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Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people receive excellent, well-planned and effective personalised care that consistently meets their complex needs.  Highly effective, collaborative working relationships exist with other agencies supporting young people to make progress.  The registered manager and staff nurture relationships with families, recognising the crucial role the service has in supporting them.  The skills and abilities of young people are optimised while staying in this home. This improves their overall development.  Young people are safe. They receive outstanding care from a dedicated and nurturing staff group.  High levels of staffing ensure constant supervision of young people and helps to keeps them safe.  The physical conditions of the home are outstanding. The home is warm, friendly, personalised and has all the equipment and resources young people need.  The home has a registered manager who is dedicated and committed. He is

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

well supported by a management and staff team that are experienced and who place the needs of young people first.  Young people enjoy excellent relationships with staff. This has led to a home where young people are happy, content and making progress in all areas  There is one shortfall. The statement of purpose requires updating, to provide a description of the experience of staff members.

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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 notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(b)) 18/12/2015

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short breaks for up to six young people of either gender at any one time aged between 10 and 17 with moderate to severe learning disabilities/physical disabilities who may have additional sensory impairments and/or disabilities. The home is owned and managed by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Young people receive well planned, effective and personalised care that meets their complex needs. Receiving short-breaks care at this home significantly supports their development in all areas whilst, at the same time, providing families with much needed support. Positive and constructive relationships exist between young people and their carers. The staff team create an environment where stable and successful placements are expected for young people. This is irrespective of their circumstances and length of stay. They are valued, their strengths and abilities harnessed by staff into making sustained progress.

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff work effectively with other professionals. Allocated social workers, education and specialist health services ensure young people receive the help and support they need. Through the meticulous development of highly personalised care and placement plans, young people’s individuality is celebrated. One social worker commented, ‘the young person has developed in all areas, they are more confident and trying new skills’.

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outstanding

A detailed, thorough understanding of each young person’s health needs ensures that the staff are able to provide good, effective health care. Established professional relationships exist with both primary and specialist health care providers. This means that the full range of young people’s health care needs is met whilst in placement. Young people’s emotional well-being is continually promoted across all areas of the care they receive. This has a positive impact on their self-esteem and confidence.

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outstanding

Staff work collaboratively with schools, ensuring young people’s educational progress remains a key priority. The registered manager and staff work positively with local special needs schools. Established relationships, excellent communication, and coordinated planning ensure the short-breaks service continues to support young people’s educational development.

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outstanding

Highly valued relationships exist with families. This remains a hallmark of the service. The manager and staff understand the key role of the service in supporting families Particularly in times of crisis. A parent said, ‘the service is fantastic, they have helped him where other services couldn’t, they see my child as an individual, he can relax and be himself’.

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff excel in optimising the skills and abilities of young people through activities and the use of community resources. This means they are supported to continually make progress relative to their developmental needs and abilities.

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outstanding

Young people and their families are encouraged to voice their opinions on the care they receive. Well-planned admission processes take into account their views. This helps to ensure that care is tailored to the needs of the young person and their family. The completion of feedback sheets following each short-break is encouraged, as is participation at reviews. This means the young people and their families voice their opinions on the care provided.

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outstanding

Young people are safe in the home. They are cared for by a dedicated and skilled staff team who use effective procedures and practices to safeguard young people. Detailed safe care plans are in place. They identify areas of individual risk and vulnerability to young people. Staff use these plans to shape their work. Comprehensive shift handover and planning meetings ensure staff understand areas of concern. The staff are pro-active in promoting the welfare of young people, this keeps them safe.

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outstanding

High levels of staffing and constant supervision support and protect young people. There are no concerns with young people being exploited in any way. Staff are trained in all aspects of child protection and safeguarding over and above mandatory training. As a result, the young people are cared for by staff who ensure their welfare and safeguarding needs take precedence.

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outstanding

The physical condition of the home is outstanding. It is warm, comfortable, well decorated, and clean. Bedrooms are tailored to the needs and the likes of the young people. They are inviting, bright and vibrant. There is an abundance of play and activity equipment to ensure young people have no shortage of things to do. The garden area has excellent play equipment, raised garden areas, and sensory enhancing plants. This leads to a home that young people can enjoy and be proud of.

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outstanding

The staff team understand and embrace young people’s individual circumstances and behavioural needs. The short-term nature of placement requires that staff build effective relationships quickly. They do this well. Pro-active and imaginative approaches are used to manage behaviour. There are clear behaviour plans in place, reviewed and updated regularly. An environment of high praise and warmth promote good behaviour. Negative behaviour is addressed through good, consistent care and firm boundaries from the staff group. A pro-active approach utilising distraction and re-direction of behaviour supports with managing any difficult incidents.

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outstanding

Staff use physical intervention rarely. When required, it is used proportionately, preventing young people harming themselves and others. In these instances, interventions are recorded appropriately in accordance with procedures. The registered manager and staff de-brief thoroughly following any such incidents, seeking to understand the underlying reasons for the behaviour, learning lessons and seeking to prevent future recurrence.

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outstanding

Young people are protected through robust and purposeful multi-agency working. The registered manager and staff work with colleagues across the education and health services. There exists excellent communication and information sharing that benefits young people. The registered manager has worked closely with police colleagues on completing and reviewing the location risk assessment.

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outstanding

Young people benefit from receiving short-breaks in a home that is efficiently organised. The registered manager is suitably qualified and is updating his qualifications by undertaking the level 5 Diploma in care. He has been the registered manager since November 2011. He is experienced, knowledgeable, and well respected by the staff group. He strives to continually improve the service. He is well supported by experienced and skilled deputy managers. Managers and staff are clear about the aims and objectives of the service, which are communicated clearly to placing social workers, families, and other stakeholders.

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outstanding

Staff receive regular, effective supervision and oversight of their practice. They are accountable in their work with young people. They receive regular training and development. The manager has developed a culture of learning and development. This is crucial to improving care and outcomes for young people. The registered manager does not have to call upon the services of agency staff. Sufficiency of cover is met by the existing staff group. This ensures young people receive consistency of care from those with whom they have established relationships.

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outstanding

Young people benefit from a motivated and cohesive staff group. The staff team work together well. They are mutually respectful, and value each other and their respective contributions. Team meetings support this and take place regularly. They are well attended and structured. Ideas and improvement strategies are discussed, and plans updated. The registered manager has good and effective internal monitoring systems. In addition, through monthly visits to the home by an independent visitor support ongoing appraisal of the quality of care provided. This enables the registered manager to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the service and take prompt action to address weaknesses. Information from professionals and families derived from feedback is also used positively to develop the service.

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outstanding

The home’s statement of purpose defines the functioning of the home and the services provided. The statement, although recently reviewed and updated, omits to provide a description of the experience of the staff working at the home. This is a shortfall.

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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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