Children's home run by North Yorkshire Council in North Yorkshire

Inspector Michele Hargan

Inspection date 13/12/2016 Previous inspection judgement Improved effectiveness

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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:

 Staff forge excellent relationships with children and young people.  Staff ensure that children and young people, including those with communication difficulties, feel understood and influence the care they receive.  Staff provide children and young people with exceptional care and support.  Children and young people take part in a range of enriching activities.  Staff are highly effective at supporting children and young people who come to live in the home and those who move on.  Children and young people‟s safety and well-being are of a high priority and improve because of the outstanding care provided.  Children and young people receive skilled responses from staff at times of medical emergency.  Children and young people make a meaningful contribution to staff recruitment.  Exceptional leadership and management results in an embedded culture of person-centred planning linked to achieving the best outcomes for children

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

and young people.  Stakeholders have a high regard for the managers, staff and the service the home provides.  Continuous improvement is a key management strength.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides short breaks for up to seven children and young people who have sensory impairment, learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. It is operated by a local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 25/05/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/11/2015 Full Outstanding 31/07/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/02/2015 Full Good

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Outstanding

Staff deliver exemplary care and support to children and young people tailored to their specific individual needs. This results in marked progress in their social and emotional development. A parent said, „We are very, very happy with the home. It is really helping with (Name)‟s independence skills. We can see a real difference.‟ Another said, „The home has helped a great deal to further our child's understanding of choices and symbols.‟

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Outstanding

Staff are skilled at building trusting relationships with children and young people. A meticulous approach to enabling children and young people to communicate their needs and choices underpins this approach. This means that whatever their level of communication, children and young people‟s right to influence the care they receive is actively promoted and respected. A social worker said, „They sign here and they constantly sign with (Name). I think he is more relaxed here. It‟s quieter and calmer. It amazes me how they do it. They match young people well and they manage all the children and young people together really well.‟

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Outstanding

Staff recognise the importance of preserving and supporting friendships between children and young people. The home proactively promotes this by being flexible and makes parents and social workers aware of what they offer. This includes allowing children and young people to come in more often to help them develop new friendships. A member of staff said, „(Name) doesn‟t get to see her friends much so we have told mum that she can come for an additional night.‟

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Outstanding

Staff make a meaningful contribution to children and young people‟s education. Effective links with schools through the proactive involvement of children and young people‟s key workers mean that there is a highly consistent approach to enabling progress. A head teacher said, „Staff at the home are sometimes able to come into school to learn more about how we teach and communicate with the pupils.‟ A member of staff said, „One of the staff from the home went on a trip with school. The school wasn‟t asking for extra staff, the member of staff knew that some of the parents could not go, and they said “I‟ll go”. She came in on her day off.‟

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Outstanding

Highly effective and timely admission and transition planning mean children and young people are well prepared to both move in and move on from the home. They quickly settle in to the home and derive the most benefit from what the placement has to offer. A social worker said, „(Name) is doing really well. The home has had to be flexible in terms of his needs.‟ Staff respect the rights of parents and win their trust. Parents are encouraged by the high quality of care and the inclusive range of activities that their children and young people take part in. A parent said, „They get my son involved in new experiences that he would refuse to do with us, like going bowling. He has been to the cinema, to a special showing for people with autism, and he said he really enjoyed that.‟

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Outstanding

Staff provide practical support to children and young people so they can move into their new home. A social worker said, „It was great to see how the staff all rallied around. They brought in bedding, tables and beds. I think it‟s a great example of them going above and beyond.‟

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Outstanding

Children and young people are safe. Careful assessment of any behaviours that place them at risk results in clear and robust plans. This is evident in the way staff respond to all behaviour, viewing this as another form of communication. Their response is to address children and young people‟s underlying needs, reducing the likelihood of escalating difficulties. A social worker said, „There are good risk assessments. They did a risk checklist before the young person was admitted. I have a risk assessment that I share with them and we update that together. I have no concerns about (Name)‟s safety and wellbeing. Staff are good, they recognise when his behaviour is escalating.‟ A parent said, „My child suffers from anxiety but is almost always relaxed during his stays at this home. We would not leave him if we felt even slightly concerned for any aspect of his safety.‟

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Outstanding

Leaders and managers work closely with all stakeholders to address concerns that potentially compromise children and young people‟s safety. Excellent links with the police and local schools mean that staff can identify timely support when issues, such difficulties with parking at school is compromised. A member of staff said, „I am hoping to be able to go into school and speak to parents to make them aware of the difficulties it causes. I will get it sorted.‟

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Outstanding

Young people contribute to the selection of new staff, enhancing the already rigorous recruitment procedures. Using their preferred communication methods, young people ask their chosen questions of applicants. This provides young people with a worthwhile opportunity to become more involved and included in the running of the home and gain valuable experience that they can draw on in adulthood. A senior member of staff said, „(Name) was really clear about who she wanted to choose.‟ A combination of fun and serious questions helps young people to make their choice. One of the fun questions asked was, „If you were a super hero, which one would you be?‟ While another more serious question was, „If I was being bullied, what would you do?‟

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Outstanding

Staff know what to do in the event of any health emergency. Their calm response enables children and young people to access swift medical attention. Staff stay with children and young people providing continued support in hospital while ensuring parents are fully informed. A social worker said, „The young person‟s illness was a bit out of the blue. Staff were a bit shocked but they dealt with it really well.‟

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Outstanding

Staff take effective action to safeguard children and young people. In addition to attending meetings and following child protection plans, they provide practical advice and guidance to parents. Good support and a sensitive response enable staff to develop positive relationships, often increasing the chances for some children and young people to return home to their birth families. A social worker said, „The staff have been a significant part of the team around the child. I can‟t fault them. We are very consistent in our approach. It is like a tight blanket around the child. (Name) has come on massively.‟

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Outstanding

An audit looking at all aspects of the physical home environment and care practice has resulted in the implementation of a meaningful action plan. This has led to work commencing to make the home more accessible.

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Outstanding

A range of symbols, objects of reference and pictures, „talking mats‟ and the active use of sign language engage children and young people permitting them genuine choice. This approach rubs off on others. For example, a social worker said, „The staff are brilliant. (Name) has improved even with her communicating. I cannot believe it. I have started to learn how to sign. I was signing “thank you”.‟

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Outstanding

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced and has been in post since March 2015. She is an exemplary role model for staff and professionals and is highly motivated to improve the long-term outcomes for children and young people who have disabilities. A parent said, „This is a fantastic home. It is never easy for a parent to leave a vulnerable child with additional needs in someone else's care but we have 100% trust in the staff.‟

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Outstanding

Person-centred planning is a strength of the home‟s approach in identifying and meeting children and young people‟s needs. Case records are now more accessible and reflect the progress of children and young people. It also makes clear to staff the areas to focus on. A member of staff said, „The plans are more compact‟, meaning they are easily understood. Children and young people make major progress, taking into account their needs at the times when they started their short breaks. They benefit from improved levels of social and communication skills. A member of staff said, „(Name) now speaks in sentences. He used to just say words. The best thing was seeing him playing a racing game with his friend. It blew me away.‟

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Outstanding

Staff receive regular effective supervision and an annual appraisal resulting in them feeling valued. They hold leaders and managers in high regard because of the support they receive. This management approach helps sustain a cohesive team and high levels of staff morale. A member of staff said, „The management team is on the floor getting young people views. That‟s the best thing at the home now.‟

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Outstanding

Leaders and managers build on the existing strengths of the home. A stable staff team with a diverse range of skills has additional responsibilities that make the best of the team‟s abilities. Staff take the lead with improvements across a range of areas. As a result, they are able to share best practice about the most effective ways of meeting children and young people‟s needs. The manager said, „We draw on research from another member of staff who has a background in speech and language therapy. We have an embedded understanding now about working together as a team.‟

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Outstanding

The home is clearly meeting the aims and objectives as outlined within the home‟s statement of purpose. The relationships with parents and professionals, who are full of praise for the staff and the home, are testament to this. A head teacher said, „The home provides an excellent service.‟ A social worker said, „They have a really good management team.‟

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Outstanding

Children and young people have access to advocates when necessary and some young people take part in youth participation forums. These opportunities improve children and young people‟s confidence, with some now taking part in their review meetings. This respects children‟s and young people‟s right to be consulted about decisions affecting their lives, and promotes the accountability of professionals.

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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 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 0300 123 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 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

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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