Children's home run by The Norman Laud Association

Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 1 Registered provider: The Norman Laud Association

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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 provides a short-break service for up to four children and young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. The home is operated and managed by an independent provider.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 30 October to 31 October 2017

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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: This is the home‟s first inspection.

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Key findings from this inspection

 Child-focused staff work hard to ensure that each child and young person benefits from all aspects of their stay.  Children and young people enjoy a range of activities. They make friends, grow in confidence and become more independent.  Children and young people respond positively to the highly personal and individual care and attention that they receive. They are able to relax and form Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 2 trusting relationships with the staff.  Parents have a very positive view of the service. They appreciate the progress made by their children and the partnership working they experience with staff.  Skilled and experienced staff enable children and young people to communicate their views, wishes and feelings from the moment that they arrive and throughout their stays.  Well-trained staff safeguard children and young people.  The registered manager and staff team are dedicated to providing children,

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Key findings from this inspection

young people and families with a high-quality service.

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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

 Streamline children and young people‟s files.  Ensure that physical intervention records are monitored and countersigned. Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 3

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(ii)) 29/12/2017

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Recommendations

 Keep all children‟s case records up to date. This is with particular regard to streamlining files and prioritising the most up-to-date information in children‟s and young people‟s short-break profile plans. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy their stays. Staff understand children‟s and young people‟s individual communication styles and use a range of communication methods, including sign language, symbols and photographs, to ensure that children and young people are able to express their needs and wishes. The home is adapted to support children‟s and young people‟s physical disabilities and to promote their independence. Staff insight and liaison with parents‟ means that the cultural needs of children and young people are identified and met. Children and young people make good progress. They learn a range of new skills and have opportunities to try new experiences. They make significant progress against individual targets. Self-esteem and confidence develop as children and young people make their own drinks, make their beds, do their laundry and improve their mobility skills. Children and young people stay in a comfortable and stimulating environment. They

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

quickly relax and look forward to having fun. They have an instant sense of belonging when they arrive and receive a warm welcome from staff. The sensory room, activities lounge and sensory equipment are thoroughly enjoyed by the children and young Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 4 people. The outdoor play and garden areas provide further recreational opportunities. Children and young people enjoy a range of outings. Trips out to the local park, cinema and eating out in restaurants are firm favourites. Effective planning and risk management ensure that all children and young people can try new experiences and parents can feel at ease while their children are away from home. For example, one parent stated, „They do so many other things that I cannot do. Hot chocolate and a cake at a cafe, trips to the park, outings, cinema. Important things with so many opportunities to try.‟ Children and young people make meaningful progress because managers and staff

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

constantly monitor their own practice and its impact on the achievements of children and young people. Regular staff meetings include a full monthly appraisal of each child and young person. The children‟s and young people‟s targets are reviewed. Medals and certificates are presented to children and young people to reinforce and celebrate their progress. Photos of award ceremonies and parties take pride of place in children‟s and young people‟s files. Children and young people have their own individual photo books so that they (and their parents) can relive their experiences.

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

Care planning is bespoke and child centred. Children and young people are safe due to efficient risk assessment and well-implemented risk management planning. There is an effective balance between managing risk and promoting children‟s and young people‟s independence. Safeguarding procedures are reinforced through effective staff training. The registered manager and staff have a sound understanding of their safeguarding duties and responsibilities. There are no safeguarding concerns at the service, and managers work collaboratively with social workers to promote the well-being of children and young people who are subject to child protection plans. There are no concerns about children and young people going missing. This is due to good security in the home and appropriate levels of supervision when out in the community. There are no concerns about child sexual exploitation or radicalisation. Staff training equips staff with the knowledge that they need to identify and report concerns

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

should they arise. The home uses safe recruitment practices to help ensure that staff employed in the home are suitable to work with children and young people. Transitions are exceptionally well managed. Bespoke transition plans help staff to lower children‟s and young people‟s anxieties about staying away from home. Good-quality written information about the service, discussions with the registered manager, and pre- admission visits to the service put parents at ease. Parents feel involved and comfortable as they are fully involved in developing detailed and individualised care plans that guide staff in how to care for their children. Compatibility assessments are effective. Children and young people settle quickly and develop new friendships because managers and staff plan their stays effectively. This Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 5 means that there are no concerns about bullying and children and young people enjoy

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

each other‟s company. Ongoing discussion about each child and regular six-monthly reviews ensure that plans are up to date, relevant and include parents‟ views. One parent said, „Staff check out the smallest things so we get it right.‟ Collaborative work between staff, parents, education and health agencies help children and young people to make good progress in their education, behaviour and social skills. Behaviour management is extremely effective. Clear insight into the individuality of each child and young person enables staff to understand potential triggers. Diversionary tactics are expertly and consistently implemented by staff. Consequently, children and young people enjoy themselves while remaining safe. Recording in the home is detailed. Physical intervention is rarely used and only as a last resort to keep children and young people safe. However, one incident record, involving the registered manager, has not been countersigned by her line manager.

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

Children and young people are protected with detailed healthcare plans and effective medication procedures, which are implemented by well-trained staff. High regard for health and safety ensures that all staff take responsibility for keeping children, young people and themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This service has recently registered as a new service due to a change in location. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She successfully managed the service prior to the move to the new property. Training is exceptionally well organised and valued by staff. Children and young people are cared for by very competent, well-trained and knowledgeable staff. A seamless progression from induction, through probationary training and into the level 3 diploma in caring for children, equips staff with the skills that they need. Children and young people make consistent progress because of the experience and competence of staff. Staffing is well organised. The deployment of staff reflects children and young people‟s differing needs. This helps children and young people to reduce their anxiety as they get to spend time with those staff that they particularly like and feel comfortable with.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff advocate for children and young people effectively. This is particularly evident in their work with parents and social workers, supporting them to plan young people‟s moves into adult services. Information about how to make a complaint is accessible for parents, children and young people. Displays using symbols mean that children and young people know who to tell if they are unhappy. „Let‟s sort it‟ meetings give children and young people a forum to air their views and contribute their ideas about improving the service. Children and young people are also involved in improving the children‟s guide. Managers have clear insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the service. Development is steady and embraced by staff, children, young people and parents. This Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 6 inclusion is a result of the management team‟s ability to seek feedback and work

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

towards achievable goals. Monitoring of the home‟s development plan includes a monthly review at the staff meeting. These discussions ensure that staff are included in the management team‟s drive for improvement. The service continues to develop because staff and managers value research and training. For example, the manager and staff liaise with schools to enhance their already competent skills in communication. They also update their knowledge and disability awareness regularly through access to informative websites, research and newsletters. The registered manager has a good understanding of the regulatory framework and uses this to inform staff practice and drive improvement. Recommendations from independent monitoring visits are rare. The management team‟s work to resolve a recent recommendation to better organise children and young people‟s files is ongoing. A recommendation is made from this inspection to further drive this area of improvement.

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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: 1252997 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Norman Laud Association

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Norman Laud Centre, 335 Birmingham Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B72 1DL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elaine Mountford

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Inspector

Elaine Cray, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 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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