Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Norfolk

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 have up-to-date care plans drawn from multi-agency assessments. Staff use these assessments and their understanding of the children to help the children to build trusted relationships.  A high level of monitoring helps to protect and safeguard the children.  A group of multi-agency practitioners works closely with these children. This provides the children with a group of adults who are alert to the signs and symptoms of significant harm.  The staff are skilled in understanding, and are alert to, changes in children’s behaviour as signs of unhappiness or their feeling unsettled. Staff take the time to identify antecedent issues which may have led to these behaviours. Staff are quick to act and engage with children if they show these signs.  Staff use a number of communication tools and approaches to gain the views of the children.  Staff recognise and record children’s important achievements during short

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The children's home provision is good because:

breaks, to highlight the progress that children are making.  Children are treated with dignity and respect.  Recording has improved and is now in line with the provider’s policies. The manager and staff have worked hard to rectify recording issues, following the last inspection.  Staffing levels are flexible, to meet the changing needs of the children.  The manager does not have a system in place to assess the group dynamics for each short break.  Managers have not gained written consent for the use of electronic monitoring in the home.

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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 ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(b)) 13/9/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that placements for children are only accepted when managers are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child's assessed needs as recorded in the child's relevant plan and when managers have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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Information about this children's home

The home, which is owned and operated by a local authority, provides care and support for up to five children and young people with severe and complex learning and physical disabilities, including sensory impairment. The home is accessed by children up to the age of 18 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

29/3/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

Children who have their short breaks at this home have severe and complex learning and physical disabilities. Some also have sensory impairment. They need very specific care, which is provided to them by highly skilled staff. Children build trusted relationships with sensitive and caring staff who are resilient and creative in their approach. Staff are using a number of ways to gain the views of the children. These include use of communication tools such as picture exchange symbols and other non-verbal communication means. The staff develop an awareness of how each child communicates, be it through facial expression or body language, and skilfully adjust their input or activity. Also, if their care plan suggests that it is appropriate for children to have some privacy and quiet time, staff monitor them to ensure that they are safe and that this continues to meet their needs. Staff understand the children’s needs, and consistently interact to

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Good

ensure that they engage with the children.

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Good

Staff record the important achievements that the children make during their short break to highlight individual progress. For example, children attend events and take part in activities supported by staff, which they may not have access to at home. Children have been to theme parks and enjoyed meals with friends, which can be difficult for some families to manage. Children have an opportunity to meet and socialise with friends in a relaxed environment, where enjoyment and fun is the central theme. Consequently, children are happy coming to their short break. A parent commented: ‘He is always happy here, he loves it.’

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Good

Staff use their observations of the children to make comments on the activities that children enjoy. Staff liaise with families and other professionals to review their observations in order to understand the views and feelings of the children. As a result, there is a greater emphasis by staff on understanding the experience from the child’s perspective.

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Good

Children’s individual cultural and ethnic needs are well considered. For example, food is prepared in styles which are suitable for all of the children to enjoy. Staff work in partnership with families to discover the unique needs of each child. The care plan is then drawn together to ensure that staff can meet those needs. For example, staff support children to practise their specific faith, if the child and family request this. Staff consider these issues carefully, and the way that staff work with the children reflects this. All children are treated with dignity and respect. Bespoke pathway plans look at the transition towards adult life. Children are supported to gain as many self-help skills as possible. There is good joined-up work with the schools, whose knowledge and understanding of the children assist in these plans. All of the children who have short breaks are the subject of an education statement and attend a special school. All children have individual

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Good

education packages linked to targets drawn up at regular reviews.

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Good

Children at this home predominantly live with their families and only come to the home for short breaks. These breaks support the families’ ongoing care of their children. Family contact for these children is not an issue. One parent commented: ‘I would be lost without the support. The staff bend over backwards to help. One time, I needed support in an emergency, I rang here and the staff just said to bring him and let us know when we can drop him home. The support is fantastic.’

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Good

Children’s outcomes are good because of the support and help that they receive from the staff. Children receive a good standard of care which is underpinned by the carefully considered multi-agency assessments of their needs. Staff use these assessments to formulate the children’s care plans, which form the basis of the work undertaken during each short break and contain well-considered risk assessments. Because of this, staff have the most up-to-date information to work with the children, whose significant care needs can change between each short break. The manager and staff have not brought all this relevant information together in a well-defined impact risk assessment to consider how the home can meet the varied needs of the group of children during each short break. The impact of this shortfall is minimised by the close working relationships within the staff group and staffs’ attentiveness at handover.

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Good

The manager and staff take care to ensure that these children are protected and safeguarded. The manager and senior staff review and monitor the care provided to ensure that children’s needs are being met. Observation of children with staff indicates that the children are relaxed and comfortable in each other’s company. Parents, social workers and other multi-agency partners have reported no concerns regarding the childrens’ placements in this home. One parent commented: ‘We are very confident in the staff’s ability to meet his needs. We have no concerns, no worries and absolutely no issues with the care that he receives.’ A placing social worker agreed, stating: ‘I have no issues or concerns with regard to the safeguarding practice in this home’.

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Good

Staff constantly monitor children’s behaviour, which is a significant means of communication. The staff are skilled in understanding and alert to these behaviours as signs of unhappiness or feeling unsettled. Staff review the children’s behaviour and consider the action that they need to take to support and care for each child. Staff take the time to identify antecedent issues which may have led to these behaviours. Staff discuss these issues at the daily handover and monthly team meetings. Up-to-date, clear and methodical records support staff to remain alert to changes in children’s presenting behaviours. Consequently, the staff are able to adapt their approach to manage children’s care more suitably. Since the last inspection, there have been no physical interventions used to manage the children. This is because staff have used de-escalating techniques and a calm, confident approach. The staff work in partnership with the multi-agency team to promote the children’s

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Good

overall development. A large group of external professionals regularly sees and works closely with the children. This provides the children with a network of adults who are alert to the signs and symptoms of significant harm. Staff are particularly alert to the risks in the community for these very vulnerable children. External doors remain closed and are operated using electronic key fobs. The home also uses monitors in the children’s rooms to alert night staff if there are any concerns. Information about the security of the home to keep children safe and the monitoring systems used in the home is readily available in the statement of purpose. Parents and placing social workers are made aware of this practice through the initial meetings with them and parents are asked to give their consent. The home has not sought the written consent of the placing authority for the use of this measure.

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Good

The registered manager has a national vocational qualification at level 4 in child care and management. She has been in post for over eight years. She skilfully manages the staff to focus on meeting the needs of the group of children who receive their short breaks at this home. The manager has worked hard to address recommendations from the previous inspection. Together with the independent visitor, she has looked at improving record keeping by staff. The manager and senior staff consistently check the written records to ensure that they are of a high standard. Because of this, recording has improved and is now in line with the home’s policies. The manager provides good-quality staff supervision. These meetings focus on the care needs of children. Safeguarding issues are discussed and the manager reviews the recording processes with staff to ensure that the standard remains high. The managers work consistently well to provide a supportive environment for

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Good

staff to continue to meet the children’s needs. Staff have completed inductions and receive ongoing training. They have the knowledge needed to support the children effectively. All eligible staff have achieved a relevant level 3 qualification. Recently recruited staff are on course to complete this at the end of this year. Parents feel confident in the service provided. A parent commented: ‘We are confident that the staff understand him and how to look after him. They are an invaluable resource.’ There is good joined-up work with the multi-agency professional group and placing authorities. The placing social workers say that the staff regularly report on how the children are progressing during their short breaks. There is positive outreach work with families, which they find supportive.

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Good

The manager is alert to staffing levels and ensures that they are flexible to meet the changing needs of the children. This means that, if there is a change to the care package which requires more staff, additional staff are brought in at short notice. As a result, a wide range of activities is provided as staff can ensure that children are supported to participate. The senior staff and managers are aware of the strengths of the service, in particular the focus on keeping children safe. There is good communication with parents and positive links with the school that the children attend. Staff are keen to develop a service that is enjoyable for children and that parents can trust.

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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’. 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

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What the inspection judgements mean

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 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 ‘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 0300 123 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, work- based 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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