Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

Outstanding

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

p.2

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people and their families benefit significantly from a safe, stable, long-term and nurturing service. They are extremely positive about the quality of care and support they receive.  Young people make excellent progress and experience improving outcomes in many areas of their lives.  Staff focus on young people‟s unique qualities. They provide specific support, which is informed by personalised strategies based on each young person‟s strengths and needs.  Care and support is planned, coordinated and delivered to a consistently high standard.  Staff practice and routines are adapted and adjusted quickly in response to changing needs, which makes the service very responsive to each young person‟s circumstances.  Young people‟s and parents‟ views, wishes and feelings are central to how the home operates, which helps to shape the way in which staff organise themselves on a day-to-day basis.  The registered manager and staff team confidently and consistently meet

p.3

The children's home provision is outstanding because:

their responsibilities to keep young people safe.  Staff undertake excellent partnership work with parents, health professionals, education staff and social workers, to ensure that young people experience a holistic service.  Leadership and management are highly effective. The experienced, qualified team is motivated effectively, supported and empowered to do its very best for young people.

p.3

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that children have access to a computer and the internet to support their education and learning, unless there are specific safeguarding reasons why this would not be appropriate. In such cases, the home should consider whether and how it can support the child to access a computer and the internet safely. (Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards‟, paragraph 5.19)

p.4

Information about this children's home

This young people‟s short-breaks unit is run by the county council‟s children‟s services department. It provides regular, planned short breaks for children and young people of school age who have moderate to severe learning disabilities and who present significantly challenging behaviour.

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

15/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.5

Outstanding

Young people‟s experiences and the personal progress they make are exceptional. Young people and their families are very positive about and value the care and support they receive. Young people achieve excellent outcomes because of the stable, consistent and enabling nature of the staff team. Staff set achievable goals, which ensure that young people experience regular, positive accomplishments. They are able to build and sustain very helpful relationships with experienced staff and grow their own network of friends. A grandparent stated: „With the high level of support we have been given, our grandson has responded in such a way it has brought him on much further than we ever imagined it would.‟ Young people and their families are made to feel welcome at the home by the staff team, young people who use the service and their families. As a result, new young people settle quickly. A social worker stated: „I find that staff are very sensitive to

p.6

Outstanding

new service users, reassuring parents and allowing introductions to take place at a pace that is suitable for the child and parents.‟ Prior to young people coming to the service, the staff team takes the time to get to know their individual needs by visiting them and their families. Each young person‟s admission into the home is managed in line with their and their family‟s individual needs. Young people come on weekend, tea and evening visits before experiencing an overnight stay. If a young person does not settle on their first overnight stay, staff persevere. For example, one young person continued with day visits. He then identified a friend he had made to come in with when he next tried to stay overnight. The young person acted as a mentor and the overnight stay was successful. Young people develop and maintain positive, resilient relationships with staff and peers. They increase their use and understanding of communication and social

p.6

Outstanding

skills. This is skilfully managed by a staff team that listens to and observes young people to make sure that experiences are positive. Staff recognise that while some enjoy making new friends others enjoy their own company. As a result, young people look forward to staying at the home. Young people benefit from daily discussions with staff about how they want to spend their leisure time. This helps to provide useful and constructive routines, which motivate young people, and which they enjoy. Young people‟s hobbies and interests are very well promoted and facilitated. They are able to follow their individual interests and to develop new ones. They actively participate in a wide range of social activities and trips out into the local and wider community. One parent stated: „My son has a fun-packed time while having his overnight stays.‟ The staff fully support the young people to achieve their educational potential.

p.6

Outstanding

They maintain daily contact with young people's education placements throughout their short breaks, through communication books and telephone calls when necessary. Consistency of care between the young person's home, school and short breaks is promoted at all times. Young people's reviews agree any action that the staff team needs to take in relation to their education. Key workers then ensure that this is implemented in practice. Listening to and letting young people express themselves are rooted in the staff team‟s daily ethos and culture. Consultation with young people through general discussions and one-to-one work ensures that each individual can contribute their views and talk about their feelings. Every opportunity is taken to ensure that time and space are provided for young people to talk about matters when and where they want. Young people and their families know how to make a formal complaint

p.7

Outstanding

if needed, but have not found this necessary. A parent stated: „They take my views very seriously and listen and hear what I'm saying.‟ Young people are healthy and supported to lead healthy lifestyles. Staff liaise with relevant health professionals and parents to ensure that young people are supported to successfully progress in specific health areas. A parent stated: „They understand every aspect of my child's medical condition but have gone out of their way to find out more so they can help him in different ways.‟ This proactive practice results in young people achieving individual goals, such as weight loss and increased physical activity, and establishing good sleep patterns. Young people participate in the domestic life of the home and are helped to practise and learn skills that relate to being more responsible for themselves. Staff provide hands-on coaching and support to help young people to focus on their

p.7

Outstanding

aspirations and goals as they move towards young adulthood. They develop greater independence and responsibility. Some young people are supported to develop personal hygiene skills that they struggled to learn at home, for example tolerating and using a shower. As a result, they learn skills that support them in other settings, such as at home or school, and help prepare them for adulthood.

p.7

Outstanding

Young people are helped and protected exceptionally well. They feel very safe, and families are very pleased with the way in which they are looked after. The registered manager and staff make sure that the quality of care that young people experience prioritises their welfare. Young people actively benefit from well- established routines and practices that explicitly recognise the need to keep everyone safe. Staff implement agreed strategies that consistently and successfully help young people to improve their behaviour and relationships. Young people experience warmth and sensitivity from an experienced, well- informed staff team. The team‟s safeguarding practice is responsive to the young people‟s complex needs. For example, each overnight stay is booked and planned to meet the individual needs of the young people and to ensure compatibility of the group staying at any one time. Staff have high expectations of young people and promote positive attitudes to

p.7

Outstanding

autism. They consider the views, interests and aspirations of young people and their parents while promoting safety. They understand the complexities and challenges of choice and well-being for some young people on the autism spectrum. They ensure that communication is meaningful and, when necessary, structured. They also involve others who know the young person well. Staff understand that autism is not a behaviour; it is a way of thinking and understanding the world, which results in certain behaviours. They understand that young people are likely to find some situations and settings stressful. They use a wide range of strategies to support successful outcomes. For example, they promote a calm, positive environment. They support young people to use sensations or pleasurable activities as distractions. They use structure or are incredibly flexible to ensure that individual young people feel reassured enough to

p.8

Outstanding

be able to moderate their behaviours. A parent stated: „The staff are very friendly, supportive and very good with our son. They have a very calm and caring approach. Our son is on the go all [the] time and needs round-the-clock care. He sometimes has challenging and difficult behaviour. It is very important to us and him that he goes to a place where he is well cared for and looked after.‟ Young people do not have wireless internet access at the home. For some, this is limiting their means of communication as they are not able to use a tablet and internet. For others, it is taking away a tool that they use effectively at home and school to self-sooth and self-regulate their behaviours, and which enables them to progress in other areas of their lives. For example, they might use a tablet to access certain sites or games to distract them from anxieties. Young people learn a wide range of new skills that promote personal safety and

p.8

Outstanding

are specific to their individual needs. These skills are transferable and therefore have a positive impact on young people's lives at home and in other settings. For example, staff promote road safety. One parent described a successful piece of work that had been undertaken to help his son walk with him rather than run on ahead unsupervised. Managers and staff know how to manage safeguarding allegations effectively. They receive regular safeguarding training, which covers a range of topics, including children missing from home and awareness raising in relation to child sexual exploitation. Staff have excellent insight into the vulnerabilities of young people with complex needs. They work proactively in partnership with other agencies but, when necessary, provide robust challenge to partner agencies when young people are at risk. Young people learn skills that promote their personal safety and broaden their

p.8

Outstanding

opportunities. For example, they develop personal care skills such as toileting, showering and dressing and thus minimise their dependency on others. They complete tasks first with physical prompts, then verbal or pictorial prompts and then independently. Young people do not go missing from care or have unauthorised absences. Staff know what to do if these circumstances occur, but their main focus is on working with young people to prevent these events from happening in the first place. Staff successfully and consistently provide a home environment where young people do not feel the need to run away. A parent stated: „My son is safe and secure at the unit, and it is impossible for him to go missing. If he goes out with the staff into the community, there are always two adults with him.‟ Staff fully understand their roles and responsibilities to ensure that young people‟s continued safety is maintained. The home‟s environment is physically safe and

p.9

Outstanding

appropriately secure, which takes account of the needs and varying circumstances of young people. Young people‟s health and safety are fully supported because maintenance and protective procedures and practices are applied consistently by the team. Young people stay in a safe, simulating and fun environment. They have access to a wide range of activities and equipment in the home, which promote play with or alongside others. Young people also have access to secure garden areas that have been developed to promote sensory, water and gross motor play. The environment is skilfully adapted by staff before every stay, so it is safe as well as age and gender appropriate. Toys, games, DVDs and music are all carefully considered. This ensures that young people feel that it reflects their interests and meets their needs. A parent stated: „I believe the unit is good for my son. It introduces him to a safe environment away from his immediate family, so he can

p.9

Outstanding

develop social skills. It also gives him the opportunity to enjoy himself in a safe environment not available to him at home.‟

p.9

Outstanding

The registered manager is highly experienced. She has worked at the home for a number of years and became the registered manager in 2008. She has a diploma level 5 in leadership in health and social care (children and young people). She leads by example and is supported by a competent deputy and a qualified staff team. The management team has a very effective management approach that consistently promotes high expectations from the team to help young people to make the most of their stays at the home. As a result, staff clearly demonstrate a strong commitment to delivering a high-quality service that is tailored to individual needs and personal goals. The effectiveness of this approach is evidenced by the excellent progress that young people make. Young people are cared for in line with the home‟s statement of purpose, which is regularly reviewed and updated. Young people‟s records present a good picture of

p.10

Outstanding

their experiences and progress to date. Staff are professional, well trained and experienced. Team working is very strong and contributes significantly to the progress that young people make. Access to a wide range of training reflects the commitment to staff development. Staff update their core skills at regular intervals and complete more specific training that relates to individual‟s needs and the specialist nature of the service. For example, all staff have recently completed modular specialist training in autism. This has developed their understanding in relation to young people with complex needs by considering the implications of relevant research and psychological theories. Staff are able to reflect and evaluate their own practice. A parent stated: „The children always come first. Their safety, happiness and time spent while they are at the service, everything is geared around the children. The majority of staff are

p.10

Outstanding

qualified. Those who are unqualified are within the regulatory timescales to obtain their qualifications within two years of starting work. Staff are supported to develop their practice through handovers, structured team meetings, annual appraisals and regular supervision. They are further supported through a programme of training. New staff receive an excellent induction, which includes the opportunity to work at other children's homes in the local authority. As a result, staff are well informed and continue to develop their learning needs and goals to ensure that they maintain an excellent quality of care. Parents and young people are regularly consulted and feel valued and listened to by the registered manager and staff team. For example, the weekly night when the service closes has changed from a Sunday night to a Monday night at parents‟ request. There are robust systems in place, which enable the managers and staff to assess

p.10

Outstanding

the impact of their care and support on families and the progress that young people make. Staff are taking pride in seeing the service and young people develop and progress. A social care manager stated: „The children we referred there receive a short break, which often prevents family breakdown, and one family recently wrote to tell me that the service had been “a lifeline in times of great despair”.‟ There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection.

p.10

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‟.

p.12

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 children looked after 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

p.12

What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or that result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.12

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 that 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 whom 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

p.13

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 .

p.13

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,

p.14

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.14

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.14

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

p.14