Children's home run by Lincolnshire County Council

Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 1 SC043732 Registered provider: Lincolnshire County Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority children‟s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 11 children and young people who have learning disabilities and physical disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 7 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress in all areas of their development. They attend school regularly, they have access to the medical care that they need, Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 2 and they develop the skills they need to be as independent as possible.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff know the young people very well. They are committed to meeting the young people‟s needs in ways that promote the most positive outcomes.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are not disadvantaged because of their disability. Staff encourage them to access the community, and have as many opportunities and experiences as possible.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The voice of the young person is of paramount importance. Staff use a variety of means of communication to ascertain young people‟s wishes and feelings.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are now living in a new purpose-built home that provides a high standard of accommodation.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Transitions out of the home are particularly well planned and well managed.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people are kept safe through high staffing levels and the implementation of detailed risk management plans. Staff understand young people‟s vulnerabilities and how to protect them from harm.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Behaviour is well managed. Staff use a variety of individual strategies to anticipate incidents and prevent escalation.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff work well in partnership with parents and other professionals. Communication is good, and the views of others are used to good effect to inform the home‟s care practice.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Staff are well trained and well supported. They display a high level of competence and commitment. This is enhanced by the social pedagogy model of care that is being implemented.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is experienced, knowledgeable and child focused. She leads the home well, and she has a number of areas she wants to develop to enhance the service provided to children, young people and their families.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children‟s home‟s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Although the voice of the young person is important, the records are not clear in demonstrating how young people‟s expressed wishes and feelings have been acted on.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Some staff are not receiving formal supervision as regularly as they should, which limits the opportunities they have to reflect on their practice.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/09/2016 Full Good 07/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 27/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 4

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Recommendations

 Children should be able to see the results of their views being listened to and acted on. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 22, paragraph 4.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress and are having positive experiences as a result of living in this home. Staff know the young people very well, and they have a good understanding of the young people‟s complex needs. A social worker said: „Staff are very dedicated. They take time to learn about the young person and bring the best out of them.‟ This knowledge and understanding is used to inform detailed care plans that cover all aspects of a young person‟s care and support needs. This ensures that all staff know about each young person‟s individual routines, and are consistent in the management of young people‟s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed and passionate. They want the very best for the young people, and they are proud of the young people‟s achievements. A social worker said: „Staff are creative with strategies. They are not stagnant. They are always looking at new ways and learning from things. They are child focused, and put children‟s needs first.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive relationships between staff and young people are evident, despite some challenges at times. Staff also have very positive relationships with parents, some of whom visit on a very regular basis. Parents confirmed that they are made welcome, they sometimes have a meal at the home, and staff share information with them. A social worker said: „Staff have been amazing: really supportive.‟ Another social worker said: „Staff have been very helpful with contact and bend over backwards. They do a good job.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress. For example, they develop their independence skills because they are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves. Each young person has three targets that they work towards. These are regularly reviewed and adapted, and further targets are added once the existing targets have been achieved. Examples include collecting a plate from the hatch, or having a meal with Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 5 another young person. Young people‟s communication improves because staff encourage them to express their wishes and feelings. Staff also work hard to improve young people‟s behaviour. A stakeholder said: „I saw so many differences after three weeks, and he has continued to flourish. His behaviour and aggression have decreased because he feels comfortable and secure.‟ A parent said: „Staff do a fantastic job. It has done him the world of good, and calmed him down.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have their healthcare needs met, and staff ensure that they access all the relevant services. Young people attend school, and they are making progress. There is good communication with other professionals to ensure that young people‟s needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people‟s views are integral to the service. Most of the young people are non- verbal, so staff use a variety of methods to ascertain young people‟s wishes and feelings. Staff understand that behaviour is a means of communication, and staff are alert to non- verbal cues. They record the „voice of the child‟ on a daily basis. However, it is not always clear what action has been taken to act on these expressed wishes, and this is an area for improvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have a range of positive experiences, both in the home and outside. Staff are keen to ensure that young people are not disadvantaged because of their disability. For example, one young person expressed a wish to go bowling. Staff were aware that the young person would struggle in a busy environment, so they arranged the activity for a quiet period, so that the young person would have a more positive experience. Staff have access to the home‟s minibus so that they can take the young people further afield. Some young people love the seaside, so they have been to the beach on a few occasions over the holiday period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions are well managed. When young people reach 18 years of age, they usually move on to an adult service. The planning for this starts at an early stage. Young people are well prepared through the use of social stories, so that they can understand what is happening. There is also good information sharing with other professionals, as well as visits to the new home. An independent reviewing officer commented: „The plan for his transition is looking fantastic.‟ Young people usually move into the home in a planned way, although the home did accept a young person on an emergency basis. If the admission is planned, staff get to know the young person prior to the move, and there are opportunities for visits for tea. The manager ensures that the home can meet the needs of the new young person, with no detriment to the existing residents. She is currently improving the documentation for this, so that her decision-making is clearer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The most significant transition recently has been the move of all the young people from the old building to the new premises. A social worker said: „The preparation for the move was great. I don‟t know how they could have managed it any better.‟ The new premises have been designed very thoughtfully, with the needs of the young people in mind. The home offers a high standard of accommodation, including adapted baths and hoists, and it is decorated and furnished in a homely way. Young people were involved in choosing colour schemes for their bedrooms, and continue to be involved in the home‟s Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 6 development.

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

Young people are safe in this home. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the vulnerabilities of the young people, and as a result risks are identified well. Detailed risk assessments provide staff with written information about how to manage these risks safely and consistently. If further risks emerge, risk assessments are updated so that staff remain fully informed.

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

Although the young people in this home do not go missing, there is always the potential that this may occur. Staff understand the individual protocols that they must follow, in the event that a young person does run off. Staff are very aware of the particular vulnerabilities of these young people, and they take these into account when managing young people‟s time away from the home. However, staff are not risk averse. Young people are enabled to undertake activities in the community with the necessary safeguards in place.

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

Managing young people‟s behaviour is a key area for the staff at this home, and staff do this well. Staff implement detailed behaviour management plans. These plans identify behavioural, sensory, or environmental triggers, and strategies for staff to use to prevent the escalation of behaviour that challenges. A social worker commented: „Staff have worked hard to understand his triggers and his sensory needs, and they have liaised with CAMHS‟ (the child and adolescent mental health service). Physical intervention is used as a last resort. Training in the use of physical intervention consists of a five-day course, over half of which provides a theoretical underpinning. This enables staff to understand the reasons for particular behaviours and how they can de-escalate situations. Incidents are appropriately recorded, and subject to managerial oversight. The manager evaluates themes to try and gain a better understanding of what may be

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

happening, for example if there is an increase in the use of physical intervention for a particular young person.

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe from harm. They have regular training in all aspects of safeguarding, including sexual exploitation and extremism. The manager is currently in the process of sourcing some training that is specific to young people who have disabilities, to further enhance the knowledge of staff. She is also developing written guidelines in relation to personal and intimate care, in recognition of the importance of this area in safeguarding young people.

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

Young people are further protected because the building is safe and secure. Young people‟s safety is also promoted because staff are recruited in line with robust recruitment procedures, so that only people who are safe and suitable are employed to work at the home. Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 7

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides good and effective leadership of this home. She is appropriately qualified, knowledgeable and experienced. The manager has high standards, and wants to develop the service so that children and young people receive the best care possible to enable them to achieve and be happy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The main focus of the last year has been to facilitate a successful and smooth transition to the new building. This has been successfully achieved. A stakeholder said of the move: „Staff worked their socks off. I give them 10 out of 10.‟ Staff and young people moved into the new home in June 2017. The new home is on the same site as the old building, but it has the capacity to care for an increased number of children and young people. However, the staff team needs to increase accordingly, and until sufficient staff are recruited, the numbers of children and young people receiving a service will be limited. Now the transition has been made, the manager intends to develop the service further, and she has a development plan that outlines her proposals and aspirations. Through necessity, most of these developments have had to wait until the staff and young people have settled into their new environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems that enable her to understand the progress that young people are making, and how the home needs to develop. These include her own monitoring of young people‟s records, as well as reports from the independent visitor, staff supervision, team meetings and management meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported. One member of staff said: „The manager is very supportive and has lots of good ideas.‟ Another member of staff said: „The manager is very supportive, approachable, and willing to get “stuck in”. She is very good for staff development and progression.‟ A new member of staff commented very positively about the induction, and said: „I feel cared for.‟ Staff have access to regular, relevant training, team meetings, and supervision. However, formal supervision has not been as frequent as it should be, for some members of staff. Therefore, the opportunities to reflect on their practice are diminished. The manager had recognised this shortfall, and has highlighted specific time on the rota for this supervision to take place. The local authority follows the social pedagogy model of care in its residential homes. This is being implemented in this home. Currently two members of staff are social pedagogues, but other staff are going to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

undertake the training in the near future. In the meantime, various practices are being adapted to fit this model. This has provided an improved focus on reflection. For example, the planning of summer activities followed this model, and is fully documented with examples on display in the entrance hall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective relationships with partner agencies and social workers. Communication is good, and this ensures that everyone working with the young person has an up-to-date understanding of what is happening and can work consistently together. One social worker said: „They keep me up to date with everything.‟ Another social worker commented: „Communication is brilliant. I am updated regularly, and staff go through what they are trying, and they work closely with CAMHS to find different Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 8 ways of managing him.‟ A member of the CAMHS team is available for consultation with staff on a regular basis. This provides additional expertise in developing strategies to support young people‟s progress. A headteacher said: „We have worked positively together and communication is good. I can always get hold of someone.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is an effective advocate for the young people in her care. She is prepared to challenge other professionals in the best interests of the young people. For example, she made amendments to the plans for the new building, to make it more child-friendly and appropriate. She has also challenged adult service providers to make sure that the transition plans for the young people meet their needs.

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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.

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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: SC043732 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

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Inspector

Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC043732 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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