Children's Home, Residential special school run by Kisimul Group Limited in Lincolnshire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a new registered manager since the last inspection. She has ensured that the requirement set at the last inspection is met: the statement of purpose has been reviewed to add clarity about who staff, parents and placing authorities should go to if they have a concern. The four recommendations set at the last inspection are also met. The quality of recording is improved. There has been particular progress regarding restraints and significant events records so that the reader can better establish what happened and when. This allows for more robust monitoring of incidents.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has continued to develop the home at a fast pace. She has already demonstrated the tenacity and energy needed to bring about improvement in her first three months as the registered manager. She has identified the strengths of the home and areas of potential improvement. Improvements include:

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 A revision of the staff induction pack to make the process more thorough.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 A quality assurance exercise on the quality of the food provided, to ensure better nutritional value and incorporate young people’s individual likes and dislikes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 An increase in the number of activities provided for the benefit of young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 Increased management monitoring, which includes an evaluation of night observations and direct observation of practice to ensure that young people’s needs are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

 More regular meetings with school staff to further promote joint working.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The organisation arranges for an independent visitor to inspect the home once a month. These visits are very thorough. Young people’s care is well monitored and evaluated on each visit. Where there have been incidents or complaints, these are reviewed. The independent visitor is robust in their evaluation of young people’s progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Joint working is excellent. A range of professionals are available, such as speech and language therapists and educational psychologists. Effective joint working is instrumental in ensuring young people’s progress. All professionals work well together and every opportunity is taken to promote young people’s development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are only admitted to the home if the multi-disciplinary team is sufficiently convinced that they are well suited to other young people and that they will be able to make good progress. Consequently, young people settle quickly. They are supported very well with their transition in and out of the home, particularly those who have a tendency to be highly anxious about change. Young people are very well prepared for their move into adult services. Every opportunity is taken to ensure that they are as independent as they can be.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are several examples of young people making good progress in relation to their behaviour. Staff work hard to find the root cause of challenging behaviours and to ensure that young people can communicate their feelings with staff. For example, new computer software has enabled a young person to communicate more effectively. Improved communication allows young people to feel less frustrated and more able to manage their own anxieties. Improved communication has also led to better family visits, and enabled young people to access and enjoy a wider range of activities in the community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has brought in a ‘signing in and out sheet’ following a minor error in the recording of medication. The new system is designed to ensure that all medicines have been returned and locked away safely when young people return from trips or visits. Most entries are signed but, on four occasions, medicines have been signed out of the building but not signed back in. There is the potential for error to occur if this is not put right. This shortfall does not detract from the improved quality of care overall and the raft of new developments to benefit young people since the last inspection.

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Information about this children's home

 The setting is a residential special school, which is registered as a children’s home because it provides care to children over 295 days per year. The setting provides care and a learning environment for young people who have learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 12/10/2016 Full Good 01/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/10/2015 Full Outstanding 19/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children. This is in particular relation to the procedure for checking medicines in and out of the building. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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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