within their family and community are sustained and enhanced as a result. A parent commented, 'I feel comfortable coming to visit her here. Staff are very good to me and keep me informed.'

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Outcomes for children and young people good

Young people are in the process of developing necessary life and social skills. For example, learning to put their shoes on, bake with staff or use the toilet. The resultant confidence in their abilities allows young people to try new skills. This effectively prepares young people for transition in to their adult lives. A staff member said, 'even with the basics, brushing their teeth, combing their hair, we have a result. It could be putting their own shoes on but that is huge.'

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Quality of care good

6 of 10 Young people evidently enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff. Parents and professionals report how 'happy' young people are within the nurturing yet stimulating environment provided by the home. As a result young people feel secure and cared for enabling them to thrive. A teacher said, 'staff there are becoming part of her extended family and she is really excited to see them at the end of the day.'

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Quality of care good

The enthusiastic and skilled staff team work tirelessly to understand young people’s individual communication methods and obtain their wishes and feelings. Constructive young people's meetings are used effectively to allow young people to express requests and make choices. For example, following a meeting arrangements were made for a young person’s teacher to come to tea; one young person had more of a preferred food choice and the third was able to listen to more music. Young people's well-being increases as they are more confident to express themselves.

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Quality of care good

A committed staff team ensure that young people are able to share any views about their care in a variety of methods. This includes the appointment of independent advocates to enable them to utilise the complaints system if necessary. There have not been any complaints.

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Quality of care good

In addition, young people are invited to share any views or requests in a comments book within the home. This is effective in allowing young people to make suggestions, for example, wanting to start taking a packed lunch to school rather than having school dinners. Young people’s feelings of being valued and heard are enhanced as a result. However, the outcomes to young people’s request are not always being consistently recorded in line with the home's own policies. Therefore it is not clear if young people are fully satisfied with the outcome to their request.

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Quality of care good

Robust and detailed care planning provides a comprehensive picture of young people’s holistic needs and vulnerabilities and how those are to be met. This includes all of a young person’s individual mobility and communication methods. Monthly progress reports and ‘memory sheets’ provide young people with a record of their achievements and particularly happy times. For example, the first time a friend came to tea or attending the Christmas lights switching on ceremony. However, not all records are consistently completed or are of as high quality as other records.

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Quality of care good

Conscientious staff ensure that all of a young person’s holistic health needs are well met. All generic health appointments are kept and the home works closely with specialist health professionals. As a result young people enjoy a healthy lifestyle while their chronic health conditions are addressed and improve. A staff member said, '(name) being stood up, it’s amazing, its life changing.'

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Quality of care good

The staff team work closely with young people and their families to promote positive educational activities. As a result of this proactive approach young people are able to share their education with their family members as well as celebrate any progress. Young people know staff are proud of their achievements, for example, displaying their certificates from school on the walls as they would in a family home. Young 7 of 10 people’s emotional and intellectual skills are enhanced by this positive approach. A teacher said, ' I was very impressed they supported mum at parents evening, mum had never been to parents evening before. I could talk to both of them. They are going to be able to support mum to come to the end of the term nativity as well.'

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy spending time in their rooms supported by staff, sharing 'fun' activities in the home together or participating in a range of inclusive activities in the community. These include swimming and attending a weekly disco. Young people’s social, creative and physical skills improve as a result. A young person said, 'I love it here because I get to do lots of things and have a laugh.'

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Quality of care good

Young people enjoy living in a home which is warm, comfortable and equipped to meet their needs. They take pride in their individually decorated bedrooms allowing them to express their personality. This allows young people to spend time alone in their room if they wish or together with the others in the homely living room and dining room. A young person said, 'I love my room, I love all of the photographs, the ornaments, my posters and having my own space. I am very happy here.' However, the flooring, although functional and practical for wheelchairs, is not warm and comfortable for young people to play on. In addition, the radiator covers in the bathrooms are old and rusting, which is not pleasant for young people to see.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people feel safe and secure in a home where their physical and emotional well-being is persistently promoted and protected. The conscientious and proactive manager and staff team are aware of the possibilities of bullying and act swiftly to prevent any such behaviours. Young people do not report any bullying. A social worker commented, 'she’s spending time with the other young people rather than just spending time alone in her room. I have no concerns about her safety.'

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Robust missing person’s protocols are well known to staff. High staffing levels and the staff’s thorough knowledge of young people's vulnerabilities ensure they do not go missing from the home. Exceptional individual risk assessments and specific information 'grab cards' ensure that vital information would be readily available to inform police if children were to go missing from an activity in the community. Young people are effectively safeguarded by these measures.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people learn positive behaviours as a result of the warm and caring relationships they have with staff. Young people’s individual triggers are well known to staff and behaviour management strategies planned accordingly. As a result young people feel understood and that they belong and behave appropriately. There has not been the need for any physical interventions within the home.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Excellent local authority recruitment and vetting procedures are stringently applied. This ensures that young people are not cared for by people who may pose a risk to 8 of 10 them. In addition, careful consideration was given to the transfer of staff from the previous home the young people were resident in. This ensured that young people continued to have consistent care from staff they were familiar with and trusted while they settled in to their new home. A social worker said, 'she is safe there because that placement is meeting her needs. We have spoken to (name) and she is far happier there.'

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people are cared for in a home which is physically safe and secure to meet their needs. Rigorous attention to appropriate health and safety procedures ensure that the home is maintained safely. Regular fire evacuation drills ensure that young people and staff would know what to do in the event of an emergency.

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Leadership and management good

The experienced and suitably qualified manager has held Registered Manager status since 2008. She is ably supported by two equally competent and skilled senior care officers. Young people fully benefit from the strong leadership and guidance this partnership provides to staff members.

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Leadership and management good

This is the first inspection since this home opened in September 2014. The management team have worked hard to successfully integrate a new staff team while ensuring young people’s transition in to this home has been achieved positively. Parents and professionals all report how successful the move has been for young people and how well they are doing here. As young people become more settled and secure in the home, they are expressing their views enabling staff to introduce improvements gradually to more effectively meet their needs. For example, raising the couch in the living room and introducing more pasta dishes to the menu. An independent reviewing officer stated, 'the move was managed very well for both (name) and (name). It was well thought out and they had visits there first and some of the staff team came across with them to give continuity.'

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Leadership and management good

The home’s Statement of Purpose is not sufficiently detailed to provide an accurate picture of the care provided. This has not had a detrimental effect on young people as the current resident group were carefully selected and appropriately placed. Nevertheless, this may lead to some confusion for parents and other interested parties. However, the children’s guide is clear, available in formats comprehensible to young people in the home and is personalised for them. This provides young people with an understanding of the home and facilities.

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Leadership and management good

Excellent external monitoring visits fully comply with legislation. Information gathered during those visits is used productively to safeguard young people and enhance the care provided. The manager and senior team use their monthly auditing processes effectively to identify and address any deficiencies. For example, raising the furniture in the living room to allow a young person to sit comfortably on the couch out of her wheelchair. 9 of 10 Young people benefit from being cared for by staff who are fully supported and effectively supervised to meet their needs. The high staffing levels ensure that young people always have enough staff not only to meet their physical requirements but also who have sufficient capacity to spend positive, stimulating time with them. Young people feel secure and valued as a result enabling them to achieve positive outcomes within their abilities. A staff member said, 'she’s like a different child. She is

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Leadership and management good

out her room singing and dancing. You can almost hold a conversation with her now, she’s beginning to use sentences.'

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Leadership and management good

Young people are cared for by staff who are well trained to meet their needs. Appropriate training programmes are complemented by the home’s ‘champions’ programme. This ensures that one member of staff takes responsibility for a specific subject, for example bullying, child sexual exploitation and autistic spectrum condition. This information is then shared in the team ensuring that all staff have current and up-to-date knowledge.

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Leadership and management good

Records evidence that the home are proactive in contacting placing authorities to ensure all relevant documentation is available for young people. In addition, review meetings are well planned for and young people and their families supported to attend meetings. Young people’s records are comprehensive, detailed, evidence the progress young people are making and reviewed regularly. They are stored securely. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management good

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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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