Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

The overall experiences and progress made by children at this home have improved since the last inspection. Staff provide a wide range of support packages for children and their families, which demonstrates excellent flexibility and responsiveness to individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children come for day care, shared care, short breaks or longer-term care. Staff and managers provide an impressive bespoke service to children and their families. Parents spoken with during this inspection were consistently positive about the care and support that their children receive. Parents report having total peace of mind when their children come to this home. They feel that their children have new experiences and opportunities during their short-break stays and that they would not be able to offer these to their children at home. All parents spoken with reported having no concerns about the safety and care provided to their children by the staff team. This home clearly provides a much-needed and highly valued service to local children and their families.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Regular coffee mornings take place at the home. These enable parents and carers to meet each other. Staff seek the views of parents as to what support they would like. This recently led to staff from the transitions services coming in to meet with parents and carer’s. There are also plans for someone to come and speak with parents and carers about welfare rights. This demonstrates the commitment of the staff team to fully involve parents and carers and provide them with valuable information and advice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s views are also routinely sought and acted upon. Staff have consulted with them about the decor of a new bathroom in the home. This led to flooring and wall colours being chosen by some of the children and reflects their full involvement in how the home is run and presented. Regular meetings with children take place. Children have been able to put forward their views on how the computer room should be furnished and their views and wishes for their bedrooms. Such consultation and engagement is very positive and reflects the fact that staff want to fully include children in the care and support that they receive. Staff have also worked very closely and sensitively with parents, carers and children to support the specific needs of the children. This includes one child gradually building up to coming for overnight stays. This was achieved over a long period of time, with close partnership working with staff and parents. The home

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

also offer day-care support for another child who lives with foster carers. This not only enables the child to meet other children, but supports the foster carers.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A key strength of the home is in how well staff and managers advocate for children at all times. They challenge other agencies when it is felt that the correct services or support are not being provided. They attend meetings and share their views with conviction. Staff and managers have challenged the placing authority and other involved agencies when they have concerns about transition plans for young people who are moving on from this home. They constantly strive to ensure that children have the best possible care, support and services in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no reported incidents of children going missing, no allegations against staff and very few incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection. Another key strength relates to how well managers review and reflect on the use of physical restraint. They fully consider patterns and trends of any concerning behaviours and make changes to behaviour management plans as a result. This has also recently included staff visiting the school of one child to consider their behaviours in that setting. This led to changes being made to the behaviour management plan. Managers monitor and track any concerning or risky behaviours closely. Key-work sessions also take place between staff and children to consider any specific areas of need.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of recommendations were made as a result of the last inspection. The registered manager has reviewed and changed the incentive and reward schemes for children living in the home. Some children have worked with staff to devise their own incentive charts and agreements. This enables them to work towards rewards each week and is proving to be very effective. There are now clear guides and agreements in place for staff to follow. These have been devised in consultation with relevant children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has considered the accommodation needs of those children who are currently living in the home. Senior managers have met to discuss the longer-term accommodation needs, and plans are now in place for the future. These will improve the bedroom and living space that each child will have.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has ordered electronic devices for children to use in the home and has arranged for them to have access to computers and the internet. They will soon be able to access wi-fi within the home and have been consulted about what furnishings and decor they would like in the computer room.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One shortfall has been identified as a result of this inspection. An independent person visits the home each month to consider and report on the care and support that is provided to children. The independent person has not consulted with children during recent visits or observed the care and support that they receive from staff. For those children who cannot communicate verbally, it is important that the independent person also attempts to make contact with parents, carers and placing social workers to elicit their views. Such feedback would assist staff and managers to further improve the care and support that is provided to children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for nine children: five children under short-break arrangements and a further four children under other arrangements. The home cares for children who have learning disabilities and who may also have physical disabilities. The home cares for children on a long-term basis, for overnight stays and day care.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/11/2016 Full Outstanding 25/11/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Good 19/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the person - if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working in the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) 24/04/2017

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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 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 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

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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