Children's Home run by Action for Children Services Ltd in Staffordshire

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:

 Children and young people lead an active life and are able to enjoy a range of activities.  Children and Young people build strong and positive relationships with staff.  Children and young people's well-being is at the forefront of the home’s care.  All children and young people report feeling safe.  Individual vulnerabilities are comprehensively risk assessed.  Staff are clear about their roles and supported to provide children and young people with high standards of care.  All children and young people engage in education or training.  Staff work in partnership with other agencies and communication is good.  Children and young people are consulted on a regular basis through formal meetings and key working sessions.  Relationships between families and the children’s home are excellent.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides residential short breaks for up to five young people with learning and/or physical disabilities. The service is operated by a charitable organisation in partnership with a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

27/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

17/02/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Children and young people enjoy coming to the home for short breaks. They have strong and trusting relationships with staff. This is demonstrated by the warmth and affection between children and young people and the staff supporting them. One Parent reported, ‘I am very happy with the service, the staff go out of the way to support my grandson’. Individual care plans are of a good quality, reflecting children and young people’s needs and charting their progress. Staff show a good understanding of these plans and consistently put these into practice ensuring children and young people's needs are effectively promoted. This means children and young people receive a highly individualised service designed to meet their diverse needs. Staff work hard to match children and young people when planning their short break. This includes those who are at the same school and the same age group. This helps sustain relationships and gives children and young people the

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good

opportunity to develop friendships with others. Children and young people's experiences since their admissions have had a significant impact on many aspects of their lives. One parent reported about their child, ‘she’s improved so much socially and now helps out with the other children’. Liaison with children and young people’s schools is good, which ensures a consistent approach to learning. Staff attend the different school settings to contribute to education review meetings to share relevant information and contribute to individual targets. Communication between parents and the home is excellent. All children and young people live with their parents and stay in the home on a planned basis for a set number of nights per year. The parents receive regular reports on the progress of their child, including highlighting any achievements. One parent reported, If he is slightly off or sick they will always ring us, I get a report after each time he has

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good

stayed telling me what he’s done, played with, eaten and what activities he’s taken part in, they are very good for communication’. Children and young people benefit from a wide range of activities that are well planned taking into account what children and young people like to do such as going to the cinema, bowling, going to football matches, arts and crafts and different day trips out. The home has a sensory room which children and young people use along with other craft activities and entertainment systems. The outside play area within the grounds of the home offers children and young people a range of adapted specialised play equipment to enjoy. These activities enable children and young people to have fun, build confidence and promote friendships with others. The views and opinions of children and young people are actively sought on aspects of the home. This is facilitated by the regular young people's forum and

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good

one to one sessions with staff. Children and young people make decisions about future group activities and menu planning. Staff are skilful in communicating with children and young people, even for those who have no verbal communication. For example, staff are proficient in Makaton and some children and young people use a picture exchange communication system. This means that all children and young people have the opportunity to share their views and influence the running of the home.

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good

Children and young people are safe. The staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities to protect children and young people from harm and are appropriately trained in safeguarding and demonstrate a good understanding of the home's safeguarding policy. Close monitoring and supervision of children and young people around the home help to keep them safe and make them feel safe without being overly intrusive. One parent reported, ‘I am more than happy to leave her here, the staff always respond to her needs and make sure she is safe’. Children and young people's vulnerability to dangers within the home and community are fully understood. Robust risk assessments are in place, which are thorough and individualised. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed to reflect the changing needs and development of children and young people. These measures assist staff to keep children and young people safe from harm.

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good

There are no instances of children and young people going missing. Close supervision of children and young people ensures that they are not able to leave the home without the knowledge of staff. The home has a clear protocol regarding actions that should be taken to protect children and young people if they were to go missing. Staff have been trained in positive behaviour management and appropriate use of physical intervention. The use of physical intervention is infrequent but when it is used, it is mainly to guide children and young people away from situations. All incidents are evaluated; this enables the home to modify individual behaviour management plans quickly and effectively. Medication is stored safely, and records are maintained on the administration of medication. There are clear policies and procedural guidance. All staff receive suitable training to support health and well-being and this maintains the quality of

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good

care being provided Regular health and safety checks, routine servicing of equipment and robust risk assessments ensure that the home is kept safe for children and young people, staff and visitors. Staff are trained in fire safety procedures and they ensure that children and young people take part in fire evacuation drills so they understand how to leave the home safely in an emergency. Children and young people are protected by the organisation's safe recruitment practices which ensure that all staff are thoroughly vetted before they are allowed to start work in the home. The identity of visitors to the home is routinely checked and they are appropriately supervised throughout their visit. This ensures children and young people are protected from adults who may pose a risk to them.

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good

The home has been without a Registered Manager for a number of months. Temporary management arrangements have been in place, which are due to end because a new, experienced manager has been appointed. The new manager is in the process of registering with Ofsted as required. Staff are effectively supervised and annually appraised to ensure that they are supported in fulfilling their roles. The organisation has a good commitment to staff training. All staff have undertaken mandatory training in key areas of practice including child protection, behaviour management and first aid. Staff also receive specialist training to meet the specific and unique needs of young people living at the home. This includes autism, epipen and diabetes training. The service has a clear Statement of Purpose that accurately sets out how the home works and how young people are cared for. It clearly reflects the ethos and values of the home and staff team. This ensures that children and young people,

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good

parents and stakeholders are clear about the purpose of the home and the services and support it provides. Independent monthly monitoring reports review the home’s performance and children’s and young people’s progress and identify areas for improvement. Regular consultations with children and young people, parents and other professionals influence the progress of the home and ensures the monitoring of the quality of care provided. Further quality assurance takes place through capturing feedback from the quarterly parents’ meeting that is held at the home. Children and young people therefore benefit from a service that is improved as a result of feedback from all parents. Working relationships with parents and other professionals is a strength of the home. A parent reported, ' I am kept well informed about how she is doing, communication is excellent’. In response to the requirements made at the last inspection. The home now works

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good

fully in partnership with other agencies and recording of records is carried out in greater detail.

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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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