Children's Home, Residential special school run by Overley Hall Limited in Telford and Wrekin

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

The registered manager is working confidently towards meeting the previous requirements and recommendations, which are still within timescales for completion. There is action on all areas relating to a revised behaviour management policy, physical intervention recording and managerial monitoring. The six-monthly review of the quality of care is underway. Supervision arrangements are a focus and staff value one-to-one management support to help them through challenges at work.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are doing really well. Clearer, concise identification of progress against six- monthly targets within the staff’s review reports helps to make clear the large and small steps children make towards their independence, communication and life skills. Staff make quick and easy use of technology to personalise children’s activities. Staff put their communication training into practice to enrich children’s daily lives, with helpful ‘social stories’ to prepare them for new experiences. Skilled preparation has helped one child to sleep overnight at home in her own bed for the first time; this is a real achievement for the parents and the child. Dedicated, determined staff have introduced children, previously unable to tolerate sensory play, to enjoy ‘messy play’. Another child has had a fabulous day out on a train, to go shopping and to visit his favourite restaurant. This skilled commitment to inclusion has helped children to join the community and live like their peers,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

sharing ordinary, life-enhancing experiences. This means children get maximum enjoyment from constructive leisure, and feel valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Older children enjoy their more independent life in a separate house. They go out to discos, play tag rugby at local sports centres, and shop and cook for themselves. One took a holiday with a friend to a local theme park, supported by staff. They follow hobbies and lead an enriching life as a small group.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New children have settled in and staff are in close communication with their families to ensure consistency and well-being. Other children are getting ready to move on into new adult accommodation. Smooth transitions help them to make the change from one home to another with minimal distress. Much affection is shared between long-standing children, their families and the staff team at the school. Where the home cannot meet needs, the registered person works with parents and placing authorities to end placements in a planned, child-focused way.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Skilled staff manage children’s sensory, health and learning and behavioural needs well. Extreme challenges since the last inspection have resulted in high levels of injury to staff. Very recent safeguarding issues have been managed to the satisfaction of the local area designated officer. She said the home was ‘available and their referral prompt and appropriate’. She found the detailed information provided by the staff about the child’s communication needs very helpful to the investigation. The social worker reported confidence with all the protective responses by the service. The registered manager has drawn informal learning from the incidents. However, it remains to conclude the internal investigations with full reports from the local authority, then summarise and implement lessons learned.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager works cooperatively with partner agencies and parents. She is accessible to staff and a familiar, friendly face to children. Close managerial monitoring of recent behavioural escalation has helped to sustain one placement to a planned ending, and rotation of staff has helped to prevent burn out and sustain staff and children’s well-being. She has pushed to secure the right healthcare for children. The service is enriched by in-house therapeutic support and a new speech and language therapist is now playing an active role in residence. Building work is underway to replace one residential house in a new purpose-built wing. Child- centred investment keeps this service developing and improving.

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Information about this children's home

This privately owned residential school is registered as a children’s home to accommodate 22 children and young people who have severe learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment, challenging behaviours and autism spectrum disorders. Young adults may stay beyond the age of 18 to complete their education. Currently, three of the 21 residents are over 18. A completely separate new residential home for young adults, registered with the Care Quality Commission, also operates within the school grounds.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/12/2016 Full Good 29/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/12/2015 CH - Full (aligned) Outstanding 03/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; and the child's placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance. (Regulation 24(1)(a)(b)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home. They must ensure that, within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. ( Regulation 35 (1)(b)(3)(i)(ii)(c)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every 6 months. ( Regulation 45 (1)) 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement, with particular reference to physical intervention and to analysis of children's progress. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  Put systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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