Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 1 SC470928 Registered provider: Nottingham City 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 home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and/or young people who have learning disabilities and associated communication difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 December 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

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because: Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 2  The dynamic and hardworking management team has been persistent in driving improvement. This has resulted in an outstanding quality of care being provided.  Outcomes for children and young people are exceptional.  Staff recognise and value the identity needs of children and young people. This ensures that their individuality is embraced and children and young people feel valued.  Children and young people benefit from high levels of support. This ensures that they are happy, enjoy life and make excellent progress.  Safeguarding practice is exemplary. There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. High levels of safeguarding knowledge are evident with all managers and staff.  Staff are dedicated to ensuring that all children and young people in their care achieve their potential. The staff are accomplished residential practitioners who work

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/11/2016 Full Good 16/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/08/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people are very happy in this home. They are nurtured by a passionate team. Their holistic needs, not just those associated with their disabilities, are fully understood. Planning prior to admission, and during their time in the home, ensures that their individual needs are central to all care provision. This means that family heritage, disability, sexual identity, social and cultural needs remain in clear focus. This promotes self-esteem and a firm sense of personal identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Relationships between children, young people and their families are at the heart of the work of this home. Staff support parents, carers and families to maintain strong relationships with their children. Some children and young people come to this home because their parents could no longer manage at the family home. A social worker commended staff on the excellent work they had undertaken with a young person and his family: ‘He has come on in leaps and bounds since being at this home… They have worked miracles.’ In this case, staff have equipped the young person and his family with strategies that enable behaviours to be managed effectively. This will support a successful return to the family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education and learning outcomes are excellent. Staff actively promote education, both outside and within the home. Children and young people’s attendance at school is 100% and all children and young people make progress in line with their education plans. One education professional made the following comment about staff: ‘Their work brings about positive outcomes. They go beyond what they have to do.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment is stimulating and supports learning and development. The home has a wealth of sensory equipment, and an extensive range of books and learning aids. It has a dedicated education room, with laptops, maps and craft materials. Importantly, staff integrate learning into the daily routines of children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Participation within the community is a strength of this home. Children and young people attend activities in the community, such as a weekly youth club, where they make friendships. One young person has gained many awards for his achievements in swimming, table tennis, cross country and skills in supervising younger members of the club. Children and young people have taken part in charitable events. This includes litter picking in the local community and young people dressing as superheroes to raise money for the local hospital. All children and young people benefit from a full and active recreational and social life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff ensure that children and young people enjoy a holiday of their choice. This means that individual interests, hobbies and activities can be pursued. One young person was supported by staff to have a holiday in France with her mother. This holiday provided the young person with quality time with her mother, as well as exposing the young person to new experiences. The experience was also an opportunity for the young Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 4 person to demonstrate the progress she had made. One professional said: ‘The holiday to Brittany showed us that she could manage more complex tasks and situations. This has led to new opportunities.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The wishes and views of children and young people are of paramount importance to staff. A social worker said: ‘Staff get to know the children really well. They know what their wishes and feelings are.’ Staff are highly skilled in using a range of communication techniques. This includes non-verbal communication methods, such as signs and symbols. Communication empowers children and young people to make choices and decisions about their daily care, their education and experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff have worked exceptionally hard to provide a high-quality service and a beautiful home environment. Recent improvements have seen the installation of a sensory garden. One young person said that he loves the patio area. This provides an extended living space during the summer months, with lots of outdoor toys and an area for eating outside. The interior of the home is clean, fresh and akin to a comfortable family home. Children and young people have lovely bedrooms with their own choice of furniture and decor. One young person has a forest mural on his bedroom wall and a camouflage tent in his bedroom. Another child has a cabin bed, with a space underneath where he can play alone with his games, toys and sensory equipment. All young people have their own bedroom keys, with their photograph on the key fob. At the time of the inspection, the home was tastefully decorated for Christmas. The attention to detail

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

means that children and young people are settled, happy and comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are highly successful in helping children and young people develop self-care skills and increased levels of independence. They support children and young people to learn new skills. This can be learning to brush teeth, bathing, and tidying toys. Over time, children and young people learn more complex tasks. One young person strives for increased independence. He recently assisted the builders with the development of the sensory garden. This was rigorously risk assessed and with the relevant vetting and checks. He used an alarm clock to get himself up in the morning and get ‘to work’ on time. He was provided with a wage slip and payment at the end of the week. This young person is now highly motivated to work. He has recently undertaken voluntary work in a residential home. He has been serving meals and giving presents to elderly residents. The development of increased independence is essential for young people to have higher

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

levels of participation and autonomy in their adult lives. One social care manager said: ‘Children and young people make significant progress; they progress successfully to adult life often with quite significant changes to their projected outcomes.’

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

Safeguarding children and young people is of paramount importance in this home. There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. This is because managers and staff are fastidious in their safeguarding practice.

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

Managers and staff demonstrate a detailed understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding training is robust and is regularly updated. This means Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 5 that staff have the knowledge to respond appropriately to issues including incidents of children or young people being missing from the home, exploitation, internet safety, bullying or potential radicalisation, and self-harm. Staff talk fluently about the particular vulnerabilities of disabled children and young people. This means that they are well- equipped to ensure that children and young people are protected from potential harm, both within and outside of the home. Staff engage in health-related training. This ensures that they have the expertise to safely meet medical needs.

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

Meticulous assessment of risk helps to protect children and young people. Risk assessments are up to date, comprehensive and detailed. They provide staff with clarity and the necessary strategies to minimise potential dangers. However, this does not limit children and young people’s participation in activities. One staff member said: ‘We know the young people well. As we are a strong team, we can support young people to take risk assessed chances.’ One recent example of this is the staff taking children and young people sledging and skiing at an indoor snow centre.

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

Staff have outstanding behaviour management skills. There have been no physical interventions in this home since the last inspection. Children and young people can demonstrate challenging and risky behaviours. However, the staff are vigilant and recognise early signs of disruptions in behaviour. They intervene early and support children and young people to de-escalate their behaviour. Staff have regular restraint training. This training exceeds the mandatory training. One member of staff referred to recent research, and described techniques used to minimise the use of physical intervention. A social worker said: ‘Staff are attentive, calm and excellent at de- escalation.’

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

Staffing arrangements within this home remain stable. The staff team is dedicated and cohesive. Its commitment ensures the well-being and safety of children and young people. Effective recruitment procedures enable the careful selection and recruitment of new staff. Vigilant monitoring of visitors to the home further protects children and young people from potential harm.

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

The safety of young people, staff and visitors to the home is a priority. Routine health and safety, maintenance and fire checks ensure that the home is a safe environment. The home has an up-to-date location risk assessment. This outlines risks in the local area, including environmental risks and levels of crime.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and the deputy are a highly effective management team. They are well qualified, skilled and knowledgeable, both within residential and within social care. This combined understanding ensures that the experiences and long-term outcomes for children and young people are maximised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are aspirational for all of the children and young people in their care. The registered manager is passionate in ensuring that all children and young people have the best possible life chances. This is demonstrated in his exceptional advocacy on behalf of Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 6 some young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff work collaboratively and proactively with wider multi-disciplinary teams. One social worker said: ‘They are brilliant. They work collaboratively, and this means that we get the best outcomes.’ Another social worker said: ‘Communication is great. They are really on it. They chase me up on things.’ These positive and productive partnerships ensure that children and young people receive the highest level of attention and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are inspirational. They lead by example. This ensures that the team’s enthusiasm is maintained. Staff clearly state that they feel supported, and that they receive consistent supervision that meets their individual needs. Staff progress their own professional skills and knowledge through a rigorous training programme. This ensures that they are knowledgeable and skilled. All staff have a recognised qualification, or are working towards one. This enables them to support children and young people effectively and have the knowledge to improve the quality of care provided. Children and young people achieve exceptional outcomes because of the professionalism and dedication of this staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have excellent insight into the strengths of the home and areas for development. They quality assure the home’s functioning through rigorous internal auditing and monitoring reports. Monthly external monitoring provides a layer of impartial scrutiny to the operation of the home. The independent visitor routinely consults with social care professionals, parents, children and young people to support the development of the home. Additionally, managers develop plans to assist them in coordinating and implementing positive changes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff use research and evidence-based practice throughout their work. This includes collaboration with a local university and with healthcare practitioners. This is a highly motivated team that continuously strives to improve care practice for the benefit of children and young people.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 7 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: SC470928 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC470928 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection. 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

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Inspector

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 .

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