Children's home run by Reading Borough Council in Reading

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds 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.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The young people flourish in the home.  Staff have extensive knowledge of the young people’s needs and adapt communication styles to suit each one.  Staff use a wide variety of methods to consult the young people about issues in the home.  There is a committed stable staff team who have successfully built positive relationships with young people and parents.  The managers and staff have high aspirations for the young people.  Staff have researched a wide variety of activities both within the home and in the community to ensure that all young people have positive experiences.  The home has excellent links with education providers.  Staff ensure that bedrooms are personalised for individual young people’s stays.  The home actively promotes independence skills in accordance with the young people’s ages, abilities and understanding.  Young people’s achievements are recognised and celebrated. Staff also send

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

out a quarterly newsletter to parents and young people.  The home has excellent links with the local community and take the young people to local events.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

To meet the children’s wishes and feelings standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

That the views of each relevant person are taken into account, so far as reasonably practical, before making a decision about the care or welfare of a child. In particular seek parents signed agreement to the content of care plans. (Regulation 7(2)(e) 15/10/15

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered persons to take a key role in seeking to develop the homes effective working relationship in the local community, for example, with the local police officer. ( Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations 10.3 p 52)

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Information about this children's home

The home is run by a local authority and is registered to provide short-break care for up to six young people who have learning disability, physical disability and/or sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

19/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

11/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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outstanding

The staff in consultation with parents, social workers and education, set targets for young people to achieve. These are monitored and amended when needed. One parent commented ‘X has been learning new skills. When staying in the home he learnt to take his plate into the kitchen; he rinses it and can also get himself a drink. I have carried this on at home and he has really improved.’ These achievements are celebrated; a certificate and photo are placed on the achievement wall. Staff also complete a ‘ladder chart’ which is visual for the young people enabling them see how they are working towards their goals. Staff are very proud of the achievements young people make. These are also celebrated in the monthly newsletter.

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outstanding

For young people with a severe physical disability, staff have created ‘star moments’ in recognition of achievements.

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outstanding

There is an experienced enthusiastic stable staff team who know the young people well enabling them to build and maintain positive relationships. Young people enjoy coming to the home, one parent commented ‘when I tell X where we are going he will give me the thumbs up sign, he is always excited about coming here’. A young person smiled and clapped when asked if he liked coming to the home.

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outstanding

There are PECS boards around the home for non-verbal children to indicate to staff if they wish to make contact with parents during their stay or if they have any worries or concerns. There is also a worry doll that young people can take to staff.

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outstanding

The staff offer a wide variety of activities both in the home and in the community. Staff have been proactive in researching activities that can accommodate young people who need hoisting or personal care when out and actively support all young people to have new experiences.

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outstanding

One parent commented, ‘X has the opportunity to interact with children different from those he sees at school; he has learnt to build different relationships with children and adults and can experience activities with his peers’.

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outstanding

There are photos around the home of young people attending and enjoying activities. Staff actively support them in completing feedback forms giving the young people the opportunity to inform staff if they enjoyed the activity or not.

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outstanding

The young people were involved in fund raising to purchase items for the home; through their meetings they decided what they would like to do to raise money and what it should be spent on.

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outstanding

Staff successfully support young people and parents to prepare for their reviews by completing questionnaires. One parent commented, ‘the home works well with me helping me to prepare for reviews’.

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outstanding

The staff work closely with education providers. Key workers attend schools on a regular basis to observe young people in class and to meet with teachers, they also support targets set by the school. A parent commented, ‘the staff work with the school; X will learn things at school which he then carries on when he comes here, this is especially important during the holidays so he doesn’t forget, the staff will also inform the school if they have set targets and the school also supports this’. A social worker said, ‘staff work well with schools and attend reviews’.

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outstanding

The young people have a comprehensive health plan; staff obtain letters from medical practitioners ensuring they are updated with the young people’s current medical needs. Assessments from other professionals such as occupational therapists are incorporated into the care plan and risk assessments.

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outstanding

Staff understand that young people should be treated with dignity and respect whilst receiving personal care. This is outlined in the care plan stating how the young people prefer to receive personal care and how many staff need to be involved.

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outstanding

There is a memory book for the home depicting the young people’s stay. A parent commented, ‘I always get a good handover from staff when I collect X and I’m often given photos of activities he has participated in.’

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outstanding

Staff produce a quarterly newsletter, this informs young people and parents of a wide variety of things going on in the home including new young people who have started to use the service, young people who have moved on, activities and achievements: this is very visual enabling all young people to enjoy it.

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outstanding

The home is decorated to a high standard, the bedrooms are personalised for each young person’s stay, including bedding, equipment that may be needed, a photo of the young person on the door and an individual morning routine in PECS for the young person to follow.

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outstanding

Staff actively encourage and support young people to learn independence skills according to their age, understanding and ability. Older young people may help staff strip their bed and take it to the laundry room, other young people will make cakes, lay the table or make a drink. There are PECS in the kitchen for young people to inform staff what they wish to eat and to help plan menus. In the dining room there is a PECS board where young people can indicate if they have enjoyed their meal. Judgement grade

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good

The environment is safe and there is appropriate security on doors and windows, young people have a personal evacuation plan on file and all health and safety checks are up to date. Listening devices are used for young people with epilepsy; parents have signed to say they are in agreement with this. There is information in the bedrooms and around the home in PECS informing the young people what action to take on hearing the fire alarm. This is also discussed in young people’s meetings and key work sessions.

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good

Risk assessments are individualised and updated. Any changes are discussed in staff meetings, staff spoken to had a clear understanding of risk assessments but not all staff have signed to say that they have read them.

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good

No young people have gone missing since the last inspection Staff spoken to are aware of the safeguarding and missing policy and understand what action to take should this event occur.

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good

The manager ensures that as part of the referral process young people are placed in groups according to their age, ability and understanding so they get the best experience and are kept safe.

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good

The home has positive links with the Local Authorities Designated Officer who reported, ‘the home takes appropriate action when needed, they will consult with me when needed, the manager consulted me with regards to changes to the safeguarding policy. This is a well-established home and I have no concerns.’ A social worker said, ‘the home will always report any issues or concerns’. A parent confirmed, ‘I know that X is safe whilst he is here and it is important for me to know that he is well cared for and safe.’

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good

An independent advocate visits the home on a monthly basis to consult with the young people.

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good

The home has a clear behaviour management policy. Young people who display behaviours that may cause concern have an individual behaviour plan in place. Staff use a variety of communications methods when young people display unwanted behaviours. They will talk to the young person after an incident, this is then recorded.

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good

Staff work in line with the medication policy. Medication is booked in and out and, stored and recorded appropriately. Staff have the appropriate training in the administration of medication and other health needs such as peg feeding.

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good

Recruitment is robust; all appropriate checks are carried out.

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good

The registered manager has been in post since March 2012 and holds an NVQ 4 in children and young people as well as an NVQ 4 in leadership and management; there is an additional two assistant managers who work alongside her.

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good

The statement of purpose and function has recently been updated in line with the new regulations. This accurately describes the practice in the home. There is a guide for young people in PECS format.

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good

There have been no complaints since the last full inspection, a parent commented, ‘I have no concerns but I know that I can always speak to the staff if I needed to.’ Another stated, ‘I have no issues contacting the home if I had any worries or concerns’.

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good

The staff regularly obtain feedback from young people regarding their stay; parents said that their views are listened to and acted upon.

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good

Staff receive monthly supervision where young people are discussed along with the development plan for the home. Staff reported that they found supervision supportive. Staff have annual appraisals.

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good

Induction for new staff is robust with a review at the end of the first month. All staff complete mandatory training as well as any specialised training needed to look after the young people. The manager gives staff e-learning training to complete every month to support their practice. This is also discussed in supervision.

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good

Clear concise care plans are in place. When a young person first uses the service parents are asked to complete information about the young person. The staff then incorporate these into the homes care plan. Staff reported that parents see the homes care plan but are not asked to sign it to say they agree.

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good

Daily recordings are comprehensive; there are separate sections for staff to complete including behaviour, personal and medical care. Staff reported that this makes it easier when writing reports or passing information on to social workers or parents.

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good

There are positive relationships between staff and parents; one parent commented, ‘staff put X needs first, communication is good.’ Another said, ‘staff are great here, I have never had any concerns they are great with him, he gets to do lots of different things.’ Another said, ‘X likes the staff, they have a good relationship and I feel that he is safe and well cared for’.

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good

The local police officer regularly visited the young people. He has now moved on and the home is in the process of re-establishing links with the local police.

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good

There is a home and team development plan in place; this is regularly reviewed in staff meetings and supervision.

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good

The home is now using a different organisation for Regulation 44 visits. These are thorough and informative, young people and parents are consulted during the majority of these visits.

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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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