Children's Home run by Grace Care Limited in Nottingham

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:

 The progress and experiences of young people are outstanding. This is because they receive an excellent standard of individualised care from a committed staff team. They make very good progress in all areas of their lives taking into account their disabilities and starting points.  Empowerment of young people is top priority and staff strive to enable young people to have a real say in their lives including the running of the home.  Young people’s health improves significantly. This is because staff promote healthy living as well as ensuring young people access to all relevant health services.  Young people receive excellent practical and emotional support to maintain contact with their families, friends and people who are important to them. Staff also provide excellent support to family members.  There is a real commitment to learning. Young people’s attendance at school is excellent and staff work collaboratively with schools to ensure they

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

have every opportunity to reach their full potential.  Learning extends beyond school. Young people acquire a range of independence skills while at the same time having fun. As a result, they become more confident and their self-esteem improves.  Young people benefit tremendously from a wide range of leisure and social activities. They are given every opportunity to pursue their interests and hobbies and fulfil their aspirations. Staff work tirelessly to ensure young people can fulfil their aspirations as well as trying new activities.  Staff fully understand the need for partnership working and this is a key strength. This ensures young people get the best possible care. Families and a range of professionals confirm that staff work very well with them. A family member told the inspector that they all ‘work as a team.’  An area for improvement is the recording of behavioural incidents and physical intervention.

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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 all records of restraint and behavioural incidents give clear details of actions taken to enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 49, paragraph 9.59.)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is run by a private company and provides care and accommodation for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

17/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Outstanding

Young people receive excellent individualised care from a committed staff team who have high aspirations for them. They benefit tremendously from living at the home and make significant progress in all areas given their starting points. They enjoy trusting and nurturing relationships with staff. A social worker’s report for a young person’s review stated that he ‘has made some really fantastic progress in the last six months. Staff have been really supportive of the young person being able to reach his full potential and have really encouraged his independence skills.’ The following comment was received from a teacher, ‘I am so impressed with the home my pupil has been in, it has helped to turn her life around.’ One young person communicated that they were ‘happy’ living in the home.

p.5

Outstanding

Young people receive praise regularly and their achievements are celebrated. As a result, they have become more confident and their self-esteem has improved greatly. This enables them to try new activities and experiences.

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Outstanding

Progress made by young people is evident in the monthly visits by the independent visitor who is now able to spend time with them. The visitor has recently been invited to have tea with the young people. This truly demonstrates young people’s development, resilience and progress in being able to socialise with other people.

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Outstanding

Admission procedures are very good, even for young people who are referred at short-notice. The registered manager works collaboratively with parents, previous placements, schools and other relevant professionals to obtain relevant information. This helps in making the right decision and informs the compatibility risk assessment. The registered manager produces individualised plans to introduce the young person to ensure admission to the home is at their pace and is as smooth and as comfortable as possible. Young people have very detailed care plans (known as residential action plans), risk assessments and behaviour management plans. Staff review these documents regularly and amend where necessary. This helps to ensure young people receive care based on their current needs. A new care plan format is being introduced to reflect the new quality standards and regulations.

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Outstanding

Each young person has a detailed outcome record which gives their individual targets and this is monitored and reviewed regularly. This also helps to ensure any barriers to them making progress are identified and alternative solutions implemented. Young people’s physical and emotional health improves significantly because they access relevant health services and healthy living is promoted in the home. Working in partnership with a range of health professionals is embedded in daily practice and ensures young people’s health needs are met in a safe environment. A young person has lost a significant amount of weight since living at the home and this has improved their mobility, which in turn has increased their opportunities to engage in more activities. The safe management of medication helps to protect young people from the risk of harm and meet their health needs. Staff work tenaciously to enable young people to take control in their lives

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Outstanding

wherever possible and make informed choices. Staff use a range of different communication methods to empower young people. Evidence from this inspection supports that young people are given choices and actively listened to. Their hopes and aspirations are realised because of the hard work of staff including collaborative working with families and other professionals. The promotion of education is a high priority. Staff work very closely with schools to ensure young people get the best chances to reach their full potential. Staff attend parents and carer’s evenings and all other school events, often with parents or key family members. Young people’s attendance is excellent and they enjoy school. Young people are also supported to attend the end of year school ball. The theme for one young person’s school ball was Bollywood which he thoroughly enjoyed and learnt about different cultures at the same time. Young people are

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Outstanding

also supported to contribute to fundraising events at the school. One young person baked cakes for a charity coffee morning. Learning continues in the home and young people acquire social and practical skills while at the same time having fun. Promoting independence is central to the care provided and part of day-to-day practice. Young people are encouraged to do as much for themselves as possible which takes into account their abilities and potential to increase their skills. They engage in learning to cook and doing their laundry. One young person prepares his packed lunch for school each day. Another young person is now able to take part in the administration of his medication by describing them to staff, and he recently went to the barbers for the first time since living at the home. Young people receive excellent practical and emotional support to maintain contact with their families and other people who are important to them. A professional

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Outstanding

commented that staff ‘go the extra mile to ensure the young person has contact with family members.’ Staff are also very supportive of family members. An aspiration of one young person was to fly on an aeroplane to Edinborough and stay for a holiday. This was made possible as a member of staff accompanied the young person with their grandparent. The grandparent could not praise the staff enough for this and told the inspector that the planning for the trip was meticulous. Young people have been supported to retain their friendship with a previous resident of the home and have been out with her on a couple of occasions. Young people benefit greatly by being able to access a wide range of leisure opportunities based on their individual likes, interests and aspirations. These include swimming, bowling, going out for meals, scouts, attending the Special Olympics club, going to a truck festival and having holidays. Staff work hard to

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Outstanding

challenge any barriers to young people being able to access different activities. They are meticulous in their planning, researching information and risk assessing activities. This is particularly evident in the planning of young people’s holidays away. The young people went on holiday to Mablethorpe during the summer school holiday which they thoroughly enjoyed. There are lots of photographs displayed of young people and staff on different trips and activities. Young people also learn about other cultures and contribute to community events. For example, one young person helps at the annual Caribbean Carnival and has been a volunteer with the scouts at a local annual fair. This means young people are able to contribute to the wider community. Young people live in a home which is decorated, furnished and maintained to a very high standard. It is very comfortable while at the same time taking into account the behavioural needs of young people. There are lots of photographs in

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Outstanding

communal areas of young people and staff. Bedrooms reflect individuals’ identity, interest and personalities. Young people were very proud of their rooms when they showed the inspector.

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Good

Young people feel safe and are safe. Staff are committed to keeping young people safe and they receive a range of training to enable them to do this. Staff implement safeguarding policies and procedures effectively and fully understand their responsibilities in reporting any safeguarding concerns. They are tenacious in reporting any allegations against staff regardless of the fact that some young people have a history of making allegations which have been unfounded.

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Good

Risk management plays an important part in keeping young people safe while at the same time allowing them to develop and try new experiences. There are extensive and detailed risk assessments in place for all young people. Planning for activities, including any new ones, is thorough. Young people have trusting relationships with staff and they know they will be listened to. The complaints procedure is produced in a format that young people can use. There have been no complaints since the last full inspection. However, complaints historically have been dealt with promptly. This helps to protect young people from the risk of harm and abuse.

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Good

The management of young people’s behaviour is very good and as a consequence improves greatly. This is because staff work hard to implement consistent boundaries to ensure they understand what is expected of them. A social worker commented that a key strength of the team is working consistently with the young person to manage his behaviour. Physical intervention is used as a last resort and there are always debriefs after any incidents whereby staff reflect on practice. This helps to ensure it is appropriate, safe and informs future practice. However, some incident report forms and records of physical intervention lack details of the types of behaviour displayed, who was actually involved in the intervention and why certain actions were taken. Although the registered manager conducts debriefs with staff after incidents, poor recording has the potential to affect monitoring of practice.

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Good

Incidents of young people going missing are rare. This can be attributed to high staffing levels and effective risk management practices. However, young people’s risk assessments give details of actions to take in the event of a young person going missing.

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Good

Young people live in a safe and secure environment because the management of health and safety is good. All staff take responsibility for health and safety checks which are carried out regularly. Equipment and installations are serviced as required. Fire safety practices take into account young people’s needs. The company responds quickly to any shortfalls identified. For example, a recent visit by the Fire and Rescue service identified that the doors needed self-closures fitting. This was addressed promptly.

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Good

Recruitment practices are good and help to protect young people from the risk of harm. Finding the right person is more important that filling a vacancy.

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Good

The registered manager has been in post since August 2015. She has worked at the home since the home was registered and was deputy manager for a year prior to becoming the manager. She is a qualified social worker and is currently undertaking the level 5 qualification in leadership and management. She is enthusiastic about improving the lives of young people and subscribes to a number of websites and organisations to keep up-to-date with current research and childcare practice. She uses her experience and these resources to develop practice in the home.

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Good

Staff operate in a way as described in the home’s statement of purpose. For example, young people are able to pursue their individual interests and hobbies as well as being given many opportunities to try new activities. The children’s guide is produced in different formats to accommodate individuals’ communication needs.

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Good

Young people receive an excellent standard of care from a committed and well- trained staff team. Staff work enthusiastically with young people and strive to give them the best opportunities and experiences in life. Staff work together well as a team and feel supported and listened to by the management team. A comment received from a staff member stated ‘‘Everyone's opinions and views are respected and valued regardless of their experience or position.’

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Good

The registered manager and responsible individual are committed to continual improvement and they monitor staff practice and records very closely. Staff receive monthly supervision which is of a high standard and where shortfalls in practice are identified additional supervision is provided. Staff use reflection to assess and develop their practice. Training is also responsive to shortfalls identified, for example, the registered manager has identified poor recording by a number of staff and has arranged recording training.

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Good

There are a range of additional quality assurance systems and tools used to monitor the quality of care and the progress of young people. Examples include individual outcome records for young people and monthly quality assurance reports completed by the registered manager. Internal monitoring systems are complemented by the monthly visits undertaken by the independent visitor. Ofsted receives copies of these reports as required which helps the regulator to monitor the quality of care provided.

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Good

There is a real commitment to partnership working and it is an integral part of staff practice. It helps to ensure young people’s holistic needs are met and that they get the best possible care. Feedback from families and social workers support this. A social worker commented that the staff have, ‘excellent communication, they always respond quickly to email, telephone calls and texts.’ Another professional commented, ’staff work well with all professionals, they are accepting of advice and are proactive in seeking solutions to issues as and when they arise.’

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of 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 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 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 Young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave Young people being harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of Young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of 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 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 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 Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes

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Information about this inspection

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 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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