Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottinghamshire

Unique reference number SC036737 Inspector Amanda Ellis Type of inspection Interim 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 03/12/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 24/03/2015

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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

At the last full inspection of this service in December 2014, the home was judged as outstanding. One recommendation was set in relation to frequencies of fire drills. Since this time, the Registered Manager has implemented a monitoring system that ensures all children and young people participate in regularly practiced fire evacuations. This strengthening of health and safety practice ensures the improved protection of children and young people in the event of a fire.

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This inspection

Since the last inspection, the Registered Manager and her management team have successfully maintained excellent standards of care. They strive to develop the home and implement targets outlined in the home’s development plan. This means children and young people benefit from consistently high standards of care, robust safeguarding practice and continue to enjoy improved outcomes.

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This inspection

The professional staff team look after children and young people who receive both permanent and short break care. Staff understand the individual needs of the children and young people and are able to provide high standards of care at all times. Excellent communication between the staff team is demonstrated in the planning of all short breaks. Staff teams plan their shifts with meticulous detail to ensure that all activities and visits are well planned and organised. Educational and health care needs are central to all planning. This level of planning ensures that children and young people benefit from a stimulating environment that meets their holistic needs.

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This inspection

Children and young people enjoy a range of stimulating activities, both within and outside of the home. Staff members coordinate regular themed days and parties. Young people have access to a wide range of interactive toys, sensory equipment and are able to exercise in their own extensive grounds and playgrounds. They regularly visit places of interest and participate in theatrical and community events. 3 of 5 This means all children and young people enjoy and benefit from social and community integration and participation.

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This inspection

At the time of the inspection, the home was hosting a coffee morning for parents and carers. This is one method used by the home to promote the involvement of families in the development of the home. Regular consultation with parents and carers enables the home to promote the best quality of care for children and young people and ensures the planning of the short breaks is fully inclusive of the parents. One parent said, 'Care and health staff are brilliant and communicate with me all the time.’ Another parent said ‘The home is marvellous. They support us as a family, my son loves to come here and we can feel totally confident that he gets the best possible care.’

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This inspection

The stable management and staff team engage in high levels of training. Training provision is inclusive of social, health and medical issues. Training is up to date and relevant to the individual needs of children and young people. The staff and management team all receive regular supervision and annual professional appraisals. This means professional competence is monitored and training needs identified. The home has a number of regular staff meetings. These include management meetings, group staff meetings and individual unit meetings. This arrangement ensures effective communication and sharing of knowledge. These combined processes ensure meticulous care provision because managers and staff are well trained, supervised and supported.

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This inspection

The leadership and management arrangements of the home are comprehensive and proficient. The Registered Manager provides excellent leadership to the dedicated staff team. She is highly effective in ensuring exceptionally high standards in care provision. The Registered Manager has a very thorough knowledge of children’s home reforms and the associated regulatory changes. She has been proactive in ensuring her staff team receive training on these significant changes and understand the implications for their care practice. This demonstrates the manager’s commitment to provide the highest standards to care to all children and young people.

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This inspection

The effective operation of the home further benefits from rigorous monitoring arrangements. Extensive and detailed quality assurance systems are undertaken internally and by external visitors. The monitoring visits inform managers of potential shortfalls and ensure high standards of care are maintained.

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This inspection

No statutory requirements or recommendations are made because of this visit. In light of this, the judgement at this inspection is that the service has successfully sustained its outstanding practice and effectiveness. 4 of 5

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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

03/12/2014 Full outstanding 24/03/2014 Interim good progress 15/01/2014 Full outstanding 05/03/2013 Interim good progress Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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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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