Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

 Young people thrive, develop and are happy in this home.  Health, educational and social outcomes for young people improve in this home. This is because of the very good care provided by a highly skilled and knowledgeable staff team  Transitions to and from the home are exceptionally well planned. This means that young people understand what to expect, feel supported and can quickly settle.  Young people have stimulating recreational and social lives. These experiences enrich their lives and widen their horizons.  A key strength of this home is the participation of young people in improving their home environment and contributing to the operation of the home.  Staff work proactively, within the multidisciplinary team, to ensure that they address the holistic and unique needs of young people.   Safeguarding arrangements are robust, which means that risks to young people are well managed.  The staff team is cohesive and passionate about its work and is dedicated to

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

providing the highest standards of care to each young person.  Managers support staff to reach their potential. This means that staff provide consistently high standards of care. All staff speak highly of the managerial support.  The leadership and management team continually strive to improve the operation of the home, for the benefit of young people and their families.  Managers are strong advocates for young people and are unafraid to challenge decisions which they feel are not in the best interests of the young people.  This inspection identified some areas for improvement. The regulatory shortfalls include: ensuring that complaints records are comprehensive and detailed, and, ensuring that the statement of purpose is in accordance with regulation and submitted to Ofsted. To further strengthen care practice, there need to be improvements in training arrangements for casual staff, notifications need to be

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The children’s home’s provision is good because:

submitted within 24 hours and electronic records need to be accessible in a legible format. These shortfalls are not having an impact on the safety and well- being of children and young people.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (‘the statement of purpose’) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 22/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made on behalf of children and they must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 22/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Some records may be kept electronically (regulation 38) provided that this information can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view it and, if required, be reproduced in a legible form. This is with specific reference to matters listed under Schedule 2. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.2)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1 (paragraphs 19 and 20). The plan should include: the processes and agreed timescales for all staff, including casual staff, to achieve induction, probation and any core training (such as safeguarding and health and safety and mandatory qualifications). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to four children and/or young people who have learning disabilities and associated communication difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/08/2015 Full Good 11/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/06/2014 Full Good

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Good

Young people receive a very good standard of individualised care from a committed staff team which knows them very well. Young people are valued as individuals with unique needs. Care planning reflects this individuality and is fully inclusive of needs relating to identity. Care plans, placement plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are comprehensive, detailed and up to date. Regular reviews of plans ensure that young people receive consistent care. Staff have clarity about each young person’s care plan. This ensures highly effective support to young people.

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Good

When young people are new to the home, introductions are sensitive to the needs of all the young people. One ex-foster carer said: ‘We didn’t expect him to settle so quickly. He has settled and staff are supportive to him. He is happy.’ This means that young people do not experience undue stress and can settle and feel safe. If issues about placement suitability arise, the registered manager takes immediate and decisive action to remedy concerns. When young people are due to leave the home, managers and staff plan and support the young person to make the transition. Transition meetings enable effective communication to take place with the new carers. This means that they have all the information to meet the young person’s individual needs with confidence.

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Good

Staff support young people to achieve excellent attendance at school. Good communication between education providers and the home enables a consistent approach in the care, education and behaviour management of young people. An assistant headteacher said: ‘We have excellent joint work arrangements. We contribute to behaviour plans, risk assessments and healthcare plans.’ Within the home, staff support young people in their studies. Staff celebrate and praise young people's progress and this encourages them to achieve their educational potential.

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Good

Health promotion is of paramount importance in this home. Staff ensure that young people access a range of services to meet their routine and specific needs. Staff benefit from regular training on a variety of health topics, including epilepsy and self-harm. All permanent staff have training in first aid and the safe handling and administration of medicines. This ensures a rigorous approach in relation to medication practices. The designated nurse who works within the home is central to providing this training. Consequently, this clinical training further ensures that young people receive sound healthcare.

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Good

Young people who have communication difficulties receive appropriate support to aid their communication. Staff use a range of individualised communication strategies, including a range of non-verbal communication methods. This means that young people become more self-assured and empowered because they can understand and communicate about their feelings, wishes and care needs. This has a significant impact in supporting progress.

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Good

Staff and managers work hard to make sure that young people can take part and enjoy social and recreational activities. Since the last inspection, young people have enjoyed holidays to Disneyland Paris and the seaside. They have regular trips to places of interest, including theme parks. Weekly routines for young people support their engagement in a wide range of age-appropriate activities that meet individual hobbies and interests. These activities promote self-esteem and confidence, while widening horizons.

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Good

Relationships between managers, staff and the families of young people are positive. In some cases, the arrangements for family contact have greatly improved. This benefits both the young person and their family. Effective communication ensures that parents and carers are reassured that their child is being well cared for.

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Good

Staff support young people to learn age-appropriate and ability-related independence skills. Young people observe and help staff with shopping, food preparation, laundry, and cleaning and maintaining the family home. These life- skills enable young people to participate in their daily routine and develop some level of independence.

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Good

Young people are safe living in this home, and they also learn to keep themselves safe, resulting in them feeling safer. In the home and in the community, good supervision arrangements ensure the safety of young people. There have been no incidents of young people being absent, missing from care or at risk of sexual exploitation.

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Good

Risk assessments for young people are relevant to their individual needs and risks. They are detailed, regularly reviewed and proportionate. Well-implemented risk- assessments enable young people to have experiences and to develop new skills while remaining safe. All staff are highly knowledgeable about the young people and ensure that safety is their paramount consideration.

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Good

When safeguarding incidents have occurred within this home, managers have ensured that there has been a robust, multi-agency response. The well-trained staff team immediately responds to any incidents and implements relevant child protection procedures. This robust and swift response to any safeguarding issue means that young people are appropriately protected.

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Good

Some young people display challenging and aggressive behaviours. When incidents occur, managers and staff work with the multidisciplinary team to find the root cause of the behaviours. One social worker said: ‘This is an excellent placement for this young person. They provide appropriate support, identify triggers to behaviours and have strategies in place to minimise and de-escalate behaviours.’

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Good

The behaviours of some young people require the use of physical intervention by staff. This is only when young people are at risk of causing themselves or others significant harm. All permanent staff have up-to-date physical restraint training. Since the last inspection, improved behaviour management has resulted in a reduction of physical interventions. Managers monitor the use and effectiveness of physical interventions. This scrutiny ensures that interventions are safe, necessary and proportionate.

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Good

The registered manager has systems in place to notify relevant agencies, including Ofsted, of significant events. However, on one occasion there was a delay in notifying Ofsted. This limits the regulator from assessing the effectiveness of safeguarding actions.

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Good

The standard and quality of the building is good. It is safe and well maintained. The home has a continual programme of maintenance, which ensures that repair and remedial work are completed. Health and safety checks, including fire equipment and drills, are current and environmental risks assessments are in place. These factors ensure the safety of staff and young people.

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Good

The registered manager and assistant manager are both suitably qualified. They are highly experienced social care practitioners, with solid management experience in residential care. They are motivated to secure the best possible outcomes for young people.

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Good

The requirement from the last inspection, to ensure that case files include reports required under regulation, is met. Consequently, staff have full information to guide their care of young people. Since the last inspection in February 2016, the registered manager has made demonstrable improvements within this home. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has development plans in place for the improvements.

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Good

There have been several improvements to the interior home environment, which enhance the appearance of the home. The decor, furnishings and appearance of the home are of a high standard. The home environment is very much of a family home. Additionally, managers secured significant funds to provide a sensory garden for the home. Young people were fully included in the process of applying for funds, planning and developing the garden. The end result is a stimulating and creative exterior to the home.

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Good

Managers are dedicated to provide high levels of support to the staff team. One residential worker said: ‘I am really happy to come to work.’ Another worker said: ‘Managers have empowered me to provide quality care and support.’ Managers promote each staff member’s professional development and ensure that their welfare is of paramount consideration. They acknowledge and understand that the role can be challenging. Therefore, they are visible and accessible to staff at all times.

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Good

The quality of professional relationships between the management team and social care, education and health agencies is very positive. The inspector talked with social workers, an assistant headteacher and a designated nurse. All confirmed high levels of satisfaction with the care provision within this home. Additionally, managers have been proactive in working alongside providers on joint training programmes. One stakeholder said: ‘They have an excellent staff team which has amazing skills. We like to get together and learn from each other.’ This has ensured a cohesive approach to meeting the holistic needs of young people.

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Good

Managers know the young people well. They have a clear understanding of the progress of young people and any potential obstacles to their achievements. They are very ‘hands on’ in attending meetings, reviewing plans and meeting with parents and carers. When issues arise, they have plans in place to promote improvement.

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Good

The registered manager advocates passionately on behalf of the young people. He demonstrates appropriate professional challenge, when he identifies that decisions are not in the best interests of the young people. He acts as a good parent, ensuring that young people have equality of opportunity and fair treatment.

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Good

There are some areas in this home which need to be further developed. These include ensuring that arrangements for dealing with complaints are improved. Complaints records lack detail. This means that it is difficult to understand actions taken and outcomes achieved. Managers have recruited a team of casual residential care workers to supplement the permanent staff team. This is a positive move and provides a more consistent workforce. However, currently there are no clear training plans for the casual workers. This is not in accordance with quality standards or the home’s statement of purpose.

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Good

Lastly, the manager has submitted a recent statement of purpose to Ofsted. However, it is in need of amendment to comply with matters listed in regulation.

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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 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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