Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 1 SC427165 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children‟s home. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children‟s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The newly registered manager is highly driven to provide the best possible care. She has a clear vision, and has plans in place to promote continual improvement in the home. Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 2  A resilient and committed staff team continues to provide consistently high standards of care for all young people. This is regardless of the challenges they face.  The home has cohesive partnerships with a wide range of social, education and healthcare professionals. This means that young people benefit from a holistic approach to meeting needs.  All aspects of safeguarding are very well implemented. Consequently, young people are kept safe from potential harm.  Behaviour management is highly effective. From their starting points, young people gain greater insight and control over their emotions and behaviour.  Staff understand issues relating to diversity and identity. They ensure that,

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

throughout the changing developmental needs of adolescence, all young people receive the support, advice and guidance they require.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children‟s home‟s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 There are several areas which the home needs to address to promote further improvement. This includes more evaluative quality assurance reports; suitably structured educational activities when young people are not in school; involving young people in the recruitment of staff; and ensuring regular monitoring of bedrooms. These shortfalls do not have a direct impact on young people.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/07/2016 Full Requires improvement 18/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 with the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. The report must monitor, review and evaluate the quality of care provided for children, the feedback and opinions of children about the children‟s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it, and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. The registered person must supply a copy to HMCI within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)(4)(a)) 01/09/2017

p.3

Recommendations

 A child‟s bedroom should not generally be entered without their permission, though it may be necessary to establish routines to allow for rooms to be cleaned regularly. Usually, rooms should only be searched if the child has been informed or asked for their permission. Immediate searching may be necessary where there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child‟s or another person‟s safety or well-being. With particular regard to ensuring that bedrooms are free from potential hazards. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  Children must be consulted regularly on their views about the home‟s care, to inform and support continued improvement in the quality of care provided. Due consideration should be given to the child‟s cognitive ability in the development and implementation of any consultation processes. Children should be able to see

p.3

Recommendations

the results of their views being listened to and acted on. With specific reference to inclusion in the recruitment of staff. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  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. With particular regard to ensuring that, in the interim, the child should Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 4 be supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable structured activities. If no education place is identified by the placing authority, the registered person must challenge them to meet the child‟s needs

p.3

Recommendations

under regulation 5 (engaging with the wider system to ensure that children‟s needs are met). („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people who live in this home have very different backgrounds and needs. Care planning is bespoke to ensure that the unique and changing needs of young people are understood. The staff team has a multi-disciplinary approach to caring for young people, ensuring that young people access any resource they might need. This „joined up‟ approach mean young people have the same opportunities as their peers. Relationships in the home are very positive. Staff genuinely care about young people. They show resilience in working through challenging behaviours to help young people to resolve their emotional and behavioural issues. One parent said: „Staff understand and know how to deal with moods. They want to listen and work with young people.‟ This means young people make progress from their starting points. A social care team manager confirmed that young people make progress and that staff have a positive

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

attitude, even when behaviours are challenging. Young people have good relationships with each other and the staff team. One young person said: „All staff are nice, so are the young people here.‟ Observations throughout the inspection showed that young people are relaxed, have fun with staff and are nurtured. Young people say that they trust staff and like to spend time with them. All young people have individualised education plans tailored to meet their needs and preferences. Some young people embrace education and are motivated to attend regularly and work hard. When young people refuse to attend school, managers and staff work tirelessly to promote engagement. They are persistent and work with education departments, headteachers, schools, and virtual heads to secure solutions. Staff work with young people in the home to encourage home learning. However, this is an area which needs to be strengthened to support young people when they are not

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

participating in education. Young people are supported to access relevant services to meet their physical, psychological and emotional needs. The home has strong working relationships with the designated nurse, who visits the home each month. This helps educate young people about their health needs and promotes their overall good health. Staff and young people benefit from excellent working relationships with the child and adolescent mental health services. This ensures the ongoing assessment and review of young people‟s emotional and psychological well-being. Additionally, staff have participated in training and consultation on the mental health needs of young people. Consequently, young people Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 5 benefit from comprehensive healthcare that promotes good emotional and psychological health. Young people learn age-appropriate skills to become more independent. The routine of

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

the home supports young people to practise life skills such as cooking, cleaning, shopping and, where appropriate, budgeting. One young person has combined her studies with having a part-time job. This is a significant achievement and demonstrates good time management and organisational skills. Over time, young people develop confidence and skills that will benefit them as they move into independence. A strong ethos of the home is to ensure that young people have enjoyable and safe contact with their families, friends and significant others. The staff team works in line with care plans. Staff work proactively with agencies, families and young people to promote family identity and strengthen relationships.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The management and staff team have considerable skills and knowledge in dealing with child protection and safeguarding issues. They have effectively managed several complex issues, where young people could have been at risk of harm. This has meant that young people have become increasingly safe. This home has a restorative approach to preventing and resolving crime and conflict. Staff help young people to communicate effectively, and to find solutions to situations where they have committed a crime or harm. The staff have taken part in training to equip them with the knowledge to be effective in using restorative methods. Additionally, the staff team works closely with the youth offending service and the „looked after children‟ police officer. This collaboration and the use of restorative justice is effective in diverting young people from the criminal justice system. The registered manager can demonstrate a reduction in significant events since the home began to use

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

restorative methods. Incidents where young people are away from the home without authorisation, or are missing, are very well managed. The missing from care policy and protocols are understood and implemented well when required by staff. This means that staff provide prompt action to minimise risks to young people. Consequently, staff and police can quickly identify the whereabouts of young people. On their return to the home, staff always offer young people „return interviews‟ with an independent person or the social worker. Some young people have struggled to settle in the home and chose to return to their family homes. In such cases, the manager, staff and social workers work proactively on a daily basis to reassure and encourage young people to return to the home. The registered manager acts on safeguarding issues in a timely manner and ensures that robust action is taken to safeguard young people. Concerns about the sexual exploitation

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

of young people are jointly assessed with specialist agencies and plans are implemented immediately. Issues of self-injurious behaviours receive swift intervention from the child and adolescent mental health team. The manager ensures that she notifies relevant agencies of incidents, as required. Consequently, safeguarding services, placing authorities and Ofsted are able to review the home‟s response to incidents. This Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 6 transparency shows a coordinated approach which ensures the protection of young people. Staff use a robust approach to deal with discrimination, such as when young people have expressed views that are racist. Managers and staff are clear about challenging any form of discrimination. This has been effective in teaching young people to understand the value of diversity. Young people do not report any bullying in this home and say that all young people get along together.

p.5

How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The home is safe and well maintained. The home has a continual programme of maintenance, which ensures timely repair and remedial work. However, this inspection identified that bedrooms need to be monitored more regularly to ensure that they are free of hazards. Health and safety checks, including fire equipment and drills, are current and environmental risks assessments are in place.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of the leadership and management of the home is good. The newly registered manager has substantial relevant experience of residential childcare and management. She is social work qualified and has commenced the level 5 diploma in leadership in health and social care. The registered individual supervises and provides senior management support to the registered manager. Additionally, an experienced deputy manager provides operational support in the home. Consequently, a strong and well-qualified management team leads the home. The manager has acted on the requirement set at the interim inspection. Night care staff are enrolled on training to obtain the necessary qualifications. The registered manager also ensures external scrutiny of physical intervention records, whenever she is involved in the physical intervention. This provides impartiality in evaluating the use of restraints. The registered manager is highly motivated and dedicated about delivering the best

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

possible standards of care to young people and their families. She effectively combines her management role with direct work with young people, their families and social workers. This joint approach enables her to have an in-depth working knowledge of plans, obstacles to progress and individual needs. She is then able to promote progress and enable young people to achieve their long-term goals. Partnership work is a strength of this home. Comments from stakeholders are wholly positive, and provide evidence that young people benefit from support and care from a professional and caring team. A strength of this home is young people‟s participation in their care planning and the operation of the home. Young people are encouraged to read their files and amend records where they feel comments are not accurate. They complete questionnaires about their views of individual staff and take part in regular, meaningful young persons‟

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

meetings. These factors mean young people feel empowered about their lives and are able to influence their care. The participation of young people could be further developed through their inclusion in the recruitment of new staff. The registered manager uses a range of methods to quality assure the operation of the Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 7 home. The monthly monitoring visits by an independent visitor are of a good quality and ensure external scrutiny. The internal quality assurance reports provide a further layer of monitoring. These reports are comprehensive; however, they lack evaluation. This means that reports do not have clarity about the home‟s effectiveness or actions needed to promote improvement. The registered manager has clear development plans in place to outline and track her improvement strategy. A programme of refurbishment in the home has been approved. This will mean young people will benefit from a high-quality home environment, which

p.6

Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

p.7

Information about this inspection

Using the „Social care common inspection framework‟, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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‟. Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

p.8

Inspector

Amanda Ellis, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC427165 9 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children‟s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9