Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottinghamshire

Unique reference number SC036737 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Nottinghamshire County Council Registered person address Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall Loughborough Road, West Bridgford NOTTINGHAM NG2 7QP Responsible individual Vonny Senogles Registered manager Tina Ann Galloway Date of last inspection 24/03/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 03/12/2014

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Previous inspection good progress Enforcement action since last inspection none

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Overall effectiveness outstanding

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

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Overall effectiveness

Care provision at this home ensures that children, young people and their families receive a consistently excellent service. Service provision is exemplary.

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Overall effectiveness

Parents report exceptionally high levels of satisfaction in the services provided by this home. One parent said: ‘The support has been excellent. Life would have been very difficult without them.’ Another parent said: ‘They are perfect; they provide really top drawer care.’

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Overall effectiveness

Placing authorities and independent reviewing officers commend the staff for the highly personalised care they offer to children and young people during their stays. One social care professional said: ‘All children’s needs are incredibly different and the staff team are knowledgeable about how to meet these needs. I have absolute confidence in the care provided in this home.’

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people make exceptional progress because comprehensive and regularly reviewed assessment and care planning underpins the work which staff deliver. These frameworks ensure the highly trained staff have the clarity they need to provide effective support to children and young people. Children and young people’s welfare, dignity and individual communication needs are central to all planning and staff practice. 3 of 10 Safeguarding children and young people is of paramount importance for this home. Families and social workers have high levels of confidence about the service’s ability to keep children and young people safe.

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Overall effectiveness

The Registered Manager is highly skilled and knowledgeable in delivering high quality care. She is motivated, dedicated and stimulates the enthusiasm of staff to deliver the best possible care and improve outcomes for all children and young people. This strong leadership ensures the delivery of consistent and meticulous standards of care.

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Overall effectiveness

One action is made as a result of this inspection relating to fire drills. However this has not had a negative impact on the welfare or safety of children and young people. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children's home providing residential and short break services for 16 children with physical disabilities and complex health care needs.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2014 Interim good progress 15/01/2014 Full outstanding 05/03/2013 Interim good progress 18/10/2012 Full outstanding

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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 there is an emergency escape plan that all staff and children are familiar with and have frequently practiced so they know what to do in an emergency. (NMS 10.9) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Children and young people benefit from care provision that specialises in meeting the diverse and complex needs of young people who have learning disabilities, significant health needs, associated physical disabilities and sensory impairments. The multi- disciplinary staff expertise within this home ensures children and young people thrive, develop and achieve their optimum potential. One parent said: ‘Progress is all down to the care and the dedication of staff.’

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Children and young people thrive and develop within this home. They are nurtured and valued and learn to develop positive attachments and relationships with carers. This care, combined with excellent partnership work with parents and families ensure children and young people feel secure and confident within the home.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Friendships are promoted through careful planning of short-break care and activity groups to ensure compatibility of children and young people. Such attention to detail further promotes a sense of belonging for young people.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Children and young people achieve excellent educational outcomes. They all attend school and other educational provisions. Well established routines within the home mean that young people are well rested and prepared for the school day and this results in high attendance levels. Progress is monitored and achievements are celebrated.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Complex health needs of the children and young people require a high level of medical and social care planning. Meticulous planning of menus mean that the nutritional needs of young people are met and health outcomes are significantly improved. Healthy lifestyles are further promoted through active pursuits. Children and young people regardless of mobility are supported to participate in activities to strengthen their bodies, improve coordination and improve muscle tone. The care of children and young people extends to ensuring they learn the importance of good dental, skin and haircare. These personal care tasks further promote overall well- being and health.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Independence skills are encouraged with all children and young people. The level of task varies according to the ability and understanding of individuals. For some, this could include learning how to safely cross the road. Other children may be learning to take part in getting dressed. Regardless of the child’s ability, staff are passionate to provide support to them to enable the development of self-care, mobility and life skills. Consequently, over time it is possible to see that from their starting points, children and young people make significant progress with their independence skills. These positive outcomes make a significant contribution to young people in their transition to young adulthood. 6 of 10 Children and young people benefit from excellent contact arrangements with their parents and family. Staff communicate very effectively with parents and social workers. Children and young people are encouraged to develop social interactions

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

with other each other in the home and with peers in the community. In addition, the home hosts three family events each year, including a summer, Easter and Christmas event. As a result, people who play an important role in young people's lives are actively involved in the care they receive.

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Quality of care outstanding

A dedicated and motivated staff team provide consistently high standards of care to children and young people, regardless of the complexity of their needs. Staff are innovative and enthusiastic in supporting all children and young people, regardless of disability, to achieve their optimum potential. Staff are conscientious in their commitment to continuous learning, to develop new skills and knowledge to enable them to provide excellent care. Consequently, they are highly effective in enabling young people to progress and achieve.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff are proactive in collaborating with multi-disciplinary professionals to ensure holistic care provision. Health colleagues, including nurses, occupational therapist and physiotherapists work routinely with the children and young people. A specialist lead nurse described care provision as ‘excellent.’ A social worker said: ‘We have a very good working relationship; excellent communication, a great rapport and work well together.’ Where staff identify shortfalls in delivery of care with organisations, they act as positive advocates to secure improved services. Consequently, children and young people benefit from effective partnerships that promote required levels of care and support.

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Quality of care outstanding

Many of the children and young people in this home are non-verbal or have communication difficulties. The home has a commitment to inclusion and participation to enable children and young people to express their feelings despite these difficulties. Creative and individualised communication strategies utilise a range of non-verbal communication methods. This enables children and young people to learn and improve upon their communication skills. Consequently, young people are able to participate in making choices about routines, activities and life in the home. As a result, young people are able to contribute to their care and have a say in the running of the home.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff support all young people to continue to attend their educational provisions. Excellent communication with transport providers and school staff ensures consistency of care for young people. The use of communication books further ensures that schools, families and the home are up to date and fully informed of the changing needs of young people. This means learning is promoted and achievements 7 of 10 are shared and celebrated.

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Quality of care outstanding

Young people enjoy participation in a wide range of activities, which enable them to explore their skills and talents. At the time of the inspection, the children and young people were rehearsing for their showcase performance at a local theatre. Such activities mean children and young people are included and feel part of their wider community. Parents said of the activities :‘My daughter is able to have opportunities she would not be able to have if she did not live in this home. She is able to visit places and experience things that we could not provide for her. These really enhance her life.’ Another parent commented: ‘You name it they do it'! He is always out at the cinema, theatre, shopping, eating out, parks and celebrations.’ Consequently, children and young people are able to enjoy and achieve through their social and leisure pursuits.

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Quality of care outstanding

Children and young people benefit from an enriching environment that meets the individual needs of the young people who live there. The home is set within private grounds with accessible walkways; summerhouse, bog garden and shrubberies. Children and young people have easy access to a range of outdoor play equipment and a play safety surface for all weather and outdoor play. Interior features include a cinema room, sensory room, art and craft room, ball pools, playroom and an abundance of interactive play equipment. The standard of décor and furnishings throughout the home is of a high standard. The accommodation is spacious and offers space for communal and independent time. All young people are able to personalise their bedrooms and this ensures that their individual tastes and preferences are respected and valued.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Children, young people and their families confirm that the home ensures the safety of all residents. Health and social care practitioners also express confidence in the homes safeguarding practice.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Safeguarding children and young people is a top priority in this home. Young people are safe, because well-trained and highly competent staff effectively implement the robust safeguarding policies and procedures. This is supported with rigorous reporting and recording systems. This ensures transparency in monitoring safeguarding strategies and staff practice. The staff team engage in exceptionally high levels of safeguarding training. Consequently, safeguarding practice is responsive to the needs of disabled children and safeguarding issues are a rarity in this home.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Risk management is pivotal to ensuring the safety of children and young people. Clear, regularly reviewed risk assessments provide clarity to staff to ensure children and young people are protected from harm, yet able to safely develop and try new 8 of 10 activities.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Young people have not gone missing from care. However, the home has up to date policies and locally arranged missing from care protocols. These ensure that in the event of a missing person, arrangements for their protection are effective. The grounds of the home and access to the home are secure. High staff ratios provide very good levels of monitoring and supervision to the children and young people. These combined processes mean safeguarding practice protects young people from potential harm.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

This home does not use physical interventions or sanctions as a method of behaviour management. The accomplished staff team have an acute awareness of the underlying reasons for children and young people displaying challenging behaviours. They recognise that some non-verbal children and young people communicate frustration, distress and anger through their body language. It is through the strong positive relationships between children, young people and staff, that behaviours are sensitively and effectively managed. All staff have up to date physical intervention training and the recording format complies with regulatory requirements.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Robust staff recruitment procedures promote the safety of children and young people. The local authority human resources department manages the recruitment and selection process. Recruitment and staff records kept by the home demonstrate a robust recruitment and vetting process. As a result, young people are protected from potential harm through recruitment practice that ensures care is provided by appropriately qualified and experienced staff who are suitable to work with young people.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Children and young people live in a home that provides excellent levels of health and safety. Regular fire, maintenance and equipment checks promote the safety of young people. Maintenance within the home is of an extremely high standard, which further ensures children, staff and visitor safety. Fire evacuation procedures are practised regularly. However, fire drills held at increased frequencies would strengthen evacuation procedure. This would ensure all staff and young people understood what to expect in the event of a fire and could evacuate safely.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The manager was registered in this post in December 2012. She has a Diploma in Social Work, Post-Graduate Diploma in Management in Public Services and over 20 years management experience within residential care. These are suitable qualifications and experience for ensuring highly effective management within this service.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Young people live in a home that continues to improve and there is evidence of 9 of 10 positive change particularly in the meticulous attention to detail in improved recording processes. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The quality of the leadership and management of the home is exceptional. The Registered Manager is highly motivated and passionate about delivering the highest standard of care to the children, young people and families who use the home. The management team are ambitious and have a clear development plans in place to drive ongoing improvement in care delivery.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The Registered Manager and her deputy, lead by example and set high expectations for the staff team. Children and young people receive outstanding care from a committed, cohesive and stable staff team. The team functions efficiently with clear roles and responsibilities. The management and staff team function effectively and ensure consistently high standards to the delivery of care to young people.

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Leadership and management outstanding

Children and young people receive a children’s guide with clear information about the home. These are in a range of formats appropriate to their individual communication needs. The home has a detailed and comprehensive statement of purpose that accurately reflects the service provided. This is regularly reviewed to ensure it remains accurate.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The management team use annual and regularly reviewed development plans to promote improvement. Planning and the development of the home are based upon meeting the needs and improving outcomes for children and young people. The effective operation of the home is further reinforced with rigorous monitoring arrangements. Extensive and detailed quality assurance systems are implemented internally and by external visitors. Rigorous monitoring and effective management of the home drives continued improvement.

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Leadership and management outstanding

The staff and management team continue to demonstrate exemplary professionalism and an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional standards of care to children, young people and their families. Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Leadership and management outstanding

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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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