Children's home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

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

One requirement was made at the last inspection and this has been addressed. As a result, all staff now receive supervision in line with organisational expectations.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to enjoy their short breaks at the home. Their self- confidence and enjoyment is promoted through a number of activities, both within the home and in the community. There is photographic evidence to support young people in creating memories of their time with staff and other young people. Young people have opportunities to meet their friends, enjoy a break in a different environment, join in with a range of activities, and develop new skills and abilities. One young person said, ’I like coming here, I have fun. It is all good!’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers remain committed to ensuring that young people are carefully matched with each other, so that they all enjoy their time at the home and get the most from it. Young people’s rooms are personalised ready for their stay. They enjoy a warm welcome, and staff take great care to prepare for each group’s stay, planning activities and events reflecting young people’s choices. Staff continue to meet young people’s diverse needs, including those relating to diet, communication and mobility. Young people who are leaving the home receive considerable support in preparation for their transition. Staff complete link sessions with them, explaining the changes ahead. This is supported by visual cues and documents to help young people to process and understand the information.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no incidents of young people going missing from the home. Risk assessments and behaviour-management plans are up to date and set out how best to support young people, minimising potential harm and keeping them safe. However, the absence of up-to-date short-break review documents on young people’s files hinders the ability to monitor and review their needs. Consequently, the progress young people are making is not being monitored appropriately. The registered manager has not escalated these shortfalls to the local authority to promote the outcomes of young people in their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work collaboratively with schools and parents to ensure that consistency of care is secured. Parents are unanimously happy with the service provided. One parent said, ‘I can’t fault it at all, it’s fantastic.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to develop age-appropriate semi-independence skills, including self-care skills and kitchen skills, including the preparation of drinks and snacks. One young person with a visual impairment has improved his mobility skills. He is now able to navigate his way around the home with confidence. Staff regularly consult young people about their choices regarding their stays, and about the decoration of the home and their bedrooms. Various communication techniques are used, including Makaton, British Sign Language and Widget. Some young people use their own versions of these techniques, and staff go out of their way to comprehend young people’s particular preferences in communication to ensure that they understand their wishes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The environment is scrupulously clean, well decorated and inviting, and filled with photographs and folders documenting young people’s activities during their stay. Young people say that they like their rooms, and look forward to their break.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The use of physical interventions remains rare. Staff employ an incentives approach with young people, rewarding positive behaviour with praise and small gifts. When a physical intervention does occur, young people are not always invited to sign the record. The organisation states that young people will be helped to reflect on the incident using various communication tools, but this is often left blank. It is not clear whether the young person refuses to cooperate or whether they have not been given the opportunity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has an achievable development plan for the home, including doing outreach work with families and continuing to develop independence skills with the younger groups. This ensures that the service continues to develop for the benefit of all young people.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is owned and operated by a local authority. At any one time, it provides a short-break service for up to four children or young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. It currently provides this service for 25 children and young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/06/2016 Full Good 19/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/09/2015 Full Good 04/03/2015 Interim Declined in 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 with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (case records) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; in particular, a copy of the local authority placement plan and review minutes. (Regulation 36(1)(a)) 15/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, in particular in relation to recording physical intervention incidents and helping young people understand and reflect on the incident. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 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 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 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

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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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