Children's Home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

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:

 Comprehensive pre-admission assessment, combined with individualised care planning, effectively addresses each young person’s individual needs.  A skilled, knowledgeable and dedicated staff team provide high standards of care, support and nurture.  Robust understanding of safeguarding practice ensures young people’s protection from potential harm, both inside and outside of the home.  Senior leadership arrangements are strong, highly effective and ensure meticulous attention to the individual needs of each young person.  The registered manager and deputy manager are a formidable team who share a commitment to further improvement. They strive to ensure young people benefit from the best possible care.  Excellent professional relationships between the home and partner agencies mean young people receive cohesive and well-coordinated care provision.  A shortfall with fire drills is to be addressed to strengthen fire safety

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The children's home provision is good because:

practice.  Arrangements to meet the educational needs of young people require further improvement to ensure young people of school age sustain regular attendance.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that persons working at the home are aware of the procedure to be followed in care of fire. With specific regard to fire evacuations conducted upon the admission of young people. (Regulation (25)(1)(d)) 17/11/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Children should be in full-time education whilst they are of compulsory school age, unless their personal education plan contained within the care plan or other relevant plan states otherwise. The home must aim to support full time attendance at school unless the child’s relevant plan indicates this is not in their best interests. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 28, paragraph 5.14)

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a local authority and can accommodate up to four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is a short-term assessment provision whereby needs are assessed and a suitable long-term placement is identified within a 12-week assessment period.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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good

Young people’s experience of this home is very positive. All young people said that they would prefer to live with their families, but that this home is, ‘the best care home I have lived in.’ One said: ‘When I arrived I was welcomed and made to feel that this is my home.’ This means young people feel valued and can develop relationships with staff during their assessment placement.

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good

Care plans, placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are comprehensive, detailed and up to date. All care planning is fully inclusive of needs relating to young people’s cultural background and personal identity. One independent reviewing officer said staff encourage young people to express their views about care planning, she said: ‘They take into account their views and hear it well.’ Regular reviews of plans ensure young people receive consistent care and the staff team has clarity in order to provide effective support. Care provision ensures young people are valued as individuals with unique needs.

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good

Social workers and independent reviewing officers were unanimous in saying that staff, ‘go above and beyond’ and ‘do their very best’ to provide high quality care for young people. Young people confirm these views by saying: ‘I would say it’s a good home. You get everything you need, not everything you want.’ Another young person said: ‘You can have a laugh with the staff here.’ Relationships between young people and staff are nurturing, caring and respectful.

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good

Educational engagement and attendance is variable within this home. The staff team are persistent in supporting and encouraging young people to attend school, college or training provision. However, some young people refuse to attend school. This means educational outcomes are poorer in the long term. Regardless of the challenges, staff are dedicated in working alongside a range of educational providers to support young people in their education.

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good

Health outcomes for young people improve because of their care in this home. The proactive staff team work with a range of health care providers, including the looked after children nurse, who said: ‘Staff work well in managing the routine and specific health needs of young people.’ However, some young people compromise their health due to smoking and use of legal highs. In such circumstances, substance misuse workers and alternative external agencies provide young people with advice, guidance and support. This means young people gain an understanding of key health risks. Young people benefit from support to develop their independence skills in accordance with their individual needs and competence. They learn practical tasks, such as cooking, cleaning and doing their own laundry. These skills enable young people to learn about responsibility and self-care. One social worker said: ‘They provide a balance of care and support.’ Well-planned transitions to new long-term

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good

placements ensure that when young people are ready to leave this home, they feel well supported and fully involved in decisions about their futures.

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good

Arrangements to support young people to maintain links with families, carers and friends are individualised and promote positive and meaningful contact. Contact arrangements are in accordance with care plans and inclusive of young people’s wishes and preferences. This means young people maintain their family identity and develop relationships in a safe and positive manner.

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good

Arrangements for safeguarding young people are highly effective. During their time in the home, some young people significantly improve and reduce their risk taking and challenging behaviours. This leads to them becoming increasingly safe. Social workers and independent reviewing officers all confirm that this home consistently provides safe care and protection for young people.

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good

One young person who has a history of missing from care said: ‘I used to be missing all the time, but staff are alright with me and I try not to let them down.’ The skilled and knowledgeable staff team are effective in managing and minimising incidents of young people missing from care. Where incidents occur, robust partnership work with the police ensures a timely response to safeguard young people. Missing from care protocols are effectively implemented. This ensures prompt and responsive action. Upon return to the home, young people engage in return interviews to discuss the circumstances leading to them going missing. This ensures understanding of the factors leading to such incidents.

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good

The registered manager has built effective and cooperative links with the local police service. A police officer said: ‘Communication is always excellent. The staff team attended training on radicalisation and child sexual exploitation. They contact me whenever there is anything to discuss.’ In addition, the home has well- established links with the local safeguarding teams and Local Authority Designated Officer. Because of this collaboration, potential concerns about the safety or welfare of young people are shared, strategies are agreed and implemented in a timely manner. There has been no use of physical restraint in the home since the last inspection. The home does not routinely use physical restraint as a method of behaviour management. However, all staff are appropriately trained to be able to undertake physical interventions.

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good

The health and safety of young people, staff and visitors within the home is assured through routine checks and servicing. Detailed and regularly reviewed generic and specific risk assessments cover all aspects of daily living. The home has a continual programme of maintenance, which ensures timely repair and remedial work. Health and safety checks, including fire equipment are current and environmental risks assessments are in place. The prescribed level of public and employee liability insurance is in place.

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good

Regular fire drills ensure that young people and staff understand the dangers of fire and how to evacuate the home. However, practice fire drills do not always take place in a timely manner upon admission to the home. This potentially compromises safe evacuation of the home. A requirement has been raised to strengthen this procedure.

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outstanding

The registered manager for this home has substantial experience within children’s residential care. He holds the Diploma level 5 in Leadership and Management and National Vocational Qualification at level 4 in Caring for Children and Young People. The deputy manager is a highly skilled, qualified social worker who has substantial experience within the residential sector. Their combined knowledge and experience ensure highly effective leadership for the home. The local authority senior manager who oversees residential homes has excellent levels of understanding and knowledge of residential care. She has a strategic overview of each home and works closely with the managers to drive improvement. The registered manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has clear plans for further development. The registered manager and senior manager collaborate with each other and young people, to identify

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outstanding

ways to improve practice. This means managers maintain a continual focus on enhancing the care of young people.

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outstanding

There was one requirement made at the last inspection. This has been fulfilled, with the statement of purpose now including arrangements for the home to accommodate asylum seeking children and young people. A key strength of the home is the stable, long-serving staff team. The multi- cultural team have a diverse range of language, cultural and religious knowledge. This means the home can fulfil the needs of young people as outlined in the statement of purpose. Additionally, the home employs staff of varying ages, genders and professional backgrounds. This mean young people are more likely to be able to identify staff that they engage and identify with.

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outstanding

Both managers have a wide-ranging knowledge of childcare theories and systems that underpin their working practice. This provides a selection of methods in working with individual young people who have very specific needs. However, they are clear in stating that their primary aim is to provide a ‘home’ for young people and to be able to assess individual needs effectively throughout the assessment period.

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outstanding

Regular reflective supervision and bi-annual appraisals ensure staff performance is rigorously monitored and evaluated. Staff report high levels of satisfaction with their job roles and professional support. Additionally, a comprehensive training programme ensures the continuous professional development of staff. These combined processes ensure young people benefit from safe and high standards of care. The registered manager is meticulous in his scrutiny of referrals to the home. This process is essential to make sure that that home can fully meet the holistic needs of all young people. Additionally, it is imperative to make sure that the group of young people are compatible. The manager advocates passionately on behalf of young people to make sure they get the best possible admission and transition plans. He challenges social care professionals and questions decision-making, where he feels that young people are not getting the best possible care. This

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outstanding

makes young people feel safe and valued. Excellent professional relationships between the home and social care, education, health and the police ensure cohesive collaboration. Social care professionals consistently commend the staff with comments such as: ‘I have a lot of high regard for the work they do.’ These positive professional relationships and effective communication are essential in securing the best possible care for all young people. The statement of purpose is an accessible document, which is in accordance with recent changes to regulation. The operation, function and purpose of this home are accurately described in the statement of purpose. Consequently, social care professionals and parents are aware of the scope and remit of the home. Social workers are happy that the home meets the needs of the young people and achieves the aims of the home as they are set out in the statement of purpose.

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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

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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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