Children's Home run by Grace Care Limited in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 1 SC436818 Registered provider: Grace Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for three young people who have learning disabilities. It is privately owned.

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

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people grow in confidence and self-esteem because of nurturing care and positive relationships with staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 2  Children and young people have benefited from good education placements. Staff support their attendance, celebrate their achievements and work closely with education colleagues. They are aspirational for each child and young person to do well and reach their potential.  Staff support children and young people to stay safe and feel safe. They work closely with professionals and families to understand their needs and behaviours.  Children know how to complain. Staff promote children’s rights in a child- centred service.  Children and young people with complex health needs and learning needs have improving health as a result of good partnership working between home staff, education staff and health professionals.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Leaders and managers have not robustly challenged a placing authority about delays in progressing the care plan for a young person who is over 18 years of age.  Leaders and managers have not ensured that staff have sufficient knowledge and training in relation to care planning and safeguarding vulnerable adults.  Leaders and managers should ensure that any significant care planning decisions are made in children’s statutory reviews.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 28/11/2016 Full Outstanding 25/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 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 within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is in relation to challenging the placing authority in relation to delays in progressing a young person’s care plan. 09/10/2017

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (2)(a)(v))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This is in relation to ensuring that training is provided to managers and staff to enhance their understanding of the procedures and practice for the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. 09/10/2017 Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 4

p.3

Recommendations

 Significant changes to a looked after child’s care, such as a change of placement, should only take place following a statutory review of their care plan, chaired by an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.10) This is in relation to a decision by the provider to serve notice on a child’s placement.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are making good progress. They experience and enjoy a range of recreational activities and social opportunities. There has been significant delay in progressing one young person’s care plan as he transitions into adulthood. However, he has continued to benefit from the positive relationships that he has developed with staff and peers within this home. The home is comfortable and safely maintained. One of the bedrooms is being completely refurbished and decorated following some damage by the previous resident. Staff ensure that when a child moves into the home their bedroom is personalised and well maintained. Staff understand the children’s needs, particularly their communication needs, as well as their likes and dislikes. During the inspection, children and young people were communicating well with staff. When children and young people returned from school they were eager to discuss their day. Positive behaviours and achievements were praised

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

and reinforced by staff. One child had been to his school leavers’ prom on the previous evening and staff were very proud of the photographs of him in his new suit. There was a relaxed, positive atmosphere in the home and evidence of trusting, nurturing relationships. Children are developing independence and life skills. They have learned practical skills such as making their bed and helping to clean their rooms. They have developed confidence in their self-care skills, taking a pride in their appearance. One young person was very anxious when he moved into the home. He now has enhanced confidence and self-esteem, and is more able to express his views and wishes to carers. Children and young people have detailed health plans. One young person has a plan that includes monitoring his weight, diet and daily exercise. The inspector observed this being implemented in a nurturing, encouraging way. Children and young people are provided

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

with appropriate information about their development and their health. They are supported to attend preventative health appointments. Staff sensitively monitor and respond to children’s and young people’s emerging needs as they develop. Children and young people with health conditions and specific health needs have Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 5 detailed medication plans and records. Staff are diligent in ensuring that individual medication regimes are regularly reviewed. Children and young people are referred to specialist services when this is required. As a result, they have good and improving health. Children and young people have detailed placement care plans. These include information about their identity and cultural needs. They have regular contact with family members. Staff continuously assess and report on the impact of contact arrangements. Staff ensure that there are reliable arrangements and clear routines for

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

children. In this way, children and young people benefit from safe and positive contact arrangements. Children and young people have made progress in stable school placements that meet their needs. Both current residents have secured college placements for the next academic year. They are looking forward to starting college. Home and school staff are helping them to prepare for this transition. For example, one child has been learning to use public transport and has received a certificate in independent travelling. This was celebrated with him in the home. Staff contribute to each child’s education planning and contribute well during planning meetings. There are good arrangements for regular, effective communication between school and home. Staff regularly consult with children and young people about their views and wishes, using a range of mechanisms. There are weekly individual consultations, using child-

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

friendly consultation tools. Children have regular visits from an independent advocacy service and know how to complain. In this way, children and young people influence decisions about their daily care and their views about their care plans are listened to.

p.5

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

Staff are aware of, and have received training about, the additional vulnerabilities of disabled children. They ensure that children and young people lead a balanced life, with some supervision and monitoring but also some freedom to attend social and recreational activities. Staff have a good understanding of risks associated with the use of digital technology. There are measures in place to protect children and young people, such as filters to certain websites and television channels, as well as careful monitoring of the use of mobile phones or tablets. Staff continuously observe, share and record information about children’s and young people’s needs in order to keep them safe. This includes information about contact arrangements, peer friendships and any behaviours that may increase their vulnerability to harm. They have detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans that are regularly updated. Staff identify triggers to behaviours, anticipate risk and respond to

p.5

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

emerging behaviours. As a result, there have been no episodes of going missing and few incidents. When one child appeared to be targeting other children and young people, monitoring and supervision were increased. Professionals and family confirm that consistent, structured care supports children and young people to stay safe. Since the last inspection, one child has moved on following assessment and agreement Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 6 that his needs were not being met in this home. His behaviours changed over time and his circumstances changed in relation to his school placement. This child was subject to a high number of physical interventions in order to prevent him harming himself, peers and staff. A range of strategies, including the use of incentives and liaising closely with school staff, were developed by staff in an effort to regulate behaviours. However, the provider made a decision to serve notice on his placement following liaison with the

p.5

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

placing authority. Although this decision was appropriate, a recommendation is made that changes to care plans should be made in an independently chaired, statutory review. There are systems and procedures in place that managers adhere to, to ensure safe recruitment of staff. Children and young people understand how to make complaints. There have been a small number of allegations against staff who work with children since the last inspection. All have been appropriately referred, in a timely way, to the local authority designated officer and placing social workers. Some were assessed to be minor complaints and were responded to by social workers and the registered manager. Two allegations continue to be subject to multi-agency assessment and investigation. There are no concerns about risks to children and young people at this time. There has been some delay in the responses to an allegation made by one young

p.6

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

person, who is over 18 years of age. This delay is a consequence of the involvement of both adult and children’s services. Although the delay is not caused by the home, a requirement is made that information within the home has clear reference to adult procedures and guidance, and that the home’s manager and staff receive additional training in that area. This would help staff and managers to confidently support all residents. There is a culture of openness and transparency in the home. Social workers, family and professionals report that staff are accessible and visitors are welcomed. They also confirm that children and young people are able to share information. Children’s and young people’s rights are actively promoted by staff and managers.

p.6

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

The registered manager is a qualified social worker and has relevant qualifications in leadership and management. Staff report that she is a visible, accessible manager. She has a track record of leading and managing a service that ensures children and young people make progress, in some cases exceptional progress, from their starting points. There is also a good track record for effective partnership working. However, the manager recognises that staff require more information and training about care planning and safeguarding arrangements for vulnerable adults living in the home. This would have enabled staff and managers to confidently challenge the placing authority. This has led to the judgement of requiring improvement in leadership and management. The manager has reflected on and learned lessons regarding the level of support provided by the placing authority to a young person over 18 years old and delay in

p.6

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

progressing his care arrangements. There was not a strong challenge to the placing Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 7 authority. There has not been a formal planning meeting since the last statutory looked after child review, although the manager has convened meetings with the school, in order to update information about his needs. The impact of this is that there has been delay in this young person moving into adult provision. He will now have two significant transitions in a relatively short space of time. He is starting college in September and the plan, agreed at the time of the inspection, is for him to move into an adult placement in November. The impact to the young person has been mitigated by the continuity of good care that he has experienced within the home and a positive education placement. The manager is aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. She believes that the team is reflective and open to learning. She said, ‘Staff are committed to

p.6

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

improving children’s lives by working with other professionals and family to ensure they reach their potential.’ This is the ethos of the service, as set out in the statement of purpose. Staff receive regular supervision that they find supportive and informative. The manager is confident in managing staff performance and has addressed any capability issues well. This means that there is a reliable, stable staff group. The management team has initiated regular shift leader meetings, which focus on sharing information to better understand and meet children’s needs. They are developing an effective duty management system. The majority of staff are experienced and are confident in mentoring and supporting less experienced staff. Staff have appropriate qualifications or are receiving training to attain these qualifications. There are a range of quality assurance mechanisms that include management auditing

p.7

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

of records and independent visitor’s reports. The manager and responsible individual will review the effectiveness of these systems in light of this inspection’s findings.

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.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: SC436818 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 27 Meadow Close, Nottingham NG2 3HZ

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Beverley Russell

p.8

Inspector(s)

Cathey Moriarty: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC436818 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.8

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.9

Inspector(s)

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

p.9

Inspector(s)

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

p.9