Children's Home, Residential special school run by Hopscotch Solutions Limited in Rutland

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.

p.2

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people receive excellent care provided by a motivated, committed and nurturing staff team.  Progress is made in all areas of young people’s lives. This means they continually improve their development, and as a result, confidence and self- esteem increase.  Education is continually promoted across the service so young people accomplish excellent achievements.  A highly successful programme of healthy eating achieves good results, with young people being more aware of the importance of healthy eating and health more broadly.  Highly effective relationships with families support young people to maintain contact with those important to them.  Young people are safe and kept safe by excellent staff practice. Staff are nurturing, caring and work to established policies and procedures.  The environment is homely, clean and well furnished. Young people personalise their environment throughout, and they are encouraged to

p.3

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

express their wishes and feelings in all aspects of the care provided.  The service is led by a committed and skilled leadership and management team. They ensure the staff team are supported and provided with the guidance and training they require to provide the best possible care.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for 12 young people with autism. Young people may have learning difficulties, challenging behaviour, ADHD, epilepsy and dyspraxia. The home also incorporates a registered full-time school. The home is privately owned and managed, providing services mainly to local authorities. 

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

24/03/2015 Interim Improved Effectiveness

p.4

outstanding

The management and staff team champion highly effective and nurturing care, the quality of which makes a positive difference to the lives of young people. Ensuring young people’s needs are met remains the main priority. Young people make sustained progress in all areas of their lives, particularly with education, social and health development. They live in an environment where they are settled, happy and content. As a result, their confidence and self-esteem continue to improve, and they make progress in this outstanding home.

p.5

outstanding

The crucial importance of education is understood, valued and constantly promoted. The home benefits from full integration with a registered school. Consequently, all young people achieve excellent attendance. They make progress both academically and in relation to their developmental needs more broadly, and benefit from having bespoke achievement targets that set them realistic goals. These ensure they are challenged to achieve, while being realistic and set against their abilities. This means they continually achieve success in education, become more confident and make progress.

p.5

outstanding

Proactive approaches to meeting young people’s health needs are being implemented throughout the service. Success is being achieved with promoting healthy eating. Young people are fully involved with eating five-a-day vegetables and fruit. The managers have used research and developed a fun, engaging and meaningful programme to improve health outcomes in this area. As a result, young people are now enjoying choosing the fruit and vegetables they will be eating each day. Choices of food are discussed further at young people’s meetings and consultations, with an emphasis on healthy eating. Exercise is combined with day- to-day activities and overseen by the occupational therapist, making it fun. Young people are registered with primary health professionals and receive specialist support were required. This means that the health needs are met, with advances being achieved to improve the overall health of young people now and into the

p.5

outstanding

Young people benefit from highly effective relationships with families and other people in their lives. The registered manager and staff fully understand the importance of these relationships. Contact is actively promoted, with staff paying particular attention to planning and organising positive family contact. Staff members support parents to make the time they spend with their children pleasant and enjoyable. Families who visit the home are welcomed and experience a positive and encouraging time. A parent said the following: ‘The staff are always wanting to help and we can’t praise the home and the staff enough.’

p.5

outstanding

The young people’s life skills and knowledge improve. They benefit from opportunities for learning and development. Skills include self-care, making decisions, encouragement of self-reliance, and responsibility. The managers and staff have enrolled all young people on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. This means they are undertaking tasks to benefit the local community and trying new skills. As a result, their overall skills improve, they achieve success and benefit from enhanced integration in the local community.

p.6

outstanding

Independent advocacy for young people is a high priority for the registered manager. The independent advocate visits the home regularly and is available to engage with young people and listen to them. Additionally, young people’s meetings take place regularly and there is now a young person’s council. This means that their views are listened to and their contribution valued.

p.6

outstanding

Young people are safe and are kept safe by the staff looking after them. Staff are adept at understanding and following established procedures and practice to help safeguard young people. Comprehensive assessments are in place regarding their needs. The registered manager and staff harness this information to shape daily care plans and behaviour support plans, tailored to the individual young person’s needs. This practice is underpinned by safeguarding training for everyone working with them. Consequently, staff know how to care for, and keep them safe.

p.6

outstanding

The home environment is safe. The risk assessments regarding the health and safety of staff and young people are reviewed regularly. Managers and staff are informed about any required changes, and provide updates in health and safety. Routine testing of fire safety equipment takes place together with fire evacuations. There are some examples of exceptional practice. For example, the health and safety manager arranged for the fire service to visit with a fire engine. Young people were able to spend time in the fire engine, ensuring they are not, in the event of fire, afraid of the engine or uniforms and equipment. The home is comfortable, well decorated and clean. It is personalised and provides a homely feel that is not institutional. Young people live in a safe and comfortable environment that is a home they can be proud of.

p.6

outstanding

Exceptionally detailed behaviour support plans help staff manage young people’s behaviour well. They help young people to explore how to manage their frustrations, and develop alternative ways to convey their feelings and emotions without recourse to aggressive behaviour. There are no concerns with children going missing from care, or drug and alcohol misuse. The staff are nurturing, caring and have well-established relationships with young people. The use of distractions, redirection and communication replaces the need for punitive measures of behaviour management. Young people respond well to alternative behaviour management strategies that move them from the issue of frustration to focus upon other activities. The approach is further strengthened through celebrating their achievements, and there is encouragement to focus on positives.

p.6

outstanding

Physical interventions have been used to prevent harm to others, including staff and young people. All members of staff have received training in the appropriate use of physical intervention. Recording of incidents is thorough and detailed. The staff try to understand the behaviour and reasons giving rise to the need for physical intervention to try and prevent recurrence. Continued research is ongoing in the home to reduce the need for, and incidents of, physical intervention.

p.7

outstanding

Effectively trained and supported staff keep young people safe. The staff receive a range of training, which includes child protection, child sexual exploitation, self- harm and missing from care, although these events do not happen in this home. Regular updates of staff training mean that staff are knowledgeable and well placed to protect young people. The policies and procedures for keeping young people safe are reviewed regularly and updated in line with any developments. There has been one allegation against a member of staff. This was robustly investigated in strict accordance with policy and procedure and was unfounded.

p.7

outstanding

Young people know how to complain, although this is rare in this home. Young people are supported by trusted and independent adults. Complaints are dealt with quickly and fairly by the registered manager. This means that young people’s representations are taken seriously and addressed to the satisfaction of all involved.

p.7

outstanding

The recruitment and retention of staff are good. Potential new staff members undergo a rigorous recruitment process. Criminal records checks, references and employment histories are interrogated, ensuring the recruitment process is safe. This means the likelihood of young people being harmed by those in positions of trust is reduced.

p.7

outstanding

The home is effectively led by a committed, knowledgeable and experienced registered manager. She is appropriately qualified and holds a National Vocational Qualification at level 4 in leadership and management. She leads a team of deputy managers who demonstrate ambition and determination to improve services for young people.

p.7

outstanding

New young people admitted to the home are supported by comprehensive plans overseen by the managers. All admissions are planned and only agreed in circumstances where the home can fully meet their needs. Information regarding the young person is garnered from placing local authorities, previous placements and families. Placement plans consist of services young people will need to thrive physically, emotionally and educationally.

p.8

outstanding

Exceedingly good care is provided by a stable staff team, who are provided with good quality professional supervision. They are accountable in their work with young people and receive guidance and support from managers. Practice is regularly appraised and training made available, which is excellent. Staff members have a graduated career development system. This is effective, linking training, development and accountability in their role to their knowledge and skills. Young people benefit from a well-supported, well-trained and motivated staff group.

p.8

outstanding

Excellent systems for communication are in place across the staff team. Effective team meetings focus upon the care needs of young people and professional practice. These meetings are supported by clear agendas and are well attended by staff. Staff members have respectful relationships and value each other’s contributions and views. They are able to express opinions, and come up with new ideas and views. This leads to a well-coordinated and motivated staff team.

p.8

outstanding

The accurate, informative and detailed statement of purpose has been reviewed recently by the registered manager. Key stakeholders have a clear understanding of the purpose, aims and objectives of the home. This is because the statement defines the central function and ethos of the home and how services are delivered. This ensures the young people receive integrated and all-inclusive services that support their wide-ranging and complex needs.

p.8

outstanding

The registered manager takes a systematic approach to appraising the quality of care being provided. This includes internal monitoring systems which harness information from a robust independent visitor following monthly visits, information from questionnaires, feedback from professionals, compliments and complaints. These enable the registered manager to continually evaluate the service, extrapolate key data and take action. This means that young people benefit from a continually improving service.

p.8

outstanding

Strong multi-agency practice ensures young people’s needs are of paramount importance. The regular reviews of plans through multi-agency meetings and good communication ensures agencies are coordinated and have shared aims. A social worker stated: ‘All the young people are treated as individuals, communication is good and young people are and become who they really are.’

p.8

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.

p.10

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

p.10

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.12

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.12

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

p.12