Children's Home, Residential special school run by The Senad Group Limited in Derbyshire

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:

 Young people make good, and in some cases exceptional, progress while living in this home. As a result of receiving personalised care from a skilled staff team, young people are provided with an excellent opportunity to reach their full potential.  Young people present as happy and settled. They speak positively about their experiences and they enjoy trusting relationships with a caring, understanding and committed staff team.  Staff provide good support to young people with complex communication difficulties, diagnoses of autistic spectrum disorders and acquired brain injuries. They provide them with high levels of encouragement and praise alongside structure, routine and clear and consistent boundaries. Parents report that young people are calmer and safer as a result of knowing what is expected of them.  Young people are respected and valued. Their views are central to the running and development of the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people benefit from a range of therapeutic supports. A co- ordinated approach between care staff, staff from the on-site school and in-house therapeutic experts ensures that care plans and packages of support meet young people’s individual needs.  Young people are kept safe because of effective and regularly reviewed risk assessments and behaviour management plans that staff consistently implement.  Young people are well prepared for their transition into adult life. Careful planning and ongoing support provide young people with a better opportunity of success in the next stage of their lives.  A new management team is aspirational and extremely child focused. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home and have clear plans for continual improvements to the service.

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Information about this children's home

 This privately owned service forms part of a residential school. It accommodates up to 56 young people who have communication difficulties or are diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14/01/2015 CH - Interim Improved effectiveness

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good

Young people make very good progress in a number of ways. A parent said: ‘My daughter has come on in leaps and bounds. She has made progress in respect of her confidence, her ability to cope, her understanding about herself and in her ability to understand other people’s point of view.’ Young people start to develop insight into their own histories, experiences, and difficulties and start to accept help to manage them. As a result, their lives stabilise, they develop life and coping skills and their future life chances are improved.

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good

Young people have positive relationships with staff, who are caring and who have a good understanding of each young person’s individual needs. A young person commented: ‘Staff help me with all I need, they notice and understand when I am struggling and put things in.’ The staff provide consistency and certainty. A family member commented in respect of a young person: ‘He is so much happier. He knows what is happening, he knows his routine; he has a really good relationship with the staff.’ The positive relationships young people develop and the consistent and predictable care they receive help provide them with the sense of stability and security that they need and deserve.

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good

Young people feel valued as their views are central to both the day-to-day running of the home and to the formulation and review of their care plans. They have regular access to advocacy services. They know how to complain and have been satisfied with the resolutions to complaints they have made. Young people chair their own house meetings. The meetings are inclusive and participation is encouraged regardless of each young person’s communication style. Young people’s views have been instrumental in developing house rules, in improving the physical environment and in deciding what activities they participate in. By involving young people in the preparation and review of their own care plans, they are more motivated to work towards goals that they have identified and wish to achieve. It provides them with a sense of control over their lives and helps raise their confidence and self-esteem.

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good

Staff are proactive in providing young people with a high level of support educationally. Young people have bespoke packages of education which are challenging, but which also reflect their strengths and interests. The progress young people make is good and in some cases exceptional. A parent said: ‘My daughter has made really good progress educationally. Staff have supported her really well through her GCSEs. She struggles with anxiety and she would never have managed to sit her exams without the support of staff.’ Some young people plan to go to university this year. As a result of their educational achievements, young people’s opportunities and choices in adulthood are greatly improved.

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good

Young people are encouraged to be healthy and staff are proactive in ensuring that they have access to appropriate physical, social and recreational activities. All young people are engaged in a number of different leisure interests that they enjoy. A parent commented: ‘My son plays badminton, squash and football. He has made friends and it gives him a break from the tension of his studies.’ As a group, young people have recently participated in the school summer fete. Some made things to sell and helped to run stalls. Other young people were involved in musical, singing and drama performances. Young people had fun. They benefited socially and emotionally. Such engagement in activities helps to build young people’s levels of confidence. It also enables them to feel an integral part of their community.

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good

Transitions for young people moving into the home are well planned and managed. A young person said: ‘Coming here was a good plan. I was told everything about it before moving in.’ Expert support from the in-house therapy team commences from the beginning of the placement. Careful planning and preparation for placements ensure that young people have the best opportunity to successfully settle into the home and feel more reassured and secure in their new environment.

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good

Young people are well prepared for their eventual move to independence and adult life. Some young people have the opportunity to move to a separate more semi- independent home in the local town. Here they can develop their independence skills in a protective and supportive environment. Other young people are well supported with transitions into their own accommodation and benefit from ongoing support from the company’s community support workers. Well-developed life skills have assisted and prepared young people greatly when they move on to the next stage of their lives.

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good

The home environment is warm and welcoming. Photos and celebrations of young people’s achievements and activities enjoyed by them are displayed around the house. Diversity is well addressed through posters and wall displays which promote respect for different cultures and individuality. These help to create an inclusive environment for young people.

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good

Young people live in a physically and emotionally safe environment. They are kept safe because of the actions staff take to support and protect them. A parent commented: ‘It is a safe place for my daughter to live as the staff know her very well. The environment is homely and warm. It is a nice atmosphere and that makes her feel safe.’ Young people say they feel safe. One said: ‘It is a safe place to live because everyone has respect for one another.’ Young people are regularly reminded of the home’s policy in respect of anti-bullying and they are helped to develop mutual respect and understanding for one another. As a result, they are provided with an increased sense of safety.

p.8

good

The management team undertake pre-placement impact assessments and reviews of current placements. These are effective in ensuring that the mix of young people living in the home does not pose safeguarding risks to young people. Individual needs, risks, and vulnerabilities are carefully considered and balanced. Action is taken to support young people to move on in a planned way should it become apparent that their needs would be better met in an alternative placement or if changes in behaviours are having a negative impact on other young people. As a result of this and high staffing ratios, young people are well protected from any risks they may pose to one another.

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good

Incidents of young people going missing from the home are rare. There have been no instances of young people going missing since well before the last inspection. However, up-to-date policies and procedures ensure that should this become an issue in the future, staff understand what actions to take to safeguard young people.

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good

Young people’s safety and well-being are also promoted by comprehensive risk management strategies. Vulnerable young people are carefully monitored and supported. This does not, however, prohibit their engagement in positive pursuits in the community. Rather, young people’s risk assessments enable young people to safely participate in and enjoy a range of activities commensurate with their age and interests, without compromising their safety.

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good

Individualised multi-agency packages of support help young people address or manage issues relating to their specific difficulties and vulnerabilities. For some young people this has resulted in significant reductions in incidents of self-harm and/or aggressive and challenging behaviours. Frequent multi-agency meetings ensure that all staff agree and understand how to respond consistently and calmly to specific behaviours. Regular reviews of young people’s progress ensure that risk management plans remain effective and that young people continue to receive the most appropriate help and support as their needs and levels of risk change.

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good

Behaviour is well managed in the home. This is because of the positive relationships young people have with staff and the implementation of consistent behaviour management strategies. A parent said: ‘Staff are really attentive to my daughter’s moods and manage her behaviour really well.’ Parents and young people are consulted in devising consequences for challenging behaviours. For example, a restorative approach was agreed for one young person after he had caused damage to the home, with an aim of increasing his sense of responsibility and reducing the potential for police intervention in the future. The use of physical intervention in the home is rare. This is testament to the skills and experience of the staff in supporting and de-escalating challenging behaviours.

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good

The company has a robust recruitment and selection procedure for new staff. They have been recruited and checked appropriately. This helps to ensure that only those people who are suitable to work with young people and do not pose a risk to their safety are employed.

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good

A new manager has been in post since March 2015. The process is underway for him to become the Registered Manager of the home. He holds the required management qualification and has experience of being a Registered Manager in other children’s homes.

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good

The home has seen significant changes in the management structure since the last full inspection. In addition to a new manager, a new head of care and a new house manager have been appointed. A number of senior support worker roles have also been created. Staff speak positively about the new managers and head of care. One described how they have been ‘empowered’ by the new manager and another expressed the view that new managers have been instrumental in bringing about positive changes in the home. The majority of staff feel supported by the new managers and share their commitment to helping young people to flourish and have positive experiences in the home. Staff are now regularly supervised. This encourages staff development and ensures practice is monitored. It also provides scope for further improvements in the delivery of care.

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good

Staff receive comprehensive training which covers mandatory and specialist areas in relation to issues which affect young people living in the home. Staff also receive access to the home’s psychotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists to discuss specific aspects of young people’s behaviours to gain insight and advice regarding their individual needs. As a result, young people benefit from care being provided to them by staff who are trained and equipped to meet their needs.

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good

The home fulfils its commitment to young people as outlined in the Statement of Purpose. This document provides clear and accurate information to parents and placing authorities about the care, support and services the home offers. Young people are provided with a guide so that they know what to expect when they come to live in the home.

p.10

good

The new management team has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They are extremely child focused, insightful and reflective. They are keen to learn from feedback from young people, staff, parents and professionals. Complaints procedures have recently been improved. Action is being taken to improve levels of communication between staff in the home and to improve consultation processes with parents. Plans are also in place to improve opportunities for staff to develop and progress personally and professionally.

p.10

good

The manager effectively monitors the progress young people make. Data in respect of young people’s progress and their patterns of behaviour are collected on a monthly basis. Patterns and trends are then analysed on a quantitative and qualitative basis and young people’s care plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are updated accordingly. The manager is thus able to demonstrate the impact living in the home is having on young people’s lives and how their life chances are improving.

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good

Quality assurance monitoring of the home, both externally and internally, is effective in identifying strengths and shortfalls in the home. Shortfalls are promptly addressed. This, in addition to the developments proposed by the management team, is indicative of a service that strives to continually improve the standard of care it provides to young people.

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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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