Setting SC441973

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is currently facing organisational change, with plans agreed for the local authority to take over the management of this short break home from the current NHS provider. Ofsted have received an application to re-register the home with the new provider and this is currently being processed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has successfully led and managed a small nursing and care staff team since her registration with Ofsted in March 2015. Prior to that she had worked in the home for a number of years as both a learning disability nurse and deputy manager. She has been proactive in maintaining her professional development as a registered nurse and completing her Level 5 award in leadership and management.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection a former Registered Manager of the local authority, with considerable experience of managing a similar short break service, has joined the management team to help facilitate the smooth transition of the service to local authority management. This has proved effective in supporting staff and maintaining consistency for young people and their parents as the home enters this phase of change.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the uncertainty of exactly when the transfer of responsibility for the service will occur, the staff team have continued to provide a consistently high quality of care to young people. Staff are sensitive and responsive to young people’s needs. They show considerable patience and are perceptive in understanding young people’s wishes, especially as many have significant communication difficulties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are sensitive and nurturing in their approach and show considerable care to respect young people’s views and wishes. Staff consistently offer young people choices to ensure that their needs are met and their wishes respected. For example, young people are encouraged to express preferences for food, activities and the room they use while staying overnight. Consequently, young people that visit the home feel respected and know that staff care about the things that are important to them. One young person has successfully left the service having moved on to receive support from adult services. Ordinarily, the home works very closely with the adult services transition worker to support young people at this point in their lives. However, in this case the young person’s transition was led by her parent. The Registered Manager was successful in using her knowledge of the young person to assist the parent in getting an increased and more realistic direct payment to assist

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

with her future care. The home has a good track record of working collaboratively with a range of professionals that work with children and adults. Staff make good use of health research to inform their planning to ensure such as young people’s future needs are fully recognised and understood. The home’s contribution is professionally respected and this enables them to provide effective support to families and young people as they move forward into adulthood.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two recommendations resulted from the last full inspection of the home in November 2015. The Registered Manager has taken sufficient action on both these matters. There has been further negotiation with the independent person that monitors the home to strengthen the content of his reports. This has resulted in more comprehensive reporting, providing improved insight into the home’s operation and progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although, the Registered Manager’s six-monthly review report is not yet due to be sent to Ofsted, she has reviewed the recommended guidance and made some decisions about the structure and content of her next report. She is able to identify some positive learning experiences from her monitoring of the home’s activities in previous six month period and intends to incorporate these in her next report.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy coming to this home for short breaks. For some, they have long established relationships with staff and look forward to seeing them when they visit; others have made positive peer friendships. The home provides a wide range of enjoyable activities and is soon to take delivery of more sensory equipment that will extend opportunities for sensory stimulation and fun. Staff support young people to enjoy activities away from the home, including attending clubs and local events as well as shopping in the local town centre or supermarket. These enable young people to participate in their community and feel a greater sense of inclusion. One young person commented, ‘I like coming to the Elms. I have fun and have made friends here. I like to go to the office and do my work.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work in close partnership with parents to ensure that young people look forward to their visits, feel safe and enjoy the time they spend in the home. Staff maintain good communication with parents to ensure they are kept well informed of progress and any issues that occur during the young person’s stay. This provides parents with considerable reassurance and enables them to feel confidence in the home’s arrangements. One parent commented, ‘Staff always keep me informed and up to date with what is happening. When I tell her that she is coming to the Elms, she jumps up straight away. She gets so excited.’

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Information about this children's home

 The home's registered to provide short-breaks for 5 children of either gender with learning disabilities.  It is operated by a Local Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.  It is registered to provide accommodation up to a maximum of 180 days per year

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

20/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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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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