Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 1 SC039056 Registered provider: Leicester City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a local authority. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to nine children and young people: five children and young people under short- break arrangements and a further four children and young people under other arrangements. The home cares for children and young people who have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The home provides care for children and young people on a long-term basis, for overnight stays, and provides day care.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 November 2017

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: None.

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Key findings from this inspection

This children‟s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people are happy and receive excellent individualised care. This is because they are supported by an exceptionally skilled and motivated staff team that wants the best for every child and young person.  The voice of the child is at the heart of practice. Many of the children and young people have limited, or no verbal communication skills. However, this does not impact on their voices being heard. This is because staff are dedicated to ensuring that children‟s and young people‟s views and choices are listened to and acted upon where appropriate.  The quality of leadership and management is exceptional. The registered manager and her management team are passionate, innovative and lead by example. They provide very good support and direction to staff, who are equally passionate about improving the lives of children, young people and their families.  Partnership working is highly effective and is embedded in everyday practice.

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Key findings from this inspection

Staff are strong advocates for children, young people and their families, and challenge any barriers to ensure that they get what they need. A professional made the following comment: „The home has a strong focus on supporting disabled children to live a full and active life.‟  Safeguarding of children and young people is a key strength. Highly effective risk management enables children and young people to thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.  Feedback from parents, carers and professionals is overwhelmingly positive. A professional wrote: „They know my person inside out.‟ Parents and carers really appreciate the support and care their children receive, and the support they as families receive from staff. A parent said to the inspector: „I can‟t speak highly enough of staff.‟

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/11/2016 Full Outstanding 25/11/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/07/2015 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people are happy and receive excellent individualised care. They thrive in an inclusive and secure environment, and make very good progress given their starting points. Their health and well-being improve, as does their behaviour, their confidence and their self-esteem. Children and young people are clearly relaxed and settled with staff, which helps them to trust staff and feel safe. A professional made the following comment: „I am always astounded at the knowledge the staff members have about the young people who live at the home and visit for short breaks. They know the young people extremely well and have a great understanding of their complex and individual needs.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The quality of care provided is the same for those living at the home and for those using the home for short-break services. Comments from parents and carers support this. One parent commented: „My son thoroughly enjoys coming to the home. His behaviour tells us that he wants to come.‟ Another parent said: „The “get-up-and-go” attitude of staff is brilliant for my son.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The support that staff give to children, young people and their families during transitions to and from the home is exceptional. Transitions happen at a pace which is comfortable for both the child and their family (where appropriate). A parent commented on how flexible the transition process was for their child. This gave the parents the time and support to feel comfortable about their child using the service and satisfied that they will be kept safe while doing so The parent told the inspector: „We feel understood as a family. I am always asked for my opinion and feel included.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Detailed planning for transitions takes place with parents, carers and a range of relevant professionals. Staff continue to support young people and their families when they move into adult services. This is particularly noticeable when there are problems with the young person settling in or accepting their new placement. A professional made this comment about the advice provided by the registered manager and her team when helping a young person to settle after they had left children‟s services: „Thank you and your team very much for the brilliant work done. The points you have raised have been noted.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Partnership working is exemplary, and is paramount to ensuring that children‟s and young people‟s complex needs are met. Each individual has highly detailed care plans, risk assessments and additional support plans which are reviewed regularly. Staff produce these documents in consultation with, and with guidance from, parents, carers and a range of professionals. These records are reviewed and updated regularly. This helps to ensure that children‟s and young people‟s current and changing needs are understood and met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Many children and young people have complex health needs. Staff are well trained in Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 4 various health interventions. They work seamlessly with a range of health professionals, parents and carers to ensure that individuals‟ health needs are met. Staff, in conjunction with a range of health professionals, such as occupational therapists, produce detailed protocols and photographic guides regarding invasive interventions and moving and handling procedures. This ensures that staff are able to implement practices confidently, sensitively and with high regard for children‟s and young people‟s comfort and safety. As a result of this collaborative working, each individual has the best possible care and support to ensure that their complex health needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff strongly and effectively promote education in all areas of children‟s and young people‟s lives, both at school and within the home. Staff work very closely with schools. This helps to ensure that all individuals have every opportunity to reach their potential academically and socially. Children and young people who have had poor attendance prior to moving to the home make excellent progress; their attendance is now 100% and their learning outcomes have improved significantly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Empowerment of children and young people is a real strength and is embedded in the culture and practice of the home. Staff are tenacious in their efforts to ensure that all children and young people are able to make choices, no matter how big or small, about their day-to-day and future lives. A professional made the following comment about staff: „They are dedicated staff who really advocate for their young people.‟ There are numerous examples that confirm how much children‟s and young people‟s voices are heard and acted upon, where appropriate and possible. For example, two young people who are wheelchair users living at the home and whose plans are to remain at the home until they are adults, have asked for bigger bedrooms. The registered manager, supported by the responsible individual, has put in a bid for funding to extend their bedrooms and the living area. They are awaiting confirmation to go ahead with the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

project. Both young people have been involved in drawing up plans, and a „wish list‟ for their bedrooms, and spoke enthusiastically to the inspector about this. One young person has been supported to attend the Children in Care Council. Since this time, staff have identified a more appropriate advocacy group for the young person to attend to represent the views of disabled children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people benefit enormously from being able to access a wide range of fun activities and experiences. Staff fully understand the barriers each individual faces in accessing everyday opportunities. They are strong advocates for children. They challenge barriers and „think outside the box‟ to ensure that children and young people can have fun and enjoy activities. Children and young people are able to try new activities, which they may not have had the opportunity to try prior to moving to the home or using the service for short breaks. A parent told the inspector that staff take their child to different places that they as a family don‟t feel able to take him to. Their child goes bowling, to shopping centres and out for meals in pubs and restaurants. Children‟s and young people‟s skills and confidence increase as a result of these new experiences. Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 5

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

Safeguarding children and young people is undoubtedly at the heart of practice. Children, young people, parents, carers and professionals confirm that they feel safe at the home. This is because staff are highly skilled, and have an in-depth knowledge of children‟s and young people‟s needs. This leads to highly effective risk management, which enables children and young people to thrive in a safe and secure environment.

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

Staff receive a wide range of safeguarding training courses based on individual needs as well as the group‟s needs. Training is responsive to children‟s and young people‟s changing needs. This helps to ensure that practice is safe, that children and young people feel comfortable, and that their dignity is respected.

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

There are clear safeguarding policies and procedures which staff implement effectively and consistently. On the rare occasion that procedures have not been followed, the management team has investigated the incident thoroughly, and has taken robust action to ensure that staff fully understand their responsibilities.

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

All concerns regarding children‟s and young people‟s safety are reported to the appropriate professionals. The registered manager is tenacious in challenging other professionals where safeguarding procedures have not been followed. This demonstrates the strength and commitment of the registered manager and her team in ensuring the safety of all children and young people.

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

Staff are very skilled at interpreting children‟s and young people‟s behaviours. Close partnership working and constant evaluation of care plans, risk assessments and support plans ensure that the risk of harm is minimised. The use of physical intervention is not used often and the use of sanctions is limited.

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

Complaints are dealt with promptly and robustly. The management team ensures that all staff learn from any complaints and any identified shortfalls in practice.

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

Robust recruitment practices ensure that people appointed are suitable to work with children and young people who have disabilities. Finding the right person is much more important than filling a vacancy. Recruitment checks are in line with regulation, although explanations of gaps in employment are not always recorded. During this inspection, the responsible individual took remedial action by amending the interview checklist to avoid this happening in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has extensive experience and is appropriately qualified. She is ably supported by a committed and experienced management team that shares the same vision for children and young people who have disabilities. The management team provides inspirational leadership and direction, leading by example. This is a service where „standing still‟ is not an option. Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 6 It was evident throughout this inspection that the ethos of the whole staff team is about having high aspirations and wanting the best for children and young people. The culture of „can do‟, and of challenging barriers no matter how big or small, underpins creative and innovative practice. One staff member told the inspector that the staff team is strong, and will always find a way to overcome barriers. As a result, children and young people receive excellent care and can make progress, in a safe and fun environment. A

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

professional made the following comment: „The staff are very dedicated in improving my young person‟s outcomes.‟

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff training and development is a top priority, and is responsive to the complex and changing needs of all children and young people who use the service and/or live at the home. Staff have regular, good-quality supervision, which they appreciate. They told the inspector that they definitely feel listened to and valued, and take an active role in the home‟s development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Driving improvement is a key feature in the home. Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of procedures and practice feed the improvement agenda. The whole staff team has shared ownership of monitoring practices, which is instrumental in ensuring that children and young people get the best possible care and opportunities. Monthly visits by an independent visitor continue and copies of reports are sent to Ofsted as required. The requirement set at the last inspection has been addressed. The independent visitor now attempts to make contact with parents, carers and other professionals to obtain their views.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a clear commitment to working in partnership with parents, carers and a range of relevant professionals. Parents and professionals confirm that this is the case.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a clear statement of purpose and practice is in line with this.

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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: SC039056 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, 3rd Floor, Rutland Wing, 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

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Inspector

Katarina Djordjevic: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC039056 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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Inspector

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