Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire YMCA in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 1 SC444681 Registered provider: Nottinghamshire YMCA

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local charitable organisation. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 13 February 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because: Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 2  Placement stability is excellent. Young people form strong attachments to each other and the staff team. They enjoy spending time with each other socially. There is a family feel to the home because young people and staff enjoy spending time with each other.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make significant progress in their education. They sit formal examinations and continue into further education. Staff place great value on education and training. The attendance of all young people is 100%.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The engagement of young people in the community is excellent. They undertake voluntary work, attend clubs and represent children looked after on a local council.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people learn independence skills from an early stage of their placement. They shop for ingredients then plan, prepare and cook their own meals. They learn to use public transport safely. They also learn how to make their own appointments. This prepares young people exceptionally well for their eventual move to adult life.

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Key findings from this inspection

 The manager of the home is inspirational and sets very high aspirations for both young people and staff. She demonstrates a commendable commitment to the young people in her care. She goes above and beyond her role to ensure that their needs are met and that they have support, even after they leave the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2016 Full Outstanding 06/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 10/11/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff maintain a commendable focus on following the journey of each young person. As one member of staff says: ‘We focus on remembering where a child was when they first came and we track their progress, as sometimes it is difficult to remember how far they have come.’ This approach is evident in how staff interact with and support young people. The staff take great pride in seeing and commenting on the progress made by each young person. Young people respond to such praise positively and clearly feel proud of their achievements to date.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel very well prepared for their eventual move to independence. Staff support them from an early age to learn the necessary skills. One young person now prepares his own meals each day. He says that the staff have really supported him to grow in confidence and to learn the skills he will need when he moves out. Staff also place a very strong emphasis on young people learning to use public transport unaided. A young person is now getting the bus to school, as well as to social activities. This improves self-confidence and enables young people to integrate into the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One young person recently moved to supported accommodation. This was a planned move. Staff fully supported the young person to consider their accommodation options and made visits to prospective properties with them. Since moving out, the young person has remained in very close and regular contact with staff and the other young people. This shows how strong the attachments with the home are. The young person has been back to have a meal and he plans to spend Christmas at the home. He has also made plans to socialise with the other two young people. The independent reviewing officer for this young person states: ‘He was incredibly well cared for by staff. He progressed really, really well. It was the best residential placement he could have had.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people strongly influence how the home is run. Staff fully consult with them on any relevant issues. Recent improvements to the home’s decor were made following consultation with the young person. They went shopping with staff to choose new wallpaper and furnishings. Young people know how to make a complaint but do not do so. This is because they have total faith in staff and the manager to fully consider and respond to any issues they may have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people receive support from independent advocates who visit the home. One young person is a senior member of the local Children in Care Council. This further promotes opportunities for young people to express their wishes, feelings and views to people independent of the staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work very closely and proactively with all involved agencies. They ensure that young people receive healthcare support in a timely manner. This includes mental health services and counselling. One young person has made such progress that regular counselling support is no longer required. The counselling service has absolute faith in staff at the home being able to provide ongoing support to this young person. Staff help Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 4 young people to learn how to make their own health appointments as they get older. This is another example of how they are prepared extremely well for their move to adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people spend time with their family and friends. Staff support supervised contact meetings very sensitively. They ensure consistency of staff for such meetings. This provides the young person and their family with continuity and enables positive relationships to form. One young person’s sibling came for a meal at the home, and friends are welcome to visit. This provides young people with a real sense of being valued and ensures that they are treated in the same way as other young people in the community.

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

Young people feel safe and protected from harm. They feel able to share any concerns about their personal safety with staff. Staff respond by undertaking key-work sessions with them. These sessions assist the young person to learn how to manage situations when in the community. Detailed risk assessments are in place to reflect the current and changing needs of each young person. Staff demonstrate an excellent awareness of the potential risks to each young person and closely monitor their progress. Young people understand and accept the plans and risk assessments in place for them and work well with staff to adhere to them.

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

There have been no incidents of young people going missing from care for several years. When concerns arise, staff respond with great sensitivity and involve young people in open and honest discussions. They devise strategies to reduce risk, based on discussion and agreement with young people. This is extremely effective. It enables young people to reflect on their actions and to reduce risks.

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

The manager and staff have formed very close working relationships with the local police. Despite there being no missing from care incidents, the staff team continues to work with police and placing authorities to consider any potential risks. There is an emphasis on enabling young people to take age-appropriate risks. Young people respond very positively to the trust placed in them by staff.

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

There has been no use of physical intervention for a considerable period of time. This reflects the staff team’s ability and its understanding of the complex needs of each young person. Staff devise and implement clear behaviour management plans for each young person. Young people understand their plans. Staff de-escalate risky behaviours with young people. They understand the triggers for young people and take prompt action to resolve any situations. Over time, young people learn positive coping skills and become confident in discussing issues with staff.

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

Staff are very diligent and aware of young people’s vulnerability to child sexual exploitation, radicalisation and extremism. They undertake training to enhance their skills. They know the young people so well that they are able to spot any signs of concerning behaviours or changes to a young person’s mood or behaviour. They do Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 5 specific work with young people to teach them about possible risks when out in the community. Young people report feeling very well supported and protected from harm.

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

The process for recruitment and selection of staff is robust and prevents unsuitable adults from working with vulnerable young people. Recent changes have further enhanced the systems. For example, new reference verification forms and checklists ensure that all pre-employment checks are completed and verified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

An extremely committed and skilled registered manager runs the home. She leads an equally committed and skilled staff team. The manager has the necessary qualifications, and years of experience of working with children looked after. She has extremely high aspirations for young people and the staff team. She is very well regarded by her staff. One member of staff states: ‘The manager is one of the main reasons I have stayed at this home for so long. She is an excellent manager and I have learned a lot from her over the years.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager takes her role as a corporate parent very seriously. She understands the needs of young people very well. She ensures that each young person gets the support they need to make the best possible progress. She challenges placing authorities and involves agencies appropriately. She advocates for the young people to ensure that they get the support and services they need. A social worker said that the staff are, ‘doing a brilliant job’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent development plans in place for the home. She ensures that the statement of purpose is regularly reviewed. She consults annually with agencies to update the location risk assessment for the home. She considers the monthly reports from the independent visitor promptly. The visitor has not made any recommendations for improvement for this home for a considerable period of time. The manager is not complacent though, and has clear plans to improve the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive high-quality supervision and appraisal. Clear training programmes set out mandatory and desirable courses. The manager oversees all training to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills that they need to perform their roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Records are extremely clear. They accurately reflect the experiences of each young person. Young people read and consider their records on a regular basis. Staff elicit young people’s views and act on these views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers value the diverse needs of each young person. The manager fully supports young people in relation to any religious, cultural or sexual identity issues. Staff have developed very positive working relationships with a range of local organisations and agencies. This ensures that young people have direct and easy access to the support services that they need. One young person who recently moved out rated the home as 9 out of 10 for the support they provided. Another young person, when asked how he would rate the care and support he receives, said: ‘Outstanding’. Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 6

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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: SC444681 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire YMCA

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FG

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Inspector

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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