Children's Home run by Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited in Suffolk

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 All young people attend school, college or receive support to complete courses.  The staff team work together and look after the young people well. They are dedicated and committed to placing the young people at the centre of their work.  Young people make significant progress from their starting points in relation to communication, social interaction, physical and emotional wellbeing.  Staff go above and beyond to ensure that young people benefit from contact with those who are significant to them.  Young people have fun with staff and benefit from participating in a range of activities, promoting social development and healthy lifestyle.

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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 maintenance of good employment practice for each prospective employee by requesting specific dates of previous employment (The guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  Ensure effective systems are in place so all staff receive supervision of their practice with specific reference to staff working in education also undertaking social care duties in the home (The guide to the Quality Standards, page 61,paragraph 13.2)

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home, registered to provide care for up to four young people with complex learning and social difficulties, including autism. Young people can access the school run by the provider which is situated a short drive from the home.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

The young people make very good social and educational progress. All attend school, college or complete Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network courses. This means young people develop their potential at their own pace. One local authority social worker said: ‘He is like a completely different child. He has blossomed.’

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Good

Staff have registered young people with a range of external services such as GP, opticians, dentists. They proactively liaise with external colleagues to review each young person’s physical health and matters of well-being. Recorded health plans help the team to keep up to date with individual young people’s current issues. This prioritises their unique needs and results in them making significant progress in meeting developmental milestones for example, in self-care.

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Good

Young people have advocates. Aids to facilitate communication help young people to share their ideas and make known their opinions. Staff creatively use information technology to maximise opportunities for young people to have a voice. Visual prompts around communal areas of the home and in bedrooms provide reminders that the young people are at the centre of this home.

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Good

Tailored support plans means that young people are in a routine. They are used to taking part in household chores such as vacuuming, cooking, cleaning and baking. This helps to prepare for transitions, provides structure and helps young people to value their environment.

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Good

Most young people live some distance from their families. Staff go above and beyond to ensure that all benefit from meaningful contact. Families visit and where this is not possible staff routinely travel long distances to ensure that they spend planned time with those who are important. As a result there is improvement in the quality of young people’ significant relationships.

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Good

Young people have fun. They benefit from a busy and active life. The young people take part in a range of activities in the community sourced to complement their ability. This includes youth club, football club, roller skating and soft play. This raises self-esteem and enables young people to develop their confidence in the community.

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Good

The communal aspects of the home are warm and welcoming. One member of staff said: ‘this is a home from home.’ Bedrooms are individualised. Young people display personal affects and this showcases their individual character and ability. The large gardens allow generous space for young people to play, plant, have fun and when the sun is out, relax in the hot tub.

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Outstanding

The staff team has not changed since the last inspection. This means that the young people continue to benefit from the continuity of care provided by a dedicated and committed group. Staff know the young people well and are genuinely interested in ensuring that each individual meets their potential. One Social Worker said: ‘I have been incredibly impressed with the care that the staff provide.’ And: ‘They are very good at trying to mirror what it would be like to live in a family home.’

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Outstanding

Young people do not go missing or leave this home without permission. Were they to do so, staff have access to local police protocols and are clear about the required action. Young people communicate that they like living in this home and that they feel protected. One young person said: ‘I must feel safe here because my nightmares have stopped.’

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Outstanding

Physical restraint is rare in the extreme. When used, staff follow procedures and make time for reflection. This means that staff think about their practice and the impact of interventions. They proactively praise young people and use positive unconditional regard. This helps young people to feel safe and to learn how to manage their own behaviour.

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Outstanding

Discussing themes researched by staff helps to raise young people’s awareness of other cultures and wider social issues. Weekly house meetings focus on encouraging all to make positive contributions towards the smooth running of the home. Staff are responsive to young people’s interests. Ideas from the young people for meals and activities ensure that staff are also aware of individual preferences. Young people’s ideas are valued and where possible are acted upon by the Registered Manager. Judgement grade

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Good

The Registered Manager has worked for the provider for a number of years and has been leading this home since 2014. He is making significant progress towards achieving the required level five management and leadership qualification in health and social care. His solution focused approach motivates the staff team to deliver individualised child centred care. Consequently, the team work efficiently together to meet the aims and objectives of the Statement of Purpose. Together they are providing positive experiences and high quality care to vulnerable young people with complex needs.

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Good

There were no requirements or recommendations raised from the last inspection.

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Good

The provider has a clear structure in place towards achieving safe and robust recruitment of staff. However, to strengthen safeguarding this inspection recommends that all applicants are required to record the specific dates for all previous employment. This will ensure that any gaps are clearly identifiable.

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Good

The Registered Manager knows the staff well. He meets regularly with all of them to discuss practice; individually and in a group. He ensures that staff routinely employed to provide day to day care in the home receive regular formal supervision. There are times when teaching support staff work in this home. This inspection identified that these members of staff do not routinely receive supervision for their work when fulfilling a social care role. This falls short of outstanding practice.

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Good

Consistent and reliable internal and external monitoring enables the Registered Manager to understand the homes strengths and recognise areas for growth. This informs the homes development plan which is focused on maintaining a homely high quality service. Areas identified for improvement are actioned which means that the home does not stagnate. In addition, the Registered Manager, supported by the team, is continually looking for new ideas to improve young people’s overall experiences.

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Good

Managers and staff have effective and meaningful professional working relationships with key stakeholders. Those spoken to were unreserved in their praise. One parent said:’ I am so proud of everything they have done for him and everything he has achieved in the home.’

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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