Children's home run by Royal Mencap Society

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the home’s last inspection the management team have conscientiously evaluated their recording systems. This has resulted in redesigning some records and scrutinising others. This has opened up new ways of recording that are helping staff to better evidence the difference they are making in children and young people’s lives. These changes have addressed the vast majority of previous requirements and recommendations. What remains an ongoing strength of the service is the staff team’s commitment and motivation to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people. Staff have played a key role in the ongoing development of the service. Professionals that have ongoing involvement in the home, report that the staff produce excellent reports for review meetings, these are always in depth, child focused and use pictures to show the child’s development. Professionals also say the staff are very good at communication.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The structure of staffing and careful planning of short breaks mean children and young people receive all the necessary help and care they need to stay healthy and safe. Improvement in having a care plan around medication has given staff more in-depth instructions. This has helped them make more informed decisions, especially when medication is prescribed and as and when required. The staff record what children and young people say about their stays and use this to evaluate the difference the service is making. These take into consideration the diverse needs of children and young people and importantly, means their opinions and views matter. The home has now secured a stable workforce that means there is no longer a requirement to use agency staff. This has given children and young people greater consistency in the staff caring for them. There have been changes in the management with the current registered manager

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

leaving and a new manager currently in the process of registering with Ofsted. Professionals confirm that the home works well with other services including health and schools to improve outcomes for children and young people. This allows joined up planning to be well co-ordinated, so that integrated practice is achieved. This is illustrated well in work completed with school, child and adolescent mental health services and parents around two young people undergoing complex medication changes. Updating of key safeguarding policies and protocols has enhanced staffs’ knowledge and improved the protection of children. In addition, stronger partnership working with local police services has meant the welfare and protection of children and young people is better safeguarded. There are no new requirements. One recommendation is repeated. This relates to ongoing development of regulation 45 reports that help to demonstrate internal

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

monitoring supports ongoing improvement.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short breaks/respite care for up to seven children and young people with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and complex needs. Occupancy is normally limited to five. The home is a purpose-built facility that is on one floor for ease of access. It is divided into two wings so that children and young people with conflicting needs can be cared for independently of each other. The service is provided by a national charity that has a contract with the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

13/10/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

22/12/2014 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 ensure from actively seeking independent scrutiny of the home, you make the best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulation 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. This includes them being responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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