Children's Home, Residential special school run by Overley Hall Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Unique reference number SC020558 Inspector Anne Daly Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Registered manager Jackie Davenport Date of last inspection 13/11/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 03/02/2015

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Previous inspection outstanding Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection in November 2014. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge has sustained effectiveness.

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This inspection

Children and young people continue to have positive and stimulating experiences as a result of living at the home. They regularly take part in interesting and exciting activities both within the home and in the community. A group of young people recently recreated a Viking festival, building a Viking long boat, preparing Nordic food and culminated in a visit to the Yorvic Viking Centre in York. This experience promotes children and young people’s confidence and self-esteem.

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This inspection

Children and young people continue to make significant progress in developing their life skills. They are supported to take on more responsibility for their own personal care, handling money, going food shopping and cooking. Staff know the children and young people and know how best to encourage achievement. As a result, young people are being prepared for their transition to independence.

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This inspection

Children and young people benefit from a stable and knowledgeable staff team. Parents and professionals have observed warm and meaningful relationships between staff, children and young people. As a result children and young people enjoy positive attachments, feel valued and safe. A parent commented, ’I know my child is happy here and they need that loving home environment ‘.

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This inspection

The home continues to be led by an experienced and committed Registered Manager. There is a stable and experienced leadership team who have a good and realistic understanding of the strengths and priorities for development to secure better outcomes for children and young people, including staff understanding of autism and transition to adult life. 3 of 5 Since the last inspection a clinical psychologist has been appointed to work alongside the staff team. This will enhance the staff’s understanding of the complex needs of the children and young people. Staff have successfully used desensitization techniques to prepare young people for complex medical interventions. This enables the young people’s health needs to be met without additional emotional trauma.

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This inspection

Children and young people live in a safe environment where they are protected from harm. Staff use excellent safeguarding practice to identify risk and protective measures to keep vulnerable children and young people safe.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection there has been a rise in the number of physical interventions used. All physical interventions are monitored and analysed by the Registered Manager who has a clear understanding of the reasons and has taken appropriate action to address this .As a result of this specialist assessments are undertaken to enable staff to work with young people in alternative ways. A professional commented on the skill and commitment demonstrated by the staff team facing exceptionally challenging behaviour.

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This inspection

Staff effectively communicate with children and young people to enable them to express their views in a meaningful way. Children and young people are enabled to understand why their behaviour may be unacceptable to others using photo stories and comic strip art.

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This inspection

Children and young people have access to independent advocates to ensure their views are listened to and acted upon. This enables children and young people to feel valued and actively contribute to their care plans.

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This inspection

Staff effectively work in a coordinated way with families and professionals to promote children and young people’s welfare. Staff make excellent use of the expertise available from speech and language and occupational therapists to inform practice and support children and young people’s plans.

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This inspection

A recommendation from the last inspection has been addressed. A recommendation has been made as a result of this inspection in respect of ensuring children live in a homely environment. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

The privately owned school is registered as a children's home to accommodate 22 children and young people. The school provides education and care to children and young people who present with severe learning disabilities, challenging behaviours, autistic spectrum disorder and sensory impairment.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2014 Full outstanding 20/02/2014 Interim good progress 20/11/2013 Full outstanding 14/02/2013 Interim good progress

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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 the home provides a comfortable and homely environment and is well maintained and decorated. Avoidable hazards are removed as is consistent with a domestic setting. Risk reduction does not lead to an institutional feel. (NMS 10.3) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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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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