Children's Home, Residential special school run by Staffordshire County Council in Staffordshire

Unique reference number SC415138 Inspector Rachel Ruth Britten Type of inspection Full Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Staffordshire County Council Registered person address Staffordshire County Council, Wedgwood Buildings Tipping Street STAFFORD ST16 2DH Responsible individual Richard Ronald Hancock Registered manager Sarah Jane Lunn Date of last inspection 28/02/2014 2 of 10 Inspection date 12/12/2014

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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 good

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Overall effectiveness

The outcomes achieved by children and young people are exceptional. The impact of the short breaks and outreach service in supporting progress and achieving these outcomes is clearly evidenced. Children and young people's needs and views are central to all aspects of how the service operates and develops its practice. Outstanding partnerships with parents, carers and schools are intrinsic to children and young people's success here. The service forges and maintains consistently child-centred partnerships which underpin best outcomes for children and young people in all aspects of their lives.

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Overall effectiveness

Children and young people have consistently positive views about the quality of their care and their views are diligently sought, skilfully interpreted and creatively acted upon. All staff demonstrate a full understanding of safe working practice and highly personalise it to meet the individual complex needs of each child and young person using the service. As a result, children and young people are safe while enjoying maximum opportunities to develop their independence and participate in the community.

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Overall effectiveness

The leadership and management of the setting remains strong despite the manager's lengthy period of time off during autumn and winter 2014. The deputy manager is ambitious and energetic to maximise the progress children and young 3 of 10 people make. She routinely uses a range of rigorous monitoring to keep the quality of care under regular review and to drive forward improvements. However, monitoring does not fully assure consistently outstanding standards of record keeping on all children’s files. There is no compromise to the outstanding direct work that all staff do, or to the outstanding outcomes being achieved by children and young people. 4 of 10

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Information about this children’s home

This resource centre provides short-break care for up to six young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments. The service is managed by a local authority.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2014 Interim good progress 08/01/2014 Full outstanding 21/03/2013 Interim good progress 15/11/2012 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 that procedures for monitoring and controlling the activities of the home are effective. This pertains specifically to ensuring that recording tools on every child's file (such as: 'passports', 'outcomes stars', reward charts and behaviour management plans) are up to date, consistent and used to best effect in every case. It also pertains to looking for trends and patterns from complaints and messages from consultation activity. (NMS 21.1) 5 of 10

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Children and young people who access short breaks are making exceptional progress in developing their skills and confidence. For example, children with autism make significant progress through the tight and small routines that are put in place for them. As a result, they can tolerate quite noisy environments, can cope with being around peers, and no longer need to wear headphones to exclude noise. Children and young people develop particularly well with simple life skills and independence due to the high expectations and consistent routines, encouragement and support that they receive. For example, children and young people are able to sit at the table for meals and wait for others. They put cups and plates into the dishwasher. They are able to put toothpaste on their own brush and clean their teeth. A parent said that for her child, 'this place is brilliant'.

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Intrinsic to children and young people's progress is the development of their communication. Children and young people are extending their communication skills to the maximum, through the skilled, tireless support of staff whom a social work team leader describes as 'creative, innovative and child-centred'. As a result, children and young people extend the words and symbols they use, so that they can communicate their wishes and feelings much more effectively. Makaton signs, picture cards, photos and objects of reference are variously used alongside children's own preferred symbols and vocals. Staff are reassuring, patient and full of expressive praise when children achieve a target, make a clear activity choice, or express how they are feeling. For example, a child made choices for the first time through the use of Velcro symbol cards. He consistently chose the garden and the ball pool as his preferred activities for his short break. He was delighted to receive so much praise

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

and was able to tell staff he was a 'good boy.' Another child is extending and consolidating three key words to enhance social skills: 'hello’, ‘please’ and ‘thank you.'

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

Children and young people are accessing an outstanding range of experiences. They have been on forest log cabin holidays and a weekend away when they tried out archery and rock climbing. Within the centre they access sensory play, a wealth of outdoor play equipment, arts and crafts, singing and dancing. A 'can do' approach and high expectations mean that the barriers to participation posed by learning and physical disabilities are minimised and removed as much as possible. Young people enjoy going bowling and to cinema, just as their peers and siblings in the community would do. The home's monthly visitor remarked that 'young people are encouraged and enabled to succeed which increases their self-esteem and their confidence to try new things and to extend their learning yet further.'

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Outcomes for children and young people outstanding

The outstanding progress and opportunities children and young people enjoy at the service underpin significantly improved long term outcomes for family stability. Parents and carers describe how the improvements in children's behaviour, 6 of 10 communication, independence and social skills enable families to cope much better with the pressures that come with significant learning and physical disabilities. For example, children can better communicate their choices and feelings which reduces their stressed or agitated behaviours at home and outside. Similarly, children and young people can cope better in social settings, such as shops and restaurants, because they have improved in their use of cutlery, or learnt to pay for goods and wait for change while with staff. They can play alongside their siblings more calmly and can do more for themselves, such as putting on their shoes or making drinks. These are skills which they develop and practise while at the service.

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Quality of care outstanding

All staff and managers have consistently high aspirations for every child and young person who uses the service. Over a period of years in many cases, children and young people experience exceptionally good care that adds considerably to their quality of life and their development. Staff are imaginative and creative, for example, providing a sensory Christmas disco with fake snow, scented snow balls and coloured lights. Many special and everyday experiences are photographed and saved to capture memories of times spent at the service. This is presented to young people when they move on and is made up in a suitable format for them to enjoy: perhaps a photo album, a photo cube, or a CD if a child is visually impaired.

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Quality of care outstanding

The service enjoys facilities that are of an outstanding standard and used to maximise children and young people's development. A sensory room, ball pool, outdoor climbing area, interactive white board and Jacuzzi baths with sensory lights and smells are regular choices for some children and young people. For example, staff carefully use the specialist bathing equipment to make the experience of having a bath as comfortable as possible for children who experience a lot of pain and discomfort. The interactive white board has recently been used to create a firework display film for children and young people to enjoy who cannot tolerate the loud bangs that come with real fireworks. Equally, the service creates a homely feel with cosy lounges and big sofas to relax and watch TV, listen to music or enjoy soothing lights. The themed bedrooms, including a 'pirate' and a 'paddock' room, are popular. One of the first things children and young people do on arrival is choose their room.

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Quality of care outstanding

Staff consistently and effectively challenge barriers to children's progress in school and at home. They do this by building exceptionally effective partnerships with schools and families based on planned periodic visits and joint planning and review of each child and young person. Behaviour management strategies, communication systems, and medication and personal care needs are shared very well to maximise children's outcomes as they move between school, home and short breaks. The details of children's likes and dislikes are captured and communicated so that all adults provide consistent care of the highest quality. For example, 'passports' are used as a tool to ensure all staff know how to meet each child's individual preferences and care needs. The passport might describe how a young person likes 7 of 10 to be outside and likes to hear classical music, while another might remind staff how much a child likes the smell and feel of towels and bath products. Passports are

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Quality of care outstanding

completed and kept up to date in conjunction with parent and school advice. A parent said, 'they do not criticise parents, but they encourage as part of reading diary sheets and conversations to help and support - they will do anything to help you.'

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Quality of care outstanding

Children and young people are consistently and centrally involved in the planning and review of their care. Most of them take a turn on the young people's council and have a regular say in choosing equipment and toys for the centre. They choose their bedrooms, activities, drinks and meals while on short breaks as well as their rewards for achieving their targets. They make suggestions for themed weekends at the centre, such as a camping theme or a treasure hunt and pirate theme. Staff then prepare individual named invitations for each child attending for the weekend. Staff are actively preparing to support children and young people to take part in their review meetings. Children and young people were recently involved in the interviews for night support workers. They asked four questions of the three candidates and they rated them by using smiley faces. The ranking given by the young people's panel was exactly the same as the ranking given by the formal interview panel!

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Quality of care outstanding

Overall, parents describe the centre as a 'fantastic place with fantastic staff.'

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Children and young people are not at risk of harm and do not engage in damaging or risk taking behaviours. This is because there is exemplary attention to the risks associated with children and young people's disabilities. Physical care needs and any risks associated with self-injurious behaviours, seizures, or lack of awareness of dangers from traffic or equipment, are known in detail. They are minimised through robust, consistent planning and practice. Staffing ratios are high and staff are both vigilant and skilled. They are methodical in preparing for each child's stay, including reminding themselves of known unsafe incidents that have occurred in any past situation. In addition, staff clearly understand both the importance of enabling children to take well-managed risks and the need to minimise any institutional feel. As a result, children are safe, parents are confident to leave them here, and children

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

enjoy every opportunity to safely extend their knowledge and skills indoors and out in the community.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

Staff recognise the triggers to children and young people's unsafe behaviours. They take prompt and skilled action to help children calm down and to provide ways for them to explain their needs. The home's visitor witnessed a young person pacing up and down and becoming agitated. Staff knew this was likely to be because he wanted a drink. The member of staff talked to him in a calm and re-assuring manner as she accompanied him into the kitchen. A choice of flavours of juice was offered, the young person selected which flavour he wanted and then walked off happily into the lounge. Another young person displayed anxious behaviour at school if she did not know which vehicle was coming to take her to her short break. Staff ensure that 8 of 10 the school know which minibus is coming and can show her a picture of it. This minimises the likelihood of any unsafe behaviours around the transportation process.

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Keeping children and young people safe outstanding

The environment facilitates the provision of safe care for children with a range of disabilities. The home's monthly visitor states that staff are 'meticulous' about checking medication and ensuring that this is given correctly and with due regard for each child's privacy and dignity. Hoists are used correctly and all staff are trained in, and follow, manual handling training. Children have individualised emergency evacuation procedures where necessary and staff know how to conduct these, should there be any emergency. Methodical attention to detail and record keeping enables managers to contribute effectively to the multi-agency response if there are child protection or safeguarding concerns. A skilful balance of professional empathy, with a full understanding of safeguarding procedures, means that children are properly protected. At the same time, partnerships with parents remain appropriate and children and young people are safely supported if there is an emergency or

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Leadership and management good

The manager is registered to manage two resource centres within the local authority. She has been in post for over five years and is a qualified social worker as well as possessing the leadership and management qualification in care of children and young people to level 5. She has an excellent track record of achieving outstanding outcomes for children with disabilities. A planned period of sick leave during the autumn has been extended to early 2015. However, the deputy manager has worked very effectively and some parents and carers have not noticed the manager's absence at all. Improvements to the service have continued, for example, a quicker referral and introductions process in now used to enable new children to enter the service more quickly. During 2014, the deputy and manager have ensured that the quality of safety, care and outcomes for children, remain outstanding.

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Leadership and management good

Children and young people benefit from high levels of consistency because there is a low turnover of staff and staff are qualified and committed. The inclusion of both parents and young people in the appointment of staff indicates the child and family centered ethos of the service. Staff are also very well supported, ensuring excellent preparation for shifts and debriefs from outgoing staff. Shift leaders and the deputy manager have increased their weekend shift working arrangements to ensure good leadership in response to the increasing numbers and diversity of children placed. Staff also receive regular supervision and training which is of a good quality. The deputy manager has recently completed training for physical intervention trainers and plans to share with staff more about the detail and ethos for avoiding the use of physical intervention. This builds on the already excellent behaviour management

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Leadership and management good

During 2014 the service has been visited by an independent monthly visitor who has 9 of 10 spent time with children, young people and staff. The reports of her visits capture thoroughly the outstanding work of the service and the views of parents and carers. In addition, the service's own compliments and complaints records capture well the views of parents and carers and how concerns have been sensitively addressed. However, managers have not explored patterns and trends in complaints or compliments in order to elicit any learning or change that might be needed in the light of these.

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Leadership and management good

Managers continue to undertake regular monitoring and auditing of records and to act upon any shortfalls identified. For example, lapses in record keeping are identified through file audits and addressed in individual staff supervisions or staff meetings. There are still a few children and young people's records where plans and assessments are not up to date or consistent enough to best support care practice, but this has not compromised the excellent quality of direct practice with any child or young person. 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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