John Greenwood Shipman Centre

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:

 This children’s home provides a good short break service for children who have autism, learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and who require care in a highly structured and safe environment.  Each child’s care is personalised and informed by up-to-date essential information and assessment.  Children enjoy and benefit from a range of activities inside the home and in the community. For some children, these are new experiences and are subject to detailed risk assessments, to ensure that children are safe.  Staff and managers consult with children and families to plan stays so that children’s preferences about activities and about staying at the same time as friends are met.  There are skilled and experienced care staff and nursing staff to ensure that children’s needs are understood and are met during their stays.  There is excellent partnership working with families and professionals, to

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The children's home provision is good because:

ensure that information is shared and children benefit from consistent care and routines.  One requirement regarding the qualifications of one member of staff is made. However, an action plan is in place and is being monitored by managers. Two recommendations are made to strengthen practice in recording of behaviour management incidents and to improve the quality of visits by the independent visitor by ensuring that there are direct observations of and communication with children.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers Ensure that any individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification. (Regulation 32(4)) 28/04/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home's arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home's care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5 )  The behaviour management strategy should be understood and applied at all times by staff and must be kept under review and revised when appropriate. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34 )

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Information about this children's home

This home is a 12-bedded residential short break service for children who have learning disabilities and children who have physical disabilities and associated healthcare needs. The service is managed by a healthcare foundation trust and is registered with the Care Quality Commission, as care arrangements include regulated activities within the healthcare provision.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

12/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

This children’s home provides a good short break service for children who have autism, learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities and who require care in a highly structured and safe environment. All rooms are well prepared for children prior to their stay. They are adapted for each child’s needs, with relevant aids and equipment, and they are personalised to suit each child’s preferences. Part of the preparation for each child’s stay is a reminder summary in their room of their likes, dislikes, routines, essential health information and preferred communication methods. Beds are made up with favourite bedding and favourite soft toys. This means that children feel comfortable in a familiar setting and settle well. Children enjoy playing and relaxing in the sensory room and soft play room, and have access to a child-friendly information technology suite. The environment has many bright, colourful displays of children in the home

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Good

enjoying activities and of child-friendly information, such as information about children’s different heritages, identities and cultures. Both garden areas have been improved and developed since the last inspection. Parent volunteers and staff have enhanced the outside patios and gardens, including sensory toys, equipment and play facilities adapted for children who have disabilities. During the inspection, children were particularly enjoying the trampoline and a picnic tea party. Parents, professionals and staff report that there is excellent information sharing about children’s needs, abilities and disabilities. Prior to short stays taking place, families are encouraged and supported to visit. Staff also visit family homes and discuss routines. Staff observe children in education settings, when possible, to inform assessment of needs and placement plans. This is particularly helpful in ensuring that communication methods are consistent across all settings.

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Good

Information is continuously shared, as children’s needs are developing between stays. This means that children are cared for appropriately and safely. Parents send information for each stay and receive an update from staff following each stay. These include any changes to medication, health needs and routines. Some young children have complex health needs; they have detailed placement care plans that include individual risk assessments for each healthcare need. These are regularly reviewed and updated, with contributions from professionals, parents and carers. A parent said: ‘Staff understand my daughter’s needs. They know what she likes. They provide additional skilled care such as massage.’ Staff now have access to, and record on, the health trust database. This means that there is prompt sharing of information by all involved in the child’s care. The cook and staff work closely with a nutritionist and families to ensure that all

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Good

dietary and nutritional needs are known and met. Some children have improved their diets as a result of being supported and encouraged to try a wider range of foods during their stays. Children have also developed improved exercise routines, as a result of some of the activities that they learn to enjoy during their stays. Children develop communication skills as a result of carers using preferred communication methods. These developments are evidenced in detailed placement plans and in care plan reviews. Each child has agreed aspirational goals, and staff support children to achieve these during their stays. Information about these, including photographs, is captured in child-friendly files that will form part of the child’s information, when they move on from the service. The inspector observed staff using a large egg timer to help to prepare a child to stop one activity so that he could move onto

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Good

another part of his routine. This was effective in giving him time to transition between activities, which is something that he has struggled with in the past. This is recorded in a clear way in his information file, so that each carer is consistent in using this strategy with him. As a result, he has made progress in achieving this goal: he has been able to modify behaviours that were preventing him from enjoying a range of activities. For some children, their goals are to develop confidence, independence and self- care skills. Support for these goals can include taking part in new activities and enjoying new experiences. Some children have recently enjoyed pony riding, and some have camped overnight for the first time. Families report that children enjoy these new experiences and have increased confidence. There is a member of staff who has lead responsibility for ensuring that a range of consultation methods are in place for children and families. There is a large

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Good

consultation board in the home, which displays all feedback from children and families. The current display is about the consultation with children regarding activities throughout the school summer holidays. A significant consultation task that staff undertake is ensuring, when possible, that children’s preferences about the group, or individual friends, who have short breaks together are met. Staff aim to ensure that children get as much out of their stays as possible. This includes staff observing, assessing and liaising with parents and professionals, regarding which combinations of children work well together. The inspector talked to children, and they reported that they enjoyed their stays. They reported that they like bowling, playing with the iPad and bouncing on the trampoline. A recent development, to encourage children to try different forms of communication, is that children are encouraged to write letters or are supported by

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Good

staff to make a request directly to the registered manager for a personal preference. This may be about an activity or for a new piece of equipment, or about wanting to have a stay at the same time as a friend. The registered manager always responds promptly. There is also an advocate who visits the home regularly to liaise with children, to ensure that they are being consulted and to represent their views and wishes. In this way, children’s views and wishes are effectively captured using a range of methods. Professionals confirm that children’s views are represented by staff in planning meetings. A number of families are contacted monthly, directly by the health trust, and the responses are anonymous. This service has a track record for receiving very positive feedback. Staff continuously assess children during their stays and report to planning meetings. There are good arrangements in place for staff to contribute to and

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Good

support transition plans for children. Staff support families to visit prospective resources. They prepare and share detailed information to ensure that children move on in a planned, informed way. If assessment indicates that children are not settling during their short stays and/or their needs cannot be met, staff and managers inform case-responsible social workers and advocate for children, to ensure that they are referred to a resource that can meet their needs or that is more appropriate. This may be because their needs change and/or because assessment changes, as more information is known. A social worker said: ‘Staff are very good at assessing each child’s level of self-care and supporting children to develop self-care skills.’ Another social worker said: ’This home provides a child- centred, flexible service. There are skilled, sensitive staff supporting children to have fun and try new things.’

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Good

Staff are aware of the additional vulnerabilities of children who have learning and physical disabilities. All children have detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans. The inspector observed evidence of appropriate staff ratios that are an important part of keeping the children safe. Staff recognise that understanding and using children’s preferred methods of communication and sharing information with children to support them to stay safe are crucial to protecting them from harm. Children are encouraged to share any concerns. Staff observe and assess, to identify any concerns about risks to children. Staff are skilled and experienced in meeting personal care needs, and care is underpinned by respecting children’s privacy and dignity. Staff and managers receive training in maintaining safe care and responding to allegations against adults who work with children. They know how to report any

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Good

concerns to the designated officer. All staff are familiar with and clear about the use of safeguarding procedures, if there is a concern about harm or potential harm to a child. Any concerns are well documented and are shared with social worker and family, and checks are undertaken. There have been three child protection referrals to the local authority and two referrals to the designated officer. Enquiries and investigations have been completed and, when relevant, learning has been shared. Social workers and families ensure that staff are kept up to date about any changes at home that may impact on children’s needs or behaviours. Social workers report that managers are receptive to requests to support families who may be experiencing difficulties. Good, timely communication between staff, managers and professionals helps to keep children protected and safe. Risk assessments and risk management plans

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Good

are detailed and regularly reviewed. There is up-to-date information about the children for staff to use in an emergency. Some children are assessed to be at risk of trying to run away when they are in the community. There have been no incidents of missing or absconding, and risk assessments are carefully adhered to. However, staff are familiar with the procedures and have information ready to share with the relevant agencies, such as the police, if necessary. Staff are trained in low-level interventions to prevent children from harming themselves or others. There are clear procedures. This inspection reviewed the small number of reported interventions. All were proportionate to the behaviours and were assessed to be appropriate responses. However, it is recommended that managers review the use of the behaviour management book, to strengthen practice. There is a need to ensure that all staff are recording consistently and

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Good

follow procedures for recording, and that managers review the records in a timely way.

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Good

The registered manager is an experienced, qualified nurse with a history of managing short-stay residential services for children, who also has qualifications in management of children’s services. She has a very positive outlook and role models being enthusiastic about improving the service and being child focused. Since the previous inspection, there have been two development days that have included work to improve the integration of the two services and to encourage working across services by staff. A professional said about the registered manager: ‘She is very good at supporting staff. She remains calm, looks after staff and makes a judgement about how best to support staff.’ The management team is experienced, and members are all committed to the same values as the registered manager: to children making progress and benefiting from new experiences. There is a stable staff group, with a range of qualifications and experiences,

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Good

including nursing and residential care. This means that children are familiar with staff, and there are sufficient staff to ensure that they are safe and able to enjoy a range of activities. Professionals report that families have very good relationships with staff and that when families ask for additional support, in crisis or emergency, managers and staff are flexible and receptive. This helps to support positive family relationships. There has been one complaint, from a parent regarding the care of her child. There was a clinical review by the trust as a result of the complaint. This has been completed, and recommendations have been made regarding learning arising from the review. There was no impact to the health and welfare of the child. The manager has actioned all of the recommendations relevant to the home. There are a range of quality assurance mechanisms in place. Managers and staff learn from complaints and compliments. Managers and senior staff review each

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Good

child’s file during supervision with staff. There is a records audit undertaken on a monthly basis. This means that managers are regularly reviewing that procedures are being followed and that information is being shared and recorded. Managers also review recording about each child’s goals, to ensure that progress is being made, and determine whether the goal remains appropriate. Information about children’s nutritional needs is audited regularly by a nutritionist. Health and safety information is also subject to monthly audits, and systems are in place for daily checks. The home has a good record, and no concerns were identified in this inspection. The implementation of recording on, and access to, the health trust’s shared database is a significant improvement for staff and managers. This means that relevant information is recorded and accessible in a timely way. There is an independent visitor responsible for monthly visits to monitor the quality

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Good

of care. These visits and reports are very detailed and review all of the quality standards. However, they would be strengthened by ensuring that the majority of visits include direct observation of and dialogue with children, for example observation of significant routines, such as mealtimes and children returning from school. Staff and managers work hard at developing and maintaining good partnership working with families and professionals. This is particularly important for children who have complex needs, including behavioural, health and learning needs that frequently change and new needs emerge. The home recently held a family day, and invited the families of children accessing the service to a fun day at the home. Families and staff reported that this was very successful. Staff have regular contact with school staff, including visits to schools. This ensures that there is a shared, consistent approach to meeting children’s needs, including

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Good

communication skills. Staff also work closely with the speech and language service. Staff and managers respectfully challenge partners and advocate on behalf of children and families, if they believe that there is delay in progressing services or plans for a child or in sharing information. Staff reported, and evidence was reviewed, that they receive regular, recorded supervision that adds value to their development. They also reported that they feel supported. This is very important for staff working with children who have complex needs, in some cases life-limiting conditions. The recruitment processes are safe, with staff being subject to robust checks and a thorough induction and probation process. Staff have opportunities to take on additional responsibilities and vocational training. There is a planned training day to focus on the development of the roles of senior staff. Staff and managers are suitably qualified, apart from one member of staff. This

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Good

member of staff was employed in the home prior to April 2014 and is in the process of completing the relevant qualification. A requirement is made, and there is an action plan in place to address this. Managers listen to staff to inform development plans for the service. There are shared goals and aspirations that are child focused. The manager said: ‘There has been a number of changes over the last few years. Everyone has worked hard to develop an integrated service. We are all very positive about continuing to improve, to support children to reach their potential and to enjoy their stays.’

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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 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

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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.

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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 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

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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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