Children's home run by Rushcliffe Specialist Schools (Mickleover) Ltd in Nottingham

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

Children and young people are happy in this home. They generally behave very well. They have strong and nurturing relationships with staff. Staff have a very good understanding of the children and young people they care for. Staff know when children and young people are becoming agitated or anxious and are skilled at calming them. Subsequently, physical intervention is rarely used. However, when it is used, it is used for the right reasons and in the right ways. Good records are completed with good management oversight. The registered manager is quick to pick up any issues or concerns and follow them up, with external professionals where necessary, to ensure that children and young people are not exposed to unsafe practice. Children and young people are encouraged to provide their views if they have been involved in a physical intervention.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people make significant progress from their starting points in a relatively short period of time. The registered manager spoke about a young person who has not been in the home for very long: ‘He didn’t feel valued or wanted. He now feels valued and listened to. He feels secure and wanted.’ A young person spoke about their experiences of the home, saying that he had not been in school for a long time prior to coming to this home. He said he feels very anxious about going into a classroom. The home and school have worked closely together and the young person will now go into the school, knowing that he doesn’t have to go into a classroom. He will also participate in educational-type activities within the home and local community. The young person feels this has helped him enormously to feel less anxious about education. Another young person feels that her anxiety is reduced by being in contact with animals. Therefore, time with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

animals has been woven into her timetable and the home is considering purchasing some small animals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people have positive relationships with others in the house and say bullying is not an issue for them. They do not go missing from the home as they feel safe and secure. However, children and young people are living with young people who are over the age of 18. The risks of this have been taken into account but not recorded as a written risk assessment. This would ensure that all staff are fully aware of any potential risks and what action needs to be taken to minimise those risks.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people say that they have adults in the home they can talk to if they have any concerns. A young person said: ‘They listen and have a genuine interest in you.’ Children and young people have a good understanding of the complaints procedure. Complaints are responded to quickly but not always to the satisfaction of the child or young person, or in a way the child or young person can understand.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people appreciate the gradual introduction to living at this home. They feel that this helps them to settle quickly. One young person said he had to move in to the home quickly, but that this was alright as he had been attending the school for some time and so knew the home and staff already.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people are treated with dignity and respect. Living and being educated within an autistic spectrum disorder-specific community helps to build a strong sense of identity and builds their confidence and resilience. Children and young people support local charities, helping them to appreciate others and experience empathy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is experienced and qualified, providing good support to the staff team. One young person described the registered manager as ‘inspirational’. The registered manager has a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and has plans to further develop practice and the home. He has a good understanding of the children and young people, and looks for patterns and trends in behaviour, reviewing care planning accordingly. The requirement and recommendations made at the previous inspection have all been addressed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are qualified, experienced and competent. They know the children and young people very well and provide them with a high level of care and support. Staff have access to an excellent training programme that ensures that they have the right skills and knowledge to provide a high quality service to the children and young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work closely with external professionals to ensure that children and young people receive a consistent and professional service. External professionals agree that communication is effective. A social worker said: ‘Staff are very welcoming and friendly.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is made up of four large houses, one of which is currently closed. The houses are spacious, modern and comfortable. A young person said: ‘You never feel stressed out here. Always space to chill out. We are never forced into the same space. There is enough space for everyone.’ Bedrooms are all en-suite and single occupancy so children and young people have privacy in their own space.

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is a residential special school that is registered as a children’s home. This is because it provides care to children for over 295 days per year. The children receive education and care on the same site. The home is privately owned. It is registered for 24 children who have learning disabilities and/or an associated autistic spectrum disorder.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/06/2016 Full Good 15/10/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 30/07/2014 Full Good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendations:  In some instances, a child may express wishes that are not always in their best interests or which may conflict with the views of other children in the home. In such circumstances, the responsible adults will have to balance the wishes of the child against what they judge to be in the best interests of the child and reach a reasonable view about the best way forward in the interests of all. The reasons for reaching any decision will need to be carefully explained to and understood by the child or children concerned. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.9)

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged to develop positive relationships with others both in and outside the home as set out in the positive relationships standard. However, staff should be alert to the possibility that children may be at risk from such relationships including with other children in the home, staff, family members, friends and others outside the home, and they therefore should take appropriate steps to protect a child where there are concerns for a child's safety. This specifically relates to children and young people who live with young people over the age of 18. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.13)

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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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