Children's Home run by Praxis Care in Leicestershire

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to receive good, positive, and nurturing short breaks at this service. The manager and staff work effectively with partner agencies and families to secure enjoyable and stimulating short breaks for young people. The staff prioritise the developmental needs of young people and have utilised, to good effect, creative ways to help young people develop. For example, the staff and young people are currently developing a cookery book. This contains young people’s favourite recipes, and prior to inclusion in the book, staff and young people make the recipes. The staff understand and encourage young people to weigh ingredients and measure them. Another young person can now, after slowly developing her skills and concentration, make an omelette under the supervision of staff. This is very good progress for this young person and she is proud of her achievement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New young people attending the service for short breaks receive a good level of care and support in making a sometimes difficult transition. The young people and their families visit the service on several occasions in advance of staying. Detailed and comprehensive plans are completed for young people that ensure that staff have the resources required to provide good care. The staff and managers understand how difficult it can be for young people and families to start receiving regular breaks and so the staff and families have good and regular communication. This work helps to ensure that young people and their families enjoy their breaks and find them beneficial. A social worker speaking about a young person said, ‘(He) really enjoys his time there, staff understand him and are confident in his care.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The health needs of young people take priority. Young people staying at the service have a wide and diverse range of health care needs. Some young people require specialist support with many areas of health care. The registered manager and staff work in partnership with health care services. They utilise effectively advice and services from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), occupational therapists and specialist nurses. The staff team receives regular training from nurses regarding some complex health conditions and meeting young people’s needs. The staff understand that some young people are more vulnerable as a result of complex medical conditions. Staff provide dedicated and sensitive care in collaboration with health care colleagues.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and senior care staff ensure that medication administration systems are safe and robust. Staff complete medication administration training and there is good oversight from managers to ensure that the likelihood of mistakes is minimised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has ensured that a detailed fire risk assessment is in place and is regularly reviewed. Fire drills and emergency evacuations are practised and include young people. This ensures that young people and staff are aware of how to exit the building safely in the event of a fire or emergency.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This service benefits from strong and effective leadership. The registered manager and senior care team are long-standing, experienced and skilled. The manager responded quickly to the three requirements and one recommendation made at the last full inspection. The manager has taken steps to review and update the safeguarding policy for the service. The manager has implemented systems to improve the recording and oversight of incidents requiring behaviour management, especially in relation to physical interventions. An advocacy service provides support to young people and advice to staff, if required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff receive a good level of training and development. The staff are enthusiastic about their work and report feeling supported by management. They receive regular professional supervision and feel able to raise any concerns they may have. Managers at the service retain high standards, and when the performance of staff falls below expectations this is rigorously addressed through performance management processes. Staff members have good relationships and respectfully value each other and their collective contributions to caring for children who have learning and/or physical disabilities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager takes a systematic approach to monitoring the quality of the service provided to young people. The manager receives monthly monitoring reports completed by the independent visitor to the home. Additionally, the manager completes her own monitoring which includes feedback from professionals, parents and carers and young people. Consequently, the manager continues to be enthusiastic and committed to driving up standards for young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider is a registered charity. The home provides short breaks for children and young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities, and often-complex health care needs, accommodating a maximum of eight children and young people at any one time. The home is divided into two separate units, each accommodating four children and young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/06/2016 Full Good 10/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/11/2015 Full Good 26/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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 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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