Children's home run by Nottinghamshire County Council

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has had a period of stability since the full inspection and continues to provide an outstanding service to young people. A strength is the quality of relationships built between staff and young people. These relationships support young people to invest in the home, and enable staff to work with young people effectively.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At present a number of young people are spending time away from the home, on agreed overnight stays with family or friends. A number of young people are preparing for independence, and staff are integral to monitoring and assessing overnight stays. Young people see the home as a safe base. Staff support young people to develop the knowledge to make safer choices. They demonstrate considerable skill in working directly with families and encouraging partnership between family and the home. Consistent messages from staff and from family help to keep young people safe.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals speak positively about the progress young people make, and in particular how well staff manage risk.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Incidents of missing from the home are managed effectively, with staff following multi-agency procedures. Independent return interviews are offered to young people, giving them the opportunity to discuss any worries or difficulties that might precipitate them leaving the home. For some young people risk is substantially reduced.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the full inspection three recommendations were made, two of which have been met. Young people have been involved in consultation about the home and the surrounding area and whether they feel safe. Their responses will be incorporated into the home’s safe area report, and the home’s internal monitoring processes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A further recommendation was made to ensure that the recording of physical intervention was clearer. There have been no incidents of physical intervention since the full inspection, but the manager has reviewed and improved recording processes. A final recommendation was made in response to the fact that not all young people in the home were accessing education. Despite evidence of good partnership working, progress in education remains problematic for some young people. Positively, staff are thinking of inventive ways to motivate young people to achieve their potential and engage in study or work experience. This recommendation will remain to ensure that partners work together to support young people to get back into education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted to the home since the full inspection, and one young person has moved on to independence. Admissions to the home continue to be managed well, with robust pre-admission impact assessments. This young person has settled in well, although there has been some impact on the dynamics within the home. Staff are managing this appropriately.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions from the home are planned well, and young people receive outreach support from staff for several weeks after they leave. Despite this support, transitions to independence can be difficult for young people. Staff work in partnership with other professionals to make the transitions as smooth and supportive as possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager continues to use effective monitoring systems to review the quality of care. He is innovative and constantly strives to improve practice and ensure that care is tailored to meet young people’s individual needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff say that they feel well supported, with regular, good quality supervision and access to a broad range of training. New staff speak positively about mentoring and support from experienced staff, assisting them to develop skills and confidence. Well-established partnership working with placing social workers and with specialist services, such as child and adolescent mental health services, support young people to access the targeted support they need.

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Information about this children's home

The home, which is a local authority provision, provides accommodation for four young people who have a learning disability or emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 07/12/2016 Full Outstanding 24/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 17/06/2015 Full Outstanding 25/03/2015 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:  Where children placed in a home are not participating in education because they have been excluded or are not on a school roll for some other reason, the registered person and staff must work closely with the placing authority so that the child is supported and enabled to resume full-time education as soon as possible. In the interim, the child should be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. This is with reference to all young people in the home having the right to education and staff continuing to work with partners to secure appropriate education provision for all. (‘Guide to the children's home regulations including quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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 looked after children 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

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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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