Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children's home: SC473699 1 SC473699 Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home, which is part of a small privately owned organisation, provides care and accommodation for up to four young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 December 2017

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 20 February 2017

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

p.1

Enforcement action since last inspection:

None. Inspection report children's home: SC473699 2

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives. This is attributable to the outstanding care given by a highly dedicated and competent staff team.  Young people receive specialist help to assist them in overcoming previous trauma and abuse. Staff work exceptionally closely with other agencies to ensure that young people’s holistic needs are met.  Staff and managers listen to young people and involve them in all aspects of their care. Staff value young people as individuals and take great pride in their achievements. Young people have new and exciting experiences, and these increase their confidence and sense of worth.  Research informs all aspects of the care provided to young people. The manager and staff use research well to improve the quality of care.  Young people feel very well supported in relation to contact with family members and significant others. Staff also encourage the formation of local

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

friendships through engagement in local activities.  Young people feel safe. Staff protect them well from harm, but also enable them to take age-appropriate risks.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Any concerns relating to actual or potential risks posed to young people from staff should be reported to the registered manager in a timely manner.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/04/2016 Full Good 12/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/04/2015 Full Good Inspection report children's home: SC473699 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Ensure that the supervision of staff practice engages individual adults in the home in the safeguarding culture of the home so that they understand what they would need to do if they found other staff misusing or abusing their position to the detriment of the safety of a child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.14)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

‘I feel safe here, settled and happy. The home and staff are fabulous.’ This is the view of one young person about living at this home. It reflects the views of young people and the extremely positive impact that the home has on their emotional well-being, over time. Young people make significant progress in all areas of their lives. They grow in confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Progress is particularly evident for young people in relation to their emotional well-being. A placing social worker spoke of serious concerns for one young person prior to them moving to this home. The young person is now much calmer and able to regulate their emotions. The social worker commented: ‘The staff are extremely nurturing. They are meeting my young person’s complex needs better than any other place where they have ever lived.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Another social worker spoke of their previous concerns for one young person. They stated: ‘It is heartwarming to see this young person now, he has come on so much.’ A parent stated: ‘My child is a completely different kid to when he moved in. He used to be violent and angry, but he isn’t any more. The staff are all fabulous and have worked wonders with him.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff proactively support young people to engage in education and training. If a young person is not attending education or training, staff put in place detailed plans for each day. Young people learn to understand the value of education and learning. Staff work very closely with education providers to assist young people in overcoming any issues that they may have.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people keep in touch with their family members and friends. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of the complex histories of young people. This enables them to provide good support before, during and after family contact. Young people are also encouraged to make friends in the community by joining local groups and activities.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support young people to understand their histories and the reasons for being Inspection report children's home: SC473699 4 looked after. This includes exceptionally detailed life-story work. For example, a young person interviewed the registered manager as part of their life-story work. This was to consider the start of their placement, their feelings and those of the manager at that time. Such imaginative and hugely meaningful work is worthy of wider dissemination. Young people also fully engage with their key workers to reflect positively on their current situation. They are encouraged to make and keep mementos of their stay, which they then take with them when they move out.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people have new experiences and opportunities which enhance their confidence and sense of worth. For example, a young person who had never flown before was taken on a short flight within this country so that they would be confident to go abroad on a holiday with staff and other young people this year. Staff undertake an evaluation of all activities that the young people take part in, in order to continuously improve them. This is further evidence of the excellent support, care and attention provided to young people.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel fully involved in the care and the support that they receive. They take part in regular meetings with staff to consider their needs and how they will be met. Staff elicit their views on issues such as bullying. Staff and managers discuss any proposed new placements with existing residents, and act on their views and comments. Placement stability is excellent, as a result.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A key strength of this home is the way that staff and managers meet the complex mental health needs of young people. Staff act as very strong advocates for young people. They ensure that services are in place, including counselling and assessment. Staff and managers use research-informed practice and models to further support young people. They closely monitor and track the progress made in all areas of a young person’s life. Young people understand and reflect positively on the progress that they make in managing their own emotions and feelings.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people feel well prepared for their eventual move to independence. Staff support them to learn new skills. One young person has recently started to use public transport to travel to college. This increases their confidence and sense of engagement with the community. Staff and managers provide excellent emotional support to young people who are moving on. They fully understand the emotional impact of change and offer excellent support to young people who are anxious about transitions.

p.4

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

Staff and managers know the young people in their care extremely well. Records show reflect a proactive approach by the staff team in identifying and managing risk. Staff fully consider any risks prior to a placement commencing. They regularly review and update all risk assessments and plans to take account of changing needs.

p.4

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

Young people rarely run away. Staff fully understand the potential triggers and risks for young people, and provide high levels of support and supervision. Young people are able to take age-appropriate risks, particularly as staff help them to prepare for Inspection report children's home: SC473699 5 independence. Young people rarely abuse the trust given to them. This reflects their positive relationships with staff.

p.4

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

Staff demonstrate a clear understanding of the triggers for young people to act in a risky or dangerous manner. Clear behaviour management plans assist staff to respond to such situations very well. Over time, young people learn how to manage their own concerning behaviours extremely well. This progress is supported by excellent partnership working with local police officers. As the local police community support officer stated: ‘The staff appear to have their fingers on the pulse of their young people and are proactive in their approach to situations. I don’t believe at present any improvement from the home is required.’

p.5

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

All young people feel safe. One young person said: ‘I like socialising with the staff and feel very safe living here.’ Staff promote restorative approaches. Sanctions for any concerning or dangerous behaviours are proportionate and agreed with the young people. There is a real sense of young people working with staff to improve their behaviours, and of them wanting to reduce their own concerning behaviours.

p.5

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

A recent allegation was not reported to the registered manager in a timely manner. The delay has not resulted in any adverse impact on young people, but reflects the need for all staff to follow procedures when responding to any concerns about the safety of a young person. The registered manager has taken action to address the delay and has involved all relevant agencies and professionals, as per locally agreed protocols. The registered manager demonstrates a detailed awareness and understanding of his role in relation to allegations, and has close working relationships with all safeguarding agencies.

p.5

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

Recruitment and selection procedures for new staff are robust and prevent unsuitable adults from being recruited.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager displays exceptional ambition and vision for the home. He sets very high expectations for young people and staff. He has extensive experience and skills, as well as the necessary qualifications. He leads by example and is held in very high regard by staff. As one staff member said: ‘I came to work here due to the manager being so inspirational. I would not work anywhere I did not respect the manager. I feel totally supported and valued here by the manager.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the young people extremely well. He speaks with passion about his ambitions for each young person. He understands their starting points and works with staff to ensure that young people make the best possible progress. He and the staff team closely monitor and track young people’s progress. There is a strong learning culture and ethos within the staff team, inspired and facilitated by the manager. Staff are encouraged to study and to bring learning and research materials to staff meetings. These are then used to influence the care plans and support packages in place for each young person. Inspection report children's home: SC473699 6 Staff receive regular and meaningful supervision and appraisals. They receive a wide range of training that further enhances their skills. They take pride in the achievements of young people.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from a wide range of agencies indicates the passion and commitment of staff and managers, as summarised below:

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

 Staff are reported to be very creative in engaging young people in education.  Communication between the staff team and placing social workers is described as excellent.  Staff and the manager are reported to be excellent corporate parents of young people.  Staff and managers are reported to ‘go above and beyond their roles’ to support young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent systems to track all aspects of the care provided. He produces analytical reports to demonstrate how the home improves the outcomes of young people. He constantly reviews the services provided and how they may be improved.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is achieving its stated aims and objectives, as cited in its statement of purpose. The manager has a detailed development plan and location risk assessment in place. He has consulted with relevant agencies to inform such plans and assessments. The manager challenges other agencies to meet the needs of young people.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people’s engagement in all aspects of their care reflects the ‘family feel’ of this home. Young people learn tolerance and respect for others. They also learn to celebrate difference and value each other’s diverse backgrounds and individual experiences.

p.6

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 difference 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.

p.6

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: SC473699 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Whitehouse, Wilderspool Business Park, Greenalls Avenue, Warrington WA4 6HL

p.7

Inspector(s)

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC473699 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector(s)

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 terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit 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 .

p.8

Inspector(s)

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector(s)

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8