Children's home run by Rushcliffe Specialist Schools (Mickleover) Ltd in Nottingham

Inspection report children's home: SC463386 1 SC463386 Registered provider: Rushcliffe Specialist Schools (Mickleover) Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is a residential special school that is registered as a children’s home. This is because it provides care to children for over 295 days per year. The children receive education and care on the same site. The home is privately owned. It is registered for 24 children who have learning disabilities.

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 requires improvement to be 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: sustained effectiveness

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress socially, emotionally, and with their behaviour. They are having positive experiences that improve the quality of Inspection report children's home: SC463386 2 their lives. They enjoy good relationships with staff. They feel safe and are happy.  Staff know young people well. There is very good quality individualised care. Young people are able to develop their interests and hobbies. They know that their voices are heard and respected.  Young people all attend the on-site school or have college placements. They are making progress towards gaining qualifications.  Young people receive good support in relation to their health needs. They have access to specialist psychological services should they need them.  Partnership working, especially with the on-site school, is effective in ensuring that care and support are consistent, and are delivered in a way that meets the

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

young people’s needs.  There is a good understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development. This is based on effective monitoring and analysis of information.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 A consultation process has left members of the staff team uncertain about their working patterns and other potential changes. Communication between leaders and staff is strained. This has caused unrest in the staff team, which some young people have picked up on. Some young people said that this has made them feel increasingly anxious. This situation needs quick resolution to lessen the impact on young people.  Although care practice is usually of high quality, on one occasion a care plan wasn’t followed appropriately. This meant that a young person watched a potentially inappropriate television programme. Senior staff and managers had not identified this shortfall, meaning that staff have not had the opportunity to review their practice.  On one occasion, a young person’s access to a check-up with an optician had not been organised in a timely way.  In general, young people’s complaints are managed well. Young people value

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

the time that leaders and managers spend with them to talk about their concerns. However, on one occasion there was no written record of the action taken, the outcome, or whether the young person was satisfied with the outcome of their complaint.  Risk assessments for activities young people take part in, such as using specialist craft equipment, have not always been carried out. This means staff and young people may not be aware of risks involved or how to use equipment safely. Inspection report children's home: SC463386 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 21/06/2016 Full Good 15/10/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/07/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children's home: SC463386 4

p.3

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 within the given timescales.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who:

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.4

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1) and (2) (b) (iv)) 29/07/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.4

Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) and (2) (a) (e) (f)) 29/07/2017

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any 29/07/2017 Inspection report children's home: SC463386 5 complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3))

p.4

Recommendations

 Homes have a key role in organising and ensuring each child’s attendance at the necessary primary and secondary health services. Most health services that a child needs to access will be provided by other organisations. In particular, ensure children have access to regular appointments with an optician. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.11)  Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. In particular, this relates to assessing the risk of children using potential hazardous equipment such as a glue gun. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make particular progress in their health, behaviour, education, communication, confidence and self-esteem. Some young people are able to recognise the impact that living at the home and attending school has had. A young person said, ‘My progress has been huge. My health has got better. I’m doing really well. Staff have supported me to do this.’ Another young person said, ‘Since I came here they have helped me. Behaviour-wise I am getting better.’

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know young people well and drive forward opportunities for their personal development. They have warm and supportive relationships with young people. Good care planning supports staff to work on current targets. For example, staff have created opportunities to improve a young person’s personal hygiene. Young people enjoy their time living at the home. Although care practice is usually of high quality, on one occasion a care plan was not followed appropriately, meaning that a young person watched a potentially inappropriate television programme. In addition, senior staff and managers had not identified this shortfall. As a result, staff have not had the opportunity to review their practice.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For those who live a long distance away from home, contact and communication with parents and loved ones is supported. Young people see their families and friends regularly, when this is appropriate. Young people are able to follow their own personal hobbies and interests, such as animal care, vehicles, music or aeroplanes. Staff respect young people’s individual interests. For example, during the inspection, a young person went to the local airport to watch the planes, something he especially enjoys. A young Inspection report children's home: SC463386 6 person said, ‘Everything is better since I came here’.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value the views and wishes of each young person. They act as strong advocates to ensure that young people receive the best service. Young people also have access to an independent advocate who visits regularly. Young people understand how to use the complaints system and appreciate managers and leaders spending time with them so that they can explain their concerns and agree a resolution. During the inspection, a young person asked the inspector to observe while they discussed a concern with the responsible individual. At the end, the young person agreed that the discussion was fair and reasonable and was reassured by the outcome. Young people know that their voices will be heard. On one occasion, the outcome of a complaint was not recorded. This is a recording issue rather than a practice issue, and there was no negative impact on the young person. However, recording shortfalls limit the ability of managers to demonstrate

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In general, relationships and communication with parents are positive. Parents give positive views about the impact of the care their children receive. A parent said, ‘My child is a changed child. We have none of the aggression or anxiety that we used to have. He manages to control himself and that’s because of his care in school and in the children’s home.’ Another said, ‘The care is brilliant. They have brought him on in leaps and bounds.’

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s health needs are well met. They have access to an on-site school nurse who oversees their health care and can provide direct support for young people if needed. Staff ensure that young people access basic healthcare such as their general practitioner or dentist. However, on one occasion staff had not been proactive in organising a young person’s appointment with an optician for a check-up. As well as receiving support from the on-site psychologists, there are working relationships with external health professionals such as the child and adolescent mental health services. This ensures that young people receive all the healthcare support they need.

p.6

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All young people attend the on-site school or have placements in nearby colleges. There is a good system of partnership working between the school and the home. The manager of the home sits on the school’s senior leadership team, and there are handovers between school and residential staff during the day. This means that staff are fully aware of progress that young people make in their education.

p.6

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

Young people are safely looked after. Staff follow the appropriate safeguarding procedures when needed, such as if an allegation is made against staff. Staff have warm and trusting relationships with young people. This enables young people to feel safe and secure. Young people do not go missing from care. Their opportunities for free time are carefully assessed. However, staff have a good understanding of procedures to follow if young people should go missing from the home.

p.6

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

Positive behaviour is promoted well. Young people feel settled and relaxed. Incidents Inspection report children's home: SC463386 7 requiring the use of physical intervention are infrequent. A clear understanding of presenting behaviours enables staff to provide young people with individual support. Staff regularly reflect on their practice to understand what works well and what doesn’t work so well. Approaches are shared across the home and school, and with parents.

p.6

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

Risks are well managed through comprehensive risk assessments that clearly address all areas of potential concern. Risk assessments provide staff with written guidance to enable them to identify possible warning signs and triggers. A written risk assessment is in place for all young people aged over 18, as was recommended at the last inspection. This helps to ensure that all staff are fully aware of any potential risks, and what action needs to be taken to minimise those risks. As a result, young people are as safe as possible. In general, all activities are assessed to identify any hazards. However, a piece of specialist craft equipment which a young person uses regularly has not been subject to a risk assessment. This means that staff have not been able to assess whether the young person understands how to use the equipment safely.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The leadership of the home requires improvement to be good because, over the last few months, negotiations between staff and leaders about proposed changes in working patterns have left the staff team with low morale. Some young people, who have picked up on the staff team’s anxiety, told the inspector that they are feeling increasingly anxious themselves. For young people who rely on familiarity and a sense of routine, changes and uncertainty can be difficult to come to terms with. The registered provider intends to conclude the consultation process imminently. However, lines of communication between staff and leaders are strained. If the situation is not remedied quickly, there is the potential for further negative impact on young people.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since the home opened in 2013. He holds the appropriate qualification and is very committed to meeting the needs of the young people. He ensures that young people receive good quality care. All staff are positive about his management. Young people also speak very highly of their manager. Staff have either obtained or are in the process of undertaking the required qualification in residential childcare. They have access to training opportunities, to enhance their knowledge, skills and understanding of their role.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Regular independent monitoring of the service takes place. These visits highlight the strengths of the service and any areas that require improvement. The manager uses a range of monitoring systems to enable him to understand the strengths and shortfalls of the service. He and the responsible individual are working together to consider if these systems can be further improved.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Partnership working is effective in promoting consistent care and support to meet young people’s needs. Staff recently supported a young person, their parents and the local authority in applying for additional funding for extra staffing to meet a young person’s needs. Inspection report children's home: SC463386 8

p.7

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 differences 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 whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.8

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: SC463386 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rushcliffe Specialist Schools (Mickleover) Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor Butt Dyke House, 33 Park Row, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG1 6EE

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bonny Etchell-Anderson

p.9

Inspector(s)

Catherine Honey, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC463386 10 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.9

Inspector(s)

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.10

Inspector(s)

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

p.10

Inspector(s)

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

p.10