Children's home run by Cornwall Council in Cornwall

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of this inspection, no young people were at the home, or were due to arrive later that day to stay overnight. Therefore, the inspector did not have the opportunity to speak to young people directly. However, families were consulted and a parent said: ‘The support my son receives at the home is wonderful; he’s matured, he’s safe and happy, and is doing things he wasn’t doing before.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager ensures that staff complete records of incidents and where appropriate, accidents that occur. The vast majority of incidents are recorded in detail, and are countersigned by the registered manager or the deputy manager. However, not all records demonstrate a robust audit trail in relation to parents and other interested stakeholders being informed of all incidents and accidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has introduced a system to improve the monitoring and evaluation of incidents that occur. This system is in its infancy, and will require further evaluation at the next inspection in order to ascertain its effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are no records of restraint being used, sanctions being imposed, or young people going missing. The registered manager said that there have not been any referrals to the designated officer of the local authority, or to children’s services. There are no recorded complaints since the last inspection. Fire safety is promoted and a safe environment is maintained. The registered manager ensures that all appropriate agencies and authorities are informed of any notifiable events.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are provided with comprehensive placement plans and associated risk assessments to guide them in meeting young people’s care and support needs. These plans are regularly updated to reflect the young people’s current needs. Since the last inspection, the registered manager has reviewed the format in which the placement plans are presented. Some placement plans have been reviewed, and are currently being evaluated for their effectiveness. Additional work is being undertaken to improve these plans further.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the vast majority of staff have received training in understanding and supporting positive attachments. However, staff have not received training in augmented communication. This was a requirement at the last inspection. The registered manager said that one member of staff has been identified to access this training and once they have received the training, they will disseminate the training to the staff team. The recommendation that was made at the last inspection in relation to ensuring that staff are provided with speech and language therapy assessments has not been fully met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff actively seek the views of young people when developing new facilities in the home. For example, staff have devised a survey to gain the young people’s views and opinions in what they would like to grow in the polytunnel that is in the garden. The survey is child-friendly and is presented in a format that they understand. Young people have had the opportunity to record their views and opinions formally, which include suggestions for growing flowers and a wide range of vegetables.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have received positive feedback from young people and their parents who no longer access a short break due to becoming adults and accessing other resources. A joint Christmas card from two young people said: ‘Thanks for all the things you have done over the years for us, like giving us advice and preparing us for the future.’ A Christmas card from a parent commented positively upon the time her son spent at the home, and that he ‘loved his time’ there.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There continues to be regular external scrutiny of the quality of care that is provided and the registered manager responds swiftly to any recommendations made. The independent visitor regularly seeks the views and opinions from young people, their parents, social workers and staff. As part of the internal monitoring and quality assurance processes, she maintains records to evidence when and how recommendations were acted upon.

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides a short-break service for up to four children/and or young people who have learning difficulties. The home is managed and owned by the local authority.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/08/2016 Full Good 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/12/2015 Full Requires improvement 18/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

6. (2)(e)(ii) protect and promote each child’s welfare. In particular, ensure that parents and all interested stakeholders are informed of all incidents and accidents. 17/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

33. (4) (a) Ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development. In particular, training in augmented communication. 31/05/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the home works in partnership with relevant people as appropriate, so that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. In addition, that staff are provided with speech and language therapy assessments as these reports may offer advice and recommendations to include the use of communication aids, equipment and/or any necessary language support. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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, 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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