Children's home run by Esland South Limited 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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been effectively actioned.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved into the home since the last inspection. The registered manager completed a thorough impact risk assessment prior to making the decision to admit the young person. The other young people were prepared well for the new person moving in and were keen to help her settle in.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff complete an informative baseline assessment regarding the new young person’s abilities and needs. This underpins care plans, along with admission information obtained from the placing authority, parents and carers. Comprehensive behaviour management plans and risk assessments ensure that staff have the knowledge to care safely for the young people. The targets set are achievable and regularly reviewed to ensure that goals are attainable. A merit reward system is effective in motivating young people. As a result, they are learning to manage their behaviour better. There have been significant reductions in incidents and physical interventions. Young people respond positively to the routines and boundaries which are in place.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A strength is the excellent relationships that young people and staff have with each other. Young people are exceptionally positive about their experience of the staff and the home. Comments included, ‘They have helped me to manage my anger’, ‘I get on with all the staff’, and ‘I feel staff support me well, there is nothing I want to change’. One young person said that the staff do their best for her.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff care about the young people and their welfare. Therapeutic interventions and specialist appointments are readily available, and young people are supported to attend. Staff benefit from consultations with therapists in order to implement strategies to assist young people in emotional distress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff encourage young people to make good use of external agencies, including advocates. Young people’s views are valued, and they contribute towards their care plans. Regular, informative house meetings are held, and staff adopt creative ways to engage the young people. They apply research material and invite speakers, for example the police community support officer. Young people learn about a range of topics, including radicalisation and child sexual exploitation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are enthusiastic and accepting of young people’s differences. One young person showed the inspector the work that staff are completing with her to help her understand and accept her disability.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Key-work sessions are regular and are used effectively to help young people manage themselves safely. Young people learn and make progress by seeking staff support to take measured and appropriate risks. Extensive key-work sessions help young people to learn to use the internet safely. They are trusted to use social media safely by staff who are skilled in identifying and responding to any risk taking. Key-work sessions also focus on keeping young people safe in the home environment. For example, one young person refused to leave her bedroom during a fire drill, this was discussed in key-work sessions, and the young person responded immediately in subsequent fire drills.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people are engaged in education. Staff work proactively with teaching staff to ensure that young people attend. Staff facilitated one young person attending work experience, which was very successful. Her employer reported that she is the best candidate that they have had; this encouragement has increased the young person’s confidence to excel at college. Another young person has completed her first year of college and is transferring to the next level. She has progressed from needing specialist support to attending mainstream education, which is a great achievement for this young person. Staff engage another young person in a life-skills programme, which includes developing her self-esteem and improving social relationships. A social worker for this young person said, ‘She is engaged in learning for the first time in months.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager advocates strongly in regard to suitable adult placements for when young people are moving on. She uses her in-depth knowledge and experience of the young people to inform the local authority of the support needed. Staff prepare young people well for independence. The young people have unsupervised time in the community to increase their confidence in social situations while they have the protection and guidance of staff. One young person was reluctant to travel on public transport independently but, with the encouragement of the staff, she was able to achieve this. She is very proud of this accomplishment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Appropriate induction programmes, relevant training and development opportunities successfully equip staff to meet the young people’s needs. Supervision is regular and evaluative, underpinning the ethos of reflective practice. The registered manager acknowledges staff skills and expertise; she rewards the team members for their continued, effective commitment with the young people. Staff morale is high because they feel valued. A new member of staff spoke positively about the training, mentoring and support that he has experienced during his induction, ‘I am able to approach the registered manager and seniors about any matters, and all the staff have been helpful.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Close monitoring by the manager ensures that staff maintain high standards of care. The manager provides strong, calm, committed leadership and effective management of the home. She leads by example, role modelling a high level of interest and care for the young people. She develops the staff team’s commitment and consistency of care, to provide young people with positive outcomes.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care for young people who have learning disabilities. Three young people are placed, who have disabilities and associated complex needs, including autistic spectrum disorder. The home is run by a private organisation.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/11/2016 Full Good 11/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/11/2015 Full Outstanding 25/03/2015 Interim Improved 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 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

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

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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