Children's Home, Residential special school run by Kedleston (High Peak School) Limited in Cheshire East

Inspection report children’s home: SC484134 1 SC484134 Registered provider: Kedleston (High Peak School) Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 20 children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. There is a registered school on site which most of the children attend.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 14 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has applied for and been granted a variation to the number of children it can accommodate. The number of registered places has reduced from 28 to 20. The new manager has been successful in her application to be the registered manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Eight children have been admitted to the home and six children have left. Transition planning is strong. The quality of compatibility and impact risk assessments for admitted children has improved tremendously. The home’s ability to meet the child’s needs and the impact of the child on others already living in the home are assessed and inform robust decision-making about admissions. Consequently, the majority of children settle in quickly, and make good progress across all areas of their development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Most children are well prepared for moving to new placements when it is time for them to leave the home. Some have made very good progress at the home, and have moved Inspection report children’s home: SC484134 2 on successfully to foster placements or back to family. Sadly, two children have had unplanned placement endings. In one case, the child was not making progress and the home served notice on his placement after calling a professionals’ meeting to review his progress. In the second case, the child’s level of challenging behaviour was excessive and was having a negative impact on other children. Although the child’s placement had been carefully planned and his suitability assessed, the home found that not all of the relevant information had been shared by the placing authority. The home was therefore ill-prepared for the high level of aggression he displayed. The home conducted a review of the placement and has learned lessons, resulting in more robust impact assessment

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working between the home and the on-site school is extremely good. The home supports children’s education very well so that children have excellent attendance and engagement in school. Those who have been out of school for long periods before moving to this home, quickly adjust to attending regularly and benefit from the individually tailored education programmes. When asked what he liked best about the home, one child replied ‘school’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s good health is very well promoted. Through robust auditing of medicine administration, attendance at appointments and health assessments, the home ensures that children receive the medicines and treatment they need. Children know their own health plans well. One spoke with pride about how he has lost a significant amount of weight since moving to the home. He recognised that this was as a result of having healthy, nutritious meals and a good deal of exercise, which he thoroughly enjoys. A small minority of young people have a history of substance misuse, the home has done a lot of work to raise an individual’s awareness of the dangers associated with substance misuse.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Through regular meetings with the provider’s therapists, the home ensures that children’s emotional well-being is, at all times, prioritised. Staff are developing a good understanding of children’s individual emotional and psychological needs. Consequently, the effectiveness of the emotional support that staff provide for children has improved. Children are happier, calmer and better understood. Through open discussion and involvement in their care plans, they are learning strategies that help them to manage their emotions and behaviour better.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider maintains very good oversight of the home’s practice, and continually promotes improvement in the home. The leadership and management of the home are key strengths that underpin the many improvements in the operation of the home. Monitoring of the quality of care and professional practice is excellent. Managers know the children and their individual needs extremely well. They are fully involved in care planning, and in enabling positive experiences and driving improved outcomes. Shortfalls in practice are quickly identified and action is taken to address them so that the home is continually developing and improving.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good safeguarding practice is at the heart of the home. Much has been achieved through careful forensic scrutiny of practice and good reflection on incidents. Key Inspection report children’s home: SC484134 3 personnel provide staff with guidance and training. This helps staff to reflect on their practice and improve their responses to children and their recording of incidents. This has led to a huge reduction in the use of restraint and, in particular, ground holds are now few and far between. The number of missing incidents has significantly reduced, as has the number of serious events notified to Ofsted. A culture of openness and trust is growing ever stronger and children are encouraged to have their say about all aspects of their day-to-day lives and care. There have been no complaints from children or others, and children report that they enjoy living at the home and they like the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides an inclusive, nurturing environment where children and staff feel valued and cared for. Incidents of bullying are quickly addressed and tolerance and respect are promoted. The home uses restorative justice to address disputes, with a focus on rebuilding relationships. The number of sanctions issued is reducing as staff grow more confident in their ability to manage children’s behaviour through positive relationships that are based on trust and consistent care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff benefit from regular training across all aspects of their work, which is helping them to develop their skills and expertise. This has not yet included training on supporting children who misuse substances, even though this is a known behaviour for at least one child. While, the home has done a lot of work to raise this child’s awareness of the dangers associated with substance misuse, staff training in this area has yet to be completed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager’s focus on providing a happy home where children have positive, enjoyable experiences, is permeating through the staff team. Staff are developing their parenting skills, and are increasingly providing clear boundaries and nurturing care. Allegations against staff are appropriately referred to the local authority designated officer and robust action is taken to ensure that they are fully investigated, and that children and staff are kept safe.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is good. This helps to ensure that children receive the services they need from a range of professionals. Children have access to an independent advocate who has begun to visit regularly and two children have sought his help in challenging their placing authorities about the service they provide.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement and two recommendations raised at the last inspection have been met and this has led to some of the improvements noted above. A recommendation to ensure that children have access to a phone they can use without seeking permission from staff has not been met. The manager explained that this is because several children have restrictions on phone contact with their families. The home keeps this under continuous review and plans are in place to install phones for children’s use in two of the houses. Those children without restricted access have been provided with mobile phones. Inspection report children’s home: SC484134 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/05/2017 Full Good 10/03/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/11/2016 Full Requires improvement 31/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. In particular, ensure staff have a good understanding of how to protect children who misuse substances. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9,12)

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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: SC484134 5

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kedleston (High Peak School) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office Suite 1, Ansell Gardens, Holloway Lane, Harmondsworth UB7 0AE

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Inspector

Sharon Lloyd, social care inspector Michelle Bacon, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484134 6 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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