Children's home SC416733

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good 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

The full inspection in September 2015 resulted in three requirements and two recommendations. The requirements have been fully met and one recommendation has been raised again.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no concerns or complaints about the service. Daily liaison with parents provides open lines of communication. Staff are aware to escalate any potential concerns to the manager in line with the complaints procedure.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

External monitoring has radically improved. A newly appointed independent visitor spends a full day at the service and ensures that she observes and interacts with young people. This has enabled young people to become familiar with her presence. The visitor observes practice and details actions points in the monthly reports. The visits provide an additional safeguard and drive improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has developed her monitoring to capture the views of stakeholders, staff and parents. Feedback has been difficult to obtain but the manager has been tenacious and persistent. Questionnaires are open ended, resulting in feedback that includes ideas and views as opposed to closed answers. This helps the manager to adapt the service to the needs of young people and their families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has changed risk assessments but this remains a work in progress. Discussions with staff demonstrate that while the team are aware of risks to young people there can be delays in updating the risk assessments. The temporary base, resources and desk space remain a difficulty. A static caravan has been donated and this will be housed at another service owned by the organisation. This will provide staff with a permanent desk base and file storage, reducing some of the barriers staff face when updating and completing records.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager oversees five projects, including the short breaks service. The small team work well together. Recruitment has improved the gender balance in the team; new staff have brought new qualities. The manager remains positive and enthusiastic. She provides a good role model and works hard, despite a number of competing managerial demands. The number of hours worked is high and includes shifts and sleep-in duties. While there is no present impact on the quality of care it does not support the manager to remain visible to staff. Young people truly benefit from the short breaks experience. Care is bespoke and tailored extremely well to individual needs. Parents say how much their children enjoy the activities and experiences. Young people develop confidence, trying out new activities such as archery and abseiling. Healthy eating, walking and using the trampoline pillow promote better physical health. Staff are trained in the support

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and management of specific health needs, reassuring young people and their parents that their health needs will be competently met. Young people grow in confidence and independence through using the service. Increased use of pictorial exchange communication symbols and building verbal communication is key for young people who will transfer to adult services. The service takes young people to school during their stays. Young people are on roll at the same school. Home school diaries provide a two way communication system, alerting staff to any changes in behaviour and the progress that young people make. Additionally, the manager has worked with the school to raise the profile of the service. The head teacher has spent a day with young people over a weekend in order to observe and witness the type of stay provided. This strong partnership working provides excellent continuity of care and understanding of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

both provisions that the young people attend. Young people have very limited verbal communication skills. Obtaining their views directly is not possible, therefore parental feedback is key. Feedback for 90% of young people using the service was obtained. This is extremely positive; parents say their children are extremely enthusiastic about and benefit enormously from their breaks.

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Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a charity and provides short breaks for up to three young people who may have a learning difficulty, physical disability or sensory impairment. It operates for a limited number of days each month.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16/03/2015 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(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure that details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risk on a day to day basis are recorded. This is in relation to risk assessments. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 42 paragraph 9.5)  Ensure that those with a management role are visible and accessible to staff and able to deliver their management responsibilities. This is relation to managing a number of projects. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 52 paragraph 10.7)

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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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