Children's Home, Residential special school run by The Sheiling Special Education Trust in Dorset

Unique reference number SC472485 Inspector Emeline Evans Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Registered manager Corine Van Barneveld Date of last inspection 03/06/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 16/02/2015

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been a focus on building and developing the management team. The acting manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted, and she is making progress in identifying the development needs of the service. The present Registered Manager is now taking a head of care role. This has resulted in a strong, committed approach to provide a high quality service.

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This inspection

Four young people have left the home since the last inspection. All were very well- facilitated, planned moves either to the college placement within the organisation or to an adult placement. These were positive moves for the young people. There has been one admission to the home. Staff worked with professionals to identify and assess health needs prior to placement. Staff then undertook specific training to ensure they had the necessary skills to support the young person. This succeeded through close working relationships with professionals to ensure the needs of the young person were fully met.

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This inspection

Young people are supported in imaginative ways to progress across several areas of their lives, particularly in their independence and their behaviour. There have been continuing improvements in outcomes, in these areas, with young people making significant progress since the last inspection. For example, a young person was supported to present a PowerPoint presentation at a recent review to show his progress. Other young people are now able to sit at the table with peers: this is evidence that their confidence and self-esteem have been further enhanced. Staff and young people spoken to, during this inspection, shared many examples of how young people have moved on.

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This inspection

The home has introduced a new system, for staff, to have an accessible overview of the young person: this enables consistency in the young people’s routines and behaviour management . The system, which is based around the use of cards, also 3 of 7 details young people’s likes and dislikes and their preferred methods of communication, and is a useful quick reference tool for staff. .

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has employed a nurse to oversee health care arrangements in the home. This has had a very positive impact and vast improvements are seen in this area. Comprehensive health care plans are in place and a range of training for staff has been implemented. This ensures staff are equipped to promote the physical health of the young people in the home. A higher number of staff have now been trained in first aid and the administration of emergency medication. Previous requirements to address deficiencies in this area have been addressed. Health management plans for young people are now signed by a health professional and staff also sign to demonstrate they understand these plans. Current systems and processes, in relation to the arrangements for the recording, handling and safekeeping of medications, have been reviewed. Weekly audit systems have been introduced and the home now has a medicine’s champion

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This inspection

to oversee these arrangements to ensure they are effective.

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This inspection

The home has complied with the requirement made at the last inspection for the Statement of Purpose to be revised and this now details all the information required. This has been developed into a detailed and informative document and gives parents and placing authorities a comprehensive overview about what to expect from the home. There are comprehensive action plans and development plans to clarify the future of the home. The home has used self-assessment tools to focus on strengths and to look at areas requiring immediate action. There is a clear a focus on improving outcomes for young people.

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This inspection

The service is monitored and subject to regular internal auditing by the manager and external scrutiny by other professionals. However, within Regulation 33 reports there is focus on the whole school rather than the children’s home as a separate entity. There is limited evaluation of the quality of care provided or if young people are effectively safeguarded in these reports. In addition, these reports are not sent directly to Ofsted. This shortfall hinders the ability of the manager to identify patterns and trends. The manager undertakes internal monitoring on a regular basis. However, it was unclear if all the required information is being monitored and these reports are not being sent into Ofsted on a regular basis. There is little evaluation and monitoring of the professional practice that young people receive. Therefore, it is difficult to measure how the manager intends to further improve the quality of

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This inspection

The home works effectively in partnership with external agencies such as health services and psychologists, therapists and parents. Allegations, or suspicions of harm, are promptly shared with external safeguarding agencies for consultation and appropriate action taken. There are effective procedures in place for monitoring incidents, allegations and safeguarding concerns in the home. Significant events relating to the safety and welfare of young people have been notified to Ofsted appropriately. This ensures the regulator is kept up-to-date with matters of 4 of 7 safeguarding within the home. However internal records do not detail actions taken in all instances. There is no chronology to determine the process taken and the amount of information present in records leads to confusion.

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This inspection

The staff are skilled at promoting a nurturing environment where young people are, and feel, safe and well cared for. The staff team are consistent in their approach and effectively engage with young people to promote positive behaviour. The behaviour team work closely with the staff and have a clear oversight of incidents of restraint and actions are taken to prevent re-occurrence. Records in relation to restraint are not consistently clear though and in some instances require more detail to fully identify patterns.

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This inspection

At the last inspection, a requirement was made to improve recruitment records. The policy and procedure for the recruitment and vetting of staff is now consistently followed. The home requests profiles for all agency staff and they do not commence work until the appropriate checks have been confirmed. In addition, the home has taken action to ensure all parts of the home are free from hazards to their health and safety. Water temperatures are now controlled and monitored on a regular basis.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, much work has been done to evaluate the current level of service and to plan ahead for future developments in the coming year. The staff team are very proud of the young people’s achievements and have their well-being at heart. Young people’s welfare is enhanced by the relationships that exist between them and the staff. The staff are clearly very passionate about promoting good outcomes for young people and work as a team to ensure this is achieved. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

The service is a residential special school registered as a children's home. It provides residential care and education for up to 31 children of either gender who have complex learning difficulties and/or may have physical disabilities. Residential accommodation is provided in four separate houses, all of which have their own dedicated staff teams. The principles underpinning the care and education provided at the school are inspired by Rudolf Steiner.

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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 the independent person forms an opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct promotes the well-being of the children and they provide a copy of the report to HMCI. (Regulation 33 (8)(a)(i) and (ii)) 31/03/2015

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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 system in place which monitors all the matters set out in Schedule 6 and is sent into Ofsted within 28 days of completion (Statutory guidance, vol 5, para 3.14)  ensure all records are consistently clear and of a high quality. This 6 of 7 specifically relates to physical intervention records and records of safeguarding concerns. (NMS 22) 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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