Children's Home run by Isle of Wight Council in Isle of Wight

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:

 Young people have very strong relationships with staff, both in the home and short breaks setting. They are comfortable in the company of staff and enjoy doing activities and spending time with them. Staff have an excellent understanding of each young person’s needs and make sure that they take the time to listen to their views and ideas. Young people are regularly consulted on what they need or want in the residential provision and short breaks service.  Communication with young people is now a strength, and staff understand and use individual communication techniques. Young people know what is happening now and next.  Joint working is embedded in practice. The in-house nurse links with other health professionals, including excellent liaison with the learning disability nurse, occupational therapy teams and the school nurse.  Young people’s demeanour and actions in the home show that they feel safe

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The children's home provision is good because:

in their environment. Staff are confident in their roles and understand each young person’s vulnerabilities. They have a strong understanding of, and take actions to address, the risks that young people may be at in the home, short breaks service and in the community.  The home is well managed by an experienced registered manager and her highly effective deputy management team. All understand their roles within the home and are looking to continually improve the service for young people.  Areas of improvement noted at this inspection are: for reports in relation to Regulation 44 to be forwarded to Ofsted; for young people’s behaviour support plans to be clear in their objectives; and for full employment histories to be sought for all new staff.

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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

Ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to all staff in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(3)(d)) 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 31/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all staff and children in the home. These standards should be clear and unambiguous. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.11.) This relates to ensuring that plans are unambiguous regarding what behaviour is being addressed.

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned and run by the local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to 10 children and young people with learning disabilities. It provides both residential and short breaks placements.

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Information about this children's home

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 09/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/11/2015 Full Good 13/01/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/05/2014 Full Good

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Good

Young people have very strong relationships with staff, both in the home and short breaks setting. They were observed to be comfortable in their company and enjoying activities and spending time with them. Young people seek staff attention, beckoning them over to show them pictures or by taking their hand to what they would like to do. Young people were seen joking with staff and playing tricks, such as looking at them and laughing, then pretending they could not see them.

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Good

Staff have an excellent understanding of each young person’s needs and make sure that they take the time to listen to their views and ideas. Young people are regularly consulted on what they like and what they would like to do in the coming month for those in the residential provision, and for future stays for those accessing short breaks. This area has developed significantly in the last year.

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Good

Communication systems are used with greater effect throughout the residential area, allowing young people to understand what is expected of them and what the next activity is. Those who do not require symbols or are able to get themselves ready independently are able to do so. Those young people are ready in time for school, looking presentable and prepared for the day. Young people are supported to have their views heard in statutory reviews and staff advocate for them there, including making booklets of their achievements. They also convey young people’s views about their care and what they would like for their futures.

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Good

Young people are able to make complaints, although none have been made since the last inspection. They are supported with issues that are causing them worry or concern. If needed, staff will gain the support of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to help them understand what young people are expressing (through behaviour) and how best to support them. For example, this service has been used to enable staff to support a young person with his grief.

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Good

All young people attend school as planned, and staff liaise effectively with education professionals. In the pre-placement stage, staff go to school to gain knowledge of individual young people. Joint working continues in a reciprocal manner with staff ensuring consistency in all settings and, when necessary, helping in the school to support with specific behaviours, needs or activities. A young person who attends mainstream school is being supported to reach her goal of accessing a level 2 course at college in the next academic year. Staff have contributed to planning her support to attain her GCSEs. She said that she was really looking forward to this, and that staff were helping her reach her goal. Young people access a wide range of socially and emotionally stimulating activities. Their disability is never a barrier to them enjoying achieving. For example, some young people attended the Isle Of Wight Festival with support. Those who could

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Good

not cope with crowds had a mini-festival in the home and garden. Young people also visit the theatre, country parks and youth clubs. There are a wide range of activities available in-house, from soft play and sports to arts and crafts and sensory stimulation. Some young people have also been on holiday to a local holiday park and to Disneyland Paris.

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Good

Young people are supported to learn skills for adulthood, and the new recording systems demonstrate their skills. Many are able to cook, clean, do their own personal care, and access the community. They are increasing in confidence and able to ask for help. Young people accessing short breaks have the opportunity to experience activities which they may not be able to with their families.

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Good

Young people are encouraged to understand healthy lifestyles and what this means for them. The in-house nurse is a valuable resource and links with other health professionals to ensure that the right services are available. Joint working is embedded in practice, and there is excellent liaison with the learning disability nurse, occupational therapy and CAMHS, for example. The cook consults with young people and ensures that a varied and balanced menu is available, using fresh ingredients. Young people also experience new foods through theme nights, such as Mexican night, which even includes a piñata, and a pirate night with various buffet foods.

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Good

Young people are treated with dignity and respect at all times and are encouraged to manage their own behaviour and develop new coping strategies. Staff place the young people at the centre of all their practice and the service is run for them. Young people are central to all plans and are generally given privacy. The management team is considering how best to respect privacy, while needing to observe young people in order to keep them safe.

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Good

Young people’s demeanour and actions in the home show that they feel safe in their environment. They approach staff when they are worried or upset, and staff know when to respond or when to give a young person space. Any concerns are reported to the appropriate partner agencies, and investigations are proactive and open. Staff are confident in their roles and understand each young person’s vulnerabilities. They have a strong understanding of the risks that young people may be at in the home, short breaks service and in the community. Staff consider whether young people may be at risk of exploitation or are vulnerable to others in the community. Young people have not been missing since the last inspection. However, the staff are mindful that it is a possibility, and they remain alert to the risks and do not rely on the fact that they are with them at all times.

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Good

Risk assessments are through and allow young people to take age-appropriate risk in line with their age and ability. The home is not risk averse, although staff are acutely aware of how vulnerable those they care for are. Positive behaviour is actively promoted and there is consistency across all settings due to excellent joint working. Young people have the opportunity to share their views after an incident, using a communication style that they are comfortable with. Staff want to know what is troubling young people, and they do all they can to help young people work through any issues or new unwanted behaviours.

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Good

Young people have access to the internet, which is closely monitored. Those who are likely to have greater access through school are supported to understand the risks that this may pose, while having a social life and engaging in the same activities as their school friends.

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Good

Young people are protected from harm through regular checks of the building and grounds. The home is safe and free from avoidable risk, while maintaining as homely a feel as possible. The recruitment process is mostly sound. However, a full employment history has not been sought for a new member of staff.

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Good

The home is well managed by an experienced registered manager with an extremely strong deputy management team. All understand their roles within the home and are looking to continually improve the service for young people.

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Good

There has been an issue of Regulation 44 reports not reaching Ofsted. This was resolved with the independent visitor during the inspection. The management team reviews the service and considers how it can improve young people’s experiences through the use of regular monitoring and the development plan. The statement of purpose reflects the service provided and evidences the intention that young people are central to all practice.

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Good

Young people’s plans are regularly reviewed to ensure that the placement remains in their best interests. If there are concerns that the placement is no longer suitable, plans are reviewed and a more appropriate placement sought. Goal setting is strong, which ensures that young people’s progress can be easily reviewed; this contributes to them gaining the opportunity to reach their full potential.

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Good

Joint working is embedded in practice and benefits the young people. If there are any concerns or delays with partner agencies, these are challenged robustly. For example, the home has requested a new wheelchair for a young person and copied this to all relevant agencies to ensure that further delays are reduced. Parents are actively involved in their child’s care and staff liaise with them regularly.

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Good

Staff say that they are well supported and have regular supervision. They feel that the appraisal process is useful and that they have access to senior staff and managers whenever they need it. They say that they are well trained and are confident in the skills that they have to care for young people who live in the home or access the short breaks service.

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Good

The staff team is consistent, given its size. Many staff have worked in the home for several years. The use of agency staff is kept to a minimum to avoid disruption for young people.

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Good

Case records for young people are mostly of a very high quality. There are some areas which require improvement. For example, there is a need for greater clarity within young people’s plans regarding the specific behaviour being addressed.

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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 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, 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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