Children's Home run by North East Lincolnshire Council in North East Lincolnshire

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds 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 are thriving as a result of the excellent, trusting relationships they have with staff.  The management and staff team provide young people with consistent and nurturing care in a safe and homely environment.  Consistent partnership working with relevant agencies provides young people with a shared approach to their care and development.  Young people’s significant progress in developing confidence in their social skills enable them to participate in community based activities.  The staff are fully engaged in implementing the new legislation as a result of the effective leadership.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The information set out in the Statement of Purpose is an essential part of the process of agreement between the registered person and the placing authority that a placement in the home is the right one for that child, and that the home will be able to respond effectively to the child's assessed needs. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.6) In particular that the Statement of Purpose accurately reflects the specialist interventions employed within the home.

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Information about this children's home

This is a local authority long-stay children’s home. It is registered to provide care to three young people of either gender with physical and learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Young people are thriving in their comfortable, well-equipped home. The property is all on one level allowing young people to access all areas. Their bedrooms are individually decorated in line with their wishes. Decoration in the communal areas is carefully chosen to avoid over stimulation. Young people enjoy excellent, warm and trusting relationships with staff. They are happy and feel secure. This sense of belonging empowers them to grow and develop self-care and independence skills where they are able. An independent advocate said, ‘(Name) oozes the atmosphere of a very happy family home.’

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outstanding

Exceptional care planning incorporates every aspect of young people’s individual vulnerabilities. The views of their family members and other interested parties are regularly captured and used to inform their care. As a result they are making substantial progress across all aspects of their lives. A parent said, ‘(Name) is making really good and very big progress in her social and life skills. She’s doing things she couldn’t do before. You can see how confident she is now and she is so happy. I would call them outstanding.’

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outstanding

All three young people are achieving well to the best of their ability in full time education. The committed staff team fully support them as good parents would. This enables young people to fully participate in the life of the school enhancing their learning and sense of inclusion. A deputy principal said, ‘Living in the home for (Name) has been the making of her. She was able to participate in school events, like the drum festival in an evening and her family from the home came to see her. This was so important for her and really increased her self-esteem and gave her confidence she could do more.’

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outstanding

Young people’s generic and complex health needs are well met. Where they are physically able they are now taking responsibility for their own self care needs. This in turn boosts their emotional health and well-being. As a result of the excellent partnership working between the home, dieticians, physiotherapists and their school one young person is now in the process of learning to walk in a walker. This is a ‘phenomenal’ achievement which she is really proud of.

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outstanding

The knowledgeable staff team fully understand each young person’s communication methods. They proactively use ‘Thoughts and Feelings’ cards and sensitive encouragement to ensure requests are shared and met. Young people without verbal skills each have regular visits from an independent visitor ensuring their voice is heard. One young person has progressed so far that she was able to ask for and choose new bedding and a teddy bear for her bedroom. Another young person participated in the interviews for the appointment of a new independent reviewing officer (IRO). The more young people feel understood and heard the more they grow in confidence. A young person said, ‘I’m really proud about taking part in the interviews for the IRO. Especially when the one I liked best got the job.’

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outstanding

Young people are provided with a wealth of opportunities to become involved in inclusive leisure activities in the home and community. One young person regularly goes swimming, attends church weekly with a friend and attends a local Girl Guide group. Another is about to embark upon riding for the disabled. These experiences enhance young people’s lives, enables them to make relationships outside of the home and broadens their horizons. They have fun while developing social and life skills. A social worker said, ‘She is making her voice heard now. She will go outside in the garden now just wandering round, they have really encouraged that’ and a young person said, ‘I love having all of these friends.’

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outstanding

The excellent relationships the staff have built with family members enrich young people’s lives as they are able to have regular positive contact. Staff have enabled one young person to have contact with all of her siblings and are supporting family members to see their children in their own homes. These relationships benefit young people now and will support them in their future adult placements. A parent said, ‘It helps that they come round to visit. I am more part of her life now.’

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outstanding

Excellent individual risk assessments are carefully applied. These, coupled with high staffing levels, keep young people safe while allowing them to take appropriate risks in line with their age and ability. For example, engaging in positive activities in the community. A parent said, ‘She’s very safe, she has the ultimate one to one care and that shows in who she is now.’

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outstanding

The proactive staff team are knowledgeable about locally agreed missing person protocols. Young people do not go missing from the home but staff would be prepared if they became lost while out in the community. Excellent information cards are carried which contain all the necessary information about the young person and their vulnerabilities. Young people are protected by these measures. An independent advocate said, ‘The safeguarding is always brilliant.’

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outstanding

Young people trust staff and feel safe in their care. The home’s behaviour management plan is complemented by excellent individual strategies that ensure staff understand why a young person is behaving in the way they are. As a result young people are sensitively deflected from unsafe behaviours and there has never been the need for restraint. A young person said, ‘I think they should be outstanding for everything because I can’t remember feeling happier and safer in my life.’

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outstanding

The skilled and experienced manager has held Registered Manager status for six years. She holds the Level 5 Registered Manager’s Diploma and Level 4 NVQ in Children and Young People as well as being an advanced physical intervention tutor. She has managed this home since it opened in September 2014 and is extremely well supported by two excellent senior care officers. She is aspirational for the young people in her care to be happy and achieve to the best of their ability. She said, ‘I say to staff, if there is a barrier, climb over it.’

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outstanding

Young people make significant progress from their starting points. The manager carefully monitors this and their achievements are comprehensively recorded in their ‘memory folders’. These folders also contain photographs of the events, for example, shopping in a supermarket, at a local disco or using an I Pad. These enable young people to see for themselves what they have achieved and they take great joy and pride in doing so. An IRO said, ‘It was the manager who asked whether she did need a long term children's home or why couldn’t she go in to foster care, which demonstrates how well they know their kids.’

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outstanding

The nurturing and experienced staff team bring a range of skills to their role which benefits young people. Staff report that they are well supported and trained. They state that they have felt more involved in the implementation of the new quality standards. Working together in team days to present each of the standards to each other has provided them with a more in-depth knowledge of legislation and how that impacts on young people’s care. This innovative practice empowers staff to have more investment in the home which further benefits young people. A staff member said, ‘The staff team is so good, they have made me so welcome, everyone really pulls together. Everyone has different qualities which works really well as a team.’

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outstanding

Excellent internal and external monitoring processes ensure that young people are safeguarded and their well-being promoted. As a result of the manager’s consultation with parents and professionals she has instituted a programme of visiting family members on a regular basis to keep them informed. This proactive approach allows family members to be more involved in their children’s care increasing their sense of belonging.

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outstanding

Although the home’s Statement of Purpose meets with legislation and provides an outline of the care to be provided some areas are too generic. This does not have a negative impact on young people as the home is achieving its aims and objectives. However the specialist interventions provided are not fully explained.

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outstanding

Excellent relationships between staff and partner agencies fully benefit young people. This consistent, regular communication and close collaboration between agencies further enhances young people’s sense of security and trust. This enables young people to grow and progress to the best of their ability and then to take pride in their achievements. An IRO said, ‘(Home’s name) has become my go to place because the atmosphere is so calm and stimulating. I just drop in. The outcomes for them all are outstanding.’

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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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