Children's Home run by Resicare Alliance Limited in Birmingham

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.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 Young people make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives.  Young people receive highly individualised and personalised care from dedicated and motivated staff.  Young people have an excellent quality of day-to-day life.  Young people experience consistent boundaries, which help them manage their own behaviour. This is underpinned by nurturing responses from staff who have a genuine interest in their emotional development.  Young people enjoy a wide variety of positive and life-enriching activities.  Comprehensive risk management plans help staff ensure young people’s safety.  Young people’s families and professionals are especially positive about the service. The feedback is uniformly excellent and praises the very high standards of care received by young people.  The registered manager is a dedicated and inspirational leader. He continually strives to improve the service. The service is of a consistently

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

high standard with young people central to all aspects of practice, service planning and development.

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Information about this children's home

The service is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

03/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Outstanding

Young people make exceptional and sustained progress due to the care and support that they receive from staff. A young person commented, ‘I like it here. I am happy.’ Parents and professionals have uniformly praised the excellent standard of care that their young people receive. A parent said, ‘The care is brilliant. They have made such a difference to my son’s health.’ Another said, ‘All the positive changes in my son are down to the staff. I cannot praise them enough. They are fantastic.’ A social worker said, ‘Staff have liaised brilliantly with speech and language and other professionals, and he has made great strides with communication.’ All young people living at the home have complex learning disabilities with associated needs such as autistic spectrum disorder. Staff go above and beyond to help them to understand, and be involved in, as many aspects of their lives at the home as possible. A significant strength is the sensitive and caring culture

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Outstanding

combined with including young people in all aspects of their care and running of the home. Through the effective use of pictures, young people are helped to understand information. Young people use to activity planners, weather information and meal planners and are informed about daily events and changes. Managers have devised report formats in Widgit, allowing young people to prepare for their reviews, and to receive feedback afterwards about plans affecting them. Young people use photographs and pictures to inform staff about their wishes, for example, choosing a favoured activity or thinking about a family member. Young people feel involved in their care and know that adults looking after them are interested in and act upon their views. Managers and staff pay meticulous attention to welcoming new young people to the home. Managers have developed documents in Widgit which explain to young people already placed that a new young person will arrive. New young people are

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Outstanding

prepared well for their move to the home by visits and individual work with staff. Consequently, young people feel and are well prepared for their move, and this minimises anxiety and distress. All young people attend school full time, and their attendance and punctuality are excellent. Staff are highly proactive in liaising daily with schools. Communication books between school and home staff detail young people’s progress and any areas of support that young people require. Young people have every encouragement from staff to achieve educationally. A teacher said, ‘The care he receives is absolutely fantastic. Staff are so helpful, informative and knowledgeable about him. The communication book details mostly positive comments, which is a reflection of the home’s approach.’ Young people’s health needs are constantly reviewed. All young people attend routine and specialist appointments as necessary. Young people enjoy a varied and

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Outstanding

freshly prepared diet in which healthy eating is carefully considered. Young people and staff work together with other professionals to promote a positive attitude towards eating. One young person has adjusted his diet, which has had a significant and positive impact on his overall health. Mealtimes are friendly, sociable occasions when young people are encouraged to enjoy each other’s company and support and interact with each other. Young people develop a sense of belonging and value in the home as their social skills and emotional well-being improve. Staff help young people to understand their feelings and how to manage strong emotions. For example, staff use photographs of their families in a way that offers reassurance to the young people. Staff use research and training to inform their practice, for example, to manage young people’s sensory needs and to minimise anxiety. Staff have developed strategies to help one young person express his

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Outstanding

anger and worries in a safe way. This has allowed him to feel calmer before re- joining other young people in activities. Young people learn to manage and change their own behaviour, leading to a calmer and more relaxed atmosphere in the home for all. Young people enjoy stimulating and interesting activities, including horse riding, clubs, day trips, walks and cinema trips. They have opportunities to try new events thereby extending their experiences and enjoyment of their lives. Young people’s self-confidence improves as staff sensitively help young people with their personal care. Parents and professionals have commended staff about their meticulous attention to detail in ensuring that their young person is clean, tidy and well-dressed at all times. Young people are supported to develop appropriate skills and work towards increased independence. Each young person has responsibilities in the home, including helping to lay the table, clearing away and washing up. In

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Outstanding

addition, young people wash laundry and help to tidy their rooms. By taking part in these responsibilities and activities, young people improve their skills and enjoy contributing to their home life. Families welcome the support that they receive from staff with contact arrangements. This support includes those who live a long way from the home. One parent said, ‘I always feel comfortable and welcome when I visit my son.’ Another said, ‘Staff make me feel part of the family there.’ Young people feel secure, as they see all adults working well together to support their needs. Young people get a consistent approach from all adults in their lives. Judgement grade

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Outstanding

Staff know young people exceptionally well and have an excellent understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Consequently, young people are kept safe at the home. Young people are supported extremely well because staff have highly effective strategies in place to meet their complex needs, thereby minimising risks. Effective safeguarding practice is strongly integrated into the day-to-day running of the home. Staff take time to understand individual young people’s needs, including their communication needs. Managers and staff develop individualised risk assessments to address identified vulnerabilities, and they work extremely effectively together to reinforce boundaries. Young people receive consistent responses from staff. Consequently, young people learn to understand expectations of their behaviour and improve their ability to manage their own emotions. A parent commented, ‘He can do so much more than I ever thought possible. He goes out in the community,

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Outstanding

something we found difficult.’ Staff are innovative in how they work with young people to improve their understanding of dangers in the home and out in the community. Young people help staff to complete health and safety checks in the home. This strong emphasis upon engaging and involving young people helps young people to understand some of the day-to-day risks many would take for granted. Follow up discussions are held with young people about fire safety. All information is imaginatively presented, allowing young people to access information and understand risks and dangers. High staffing ratios minimise the risks to young people. Young people receive support to make complaints if needed. However, they do not report bullying from others. They are not exposed to risks associated with child sexual exploitation or missing-from-home incidents. However, staff are vigilant and alert to these issues, and knowledgeable about the action to take, should there be any indication of such

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Outstanding

risks or events happen. Young people’s safety is further promoted by the appropriate vetting of staff. There are thorough and effective recruitment processes in place, enabling young people to be protected from adults who may wish to harm them.

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Outstanding

The registered manager has been in post for three years. He holds a diploma level 5 in leadership and management in residential care for children and young people. The registered manager is an inspirational and highly effective leader whose priority is the safety and welfare of all young people in his care. He is an enthusiastic manager who motivates staff and ensures that excellent standards of care are maintained. The staff team is well balanced in terms of gender and life experience, and this provides young people with opportunities to have positive relationships with a variety of adults. The staff team is small, and occasional temporary staff are used to cover holidays. The registered manager makes sure that consistent agency staff are introduced to young people, so that they receive care from a regular team that they know well. Staff say that they are extremely well supported by managers. Staff receive high

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Outstanding

quality monthly supervision and annual appraisals. Staff have regular opportunities to reflect on young people’s welfare and progress, which means they are better able to offer the individualised care young people need. A thorough induction programme is in place for new staff, and they undertake basic training prior to starting to work with young people. Consequently, staff are equipped with the basic skills necessary to meet young people’s needs. Staff training opportunities are wide-ranging and extensive. The registered manager has significantly extended training offered to staff. He prioritises staff development, recognising that this significantly improves the service available to young people. Staff undertake courses specific to young people’s needs, for example, in understanding epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. Staff diligently apply the learning from courses to their day-to-day practice. For example, staff

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Outstanding

have developed behaviour management plans and learn to understand different communication styles. Additional courses are undertaken to enhance staff learning, for example, in diabetes care. Staff practice has improved, as all staff now understand the importance of healthy lifestyles, particularly when young people have diabetes. The majority of staff hold the level 3 diploma in caring for children and young people in residential childcare. Those that do not have this qualification are enrolled on the course and aim to complete this within the required timescale. There are no staff who have not completed the course who should have done so. Consequently, effective and skilled staff support the young people. The service provided by the staff accurately reflects that detailed in the home’s statement of purpose. This is regularly reviewed and forwarded to the regulator. The registered manager has an exceptionally detailed understanding of the

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Outstanding

strengths and areas of development for the home. He also demonstrates an outstanding vision as to how he wants to improve the home further. The latter includes continuous development for staff with opportunities to undertake level 5 diplomas in leadership and management, filling staff vacancies, and planning a holiday for the young people. The registered manager’s insight into the development needs of the home means that the service continues to evolve and develop, benefiting all young people living there. Professionals praise managers and staff at the home. One said, ‘The manager is excellent. He and the staff work brilliantly with us.’ The registered manager constantly monitors the standards in the home through exceptional methods of self-scrutiny. He audits all documentation and strives to enhance and develop each aspect of the service for young people’s benefit. He immediately addresses any shortfalls identified and makes sure that improvements

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Outstanding

are sustained. There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last inspection, and none are made here.

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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

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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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