Children's home run by Coventry City Council in Coventry

Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 1 SC033056 Registered provider: Coventry 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 children’s home is owned and operated by a local authority. At any one time, it provides a short-break service for up to four children or young people who have learning and/or physical disabilities. It currently provides this service for 28 children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 February 2018

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 14 February 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 Children and young people receive co-ordinated and consistent care from a stable staff team.  Children and young people have warm relationships with staff and enjoy spending time with them.  Staff work in partnership with families and key professionals. This means that children and young people receive integrated care that maximises their progress.  Staff support children and young people to take part in a wide variety of activities. This builds the confidence and skills of children and young people and increases their experiences.  Staff seek the views of children and young people about their daily care, including food and leisure choices.  Staff ensure that children and young people’s achievements are praised through rewards and celebration events.  Staff enable children and young people to increase their independence skills to match their age and ability.  Staff make sure that the home environment is well maintained and homely.

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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

 Managers do not ensure that staff receive regular formal supervision to help them to reflect on their practice.  The manager does not have a workforce development plan.  The registered manager had not completed a review of the quality of care in the regulatory timeframe. The previous review did not include the views and opinions of children and young people.  Managers do not always make sure that safeguarding incidents are notified to HMCI.  Not all staff have the necessary qualifications in residential childcare.  Staff have not received timely refresher training in the administration of medication.  Managers have not ensured that identification, references and checks of employment histories are in place prior to staff commencing work with children and young people.  Managers have not ensured that the reasons for the use of electronic means of surveillance during the night are detailed in the children and young people’s

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Key findings from this inspection

plans. Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 14/06/2016 Full Good 19/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 02/09/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 4

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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 may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(3)(d)) 01/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that any person who works in a care home in a care role has the appropriate qualification by the relevant date. This is to ensure that individual staff have attained the level 3 diploma in childcare (England) (the level 3 diploma). The relevant date is in the case of a person who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32(4)(a)(5)(a)) 31/12/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) 14/05/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children at least once every 6 months. In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45(1)(2)(b) 01/05/2018

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to: respond to the health needs of children; administer basic first aid and minor illness treatment; help children to manage long-term conditions and where necessary meet specific individual health needs arising from a disability, chronic condition or other complex needs. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.12) This is with specific reference to ensuring that information for staff is clear when a child or young people has epilepsy and that staff receive timely refresher training in the administration of medication. Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 5  Ensure that the registered person seeks to involve the local authority and other relevant persons whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. They are also required by regulation 40 to notify Ofsted. (‘Guide to the children’s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.4)  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) This is with specific reference to agreeing and recording in the child’s plan the arrangements for the use of electronic surveillance equipment during the night.  Ensure that there is a workforce plan in place, which can fulfil the requirements of regulation 16 schedule 1. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people receive good-quality consistent support from staff who co- ordinate their care well and who delight in children and young people enjoying themselves and making progress. A member of staff said to the inspector, ‘I’ve got to show you these pictures of him putting his bedding in the laundry basket. I am so proud of him.’ Children and young people benefit from a warm, clean and well-maintained home. There are pictures of children and young people displayed that help to create a homely environment. Children and young people benefit from a back garden with play equipment, including a swing, and lots of space to explore. Meal times are a sociable and relaxed occasion. Menus offer children and young people a varied and balanced diet. The cook ensures that the dietary requirements of children and young people are always met. This includes having a good knowledge of children and young people’s likes and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

dislikes and cultural needs. A family feel to the home helps children and young people to feel at ease and settle in quickly when they start their short break. Staff are thoughtful in ensuring that leisure pursuits broaden the experiences of children and young people and that good use is made of community venues. Consequently, children and young people enjoy a wide variety of activities including arts and crafts, pamper nights, narrow boat trips, going to the theatre and trips to theme parks. Without exception, partner agencies speak positively about the quality of the support given to children, young people and their families. An independent reviewing officer told the inspector, ‘The provision appears to be very well organised and to have a thorough understanding of the individual needs of each of the children in its care. The child that I work with really enjoys his time at the home and is comfortable to leave his carer,

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

despite this usually being a source of anxiety for him.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 6 Partnership working with schools is a strength of this home. Regular liaison with schools means that concerns can be resolved quickly. Care planning takes account of educational targets, which supports children and young people to progress with their learning. For example, one young person receives staff support to achieve his school target of improving his handwriting. A school liaison officer shared with the inspector, ‘They see beyond challenging behaviour. They have been into school and this helps us to work jointly on targets. The class team wouldn’t know that the children had come from (name of the home) as the children turn up dressed and equipped as they would from home.’ Staff seek to involve children and young people in decisions about their care and use a range of verbal and non-verbal methods of communication to seek their views and

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

opinions. The use of discussion, pictures, sign language and symbols all help children and young people to make choices about food and leisure activities. In keeping with the individual needs of children and young people, routines are available in widgit. A parent commented to the inspector, ‘I like the signs and symbols. They are very clear. It’s brilliant. I can understand it so my child will be able to understand it.’ Attention to communication and involvement helps children and young people make an important contribution to their care and to feel listened to. Staff pay great attention to enabling children and young people to increase their independence skills to match their age and ability. For example, one young person has developed the skill to prepare a meal and another child has learned how to iron. Rewards and celebration events recognise the achievements of children and young people. A social worker shared with the inspector, ‘To see the things that young people

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

are encouraged to do is quite outstanding. Young people are enabled to appropriately meet their own personal care needs and help with washing and meal preparation. For my young person, it has given her and her family an insight into what she is really capable of.’ Tailored support helps young people to grow in skill and self-belief and to develop important life skills in preparation for adulthood.

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

Children and young people enjoy spending time with each other and with staff. Thoughtful matching means that children and young people have the opportunity to build friendships with their peers, which helps them to look forward to spending time at the home. A young person told the inspector, ‘I am safe and fond of the home. I get on well with the other young people in my group and like spending time with them.’ Staff ensure that individualised care plans and risk assessments are regularly updated to help them to understand children and young people’s needs and risks. Guidance from staff and information displayed around the home helps the children and young people to understand what behaviour is acceptable and what behaviour is unacceptable. Staff are skilful at identifying behaviours that are an underlying symptom of a child or young person’s disability and when a child or young person could exercise better self-

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

regulation. Staff are patient in their approach and in promoting positive behaviours by offering gentle reminders and guidance. An appropriate use of rewards and sanctions helps to reinforce expectations about behaviour. Staff receive training in behaviour Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 7 management and use distraction techniques well to calm situations when children and young people’s behaviour does become challenging. Consequently, the use of physical intervention is rare. There has been one incident of bullying which staff dealt with immediately, using mediation to help repair the relationship between the young people. Staff receive training in safeguarding, which includes information about the management of allegations and how to report safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding policies are current and ensure that staff have access to relevant and up-to-date information to help them safeguard children and young people. There are no children or young people at

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

risk of child sexual exploitation or radicalisation. There have been no incidents of children or young people going missing from the home since the last inspection. However, there was one incident when a young person become separated from staff during a trip to a theme park. He was quickly located and returned to the group without harm. The registered manager reviewed staff practice and updated the young person’s risk assessments to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence. This action has helped to improve the safety of children and young people. Children and young people using this service have a variety of health conditions. Care planning involving parents and key professionals helps staff to understand the health needs of children and young people. There are clear arrangements for the receipt, storage, administration and discharge of medication. However, some staff have not received timely refresher training in the administration of medication. When children and

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

young people suffer with epilepsy, guidance for staff on how to manage the condition is recorded across different documents. This creates a potential risk for staff to get confused over how to best support children and young people’s health needs. Information about how children and young people can complain is on display around the home in a variety of formats. There have been no complaints since the last inspection. Children and young people are visited regularly by an external advocate, which allows them the opportunity to raise complaints or concerns with a person independent of the home, should they wish to. The registered manager is a member of a recently established community group, which enables professionals from the police, health, social care and schools to share information about developments in the local community. This helps the manager to ensure that the home’s location risk assessment is up to date and that staff are aware of

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

any risks posed to children and young people in the local area. The home has a number of iPad devices that children and young people use for education and leisure purposes. Staff training in online safety means that staff are aware of the risks that the internet poses to children and young people. Discussion with staff, close supervision of internet use and safety controls help to keep children and young people safe online. Staff undertake regular health and safety checks, which ensure that the physical environment is safe and well maintained. Regular servicing of fire equipment and gas and electrical appliances helps to keep all equipment in good working order. Personal evacuation plans and regular fire drills help to ensure that, in the event of a fire, staff and children and young people are familiar with the action necessary to keep everyone safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 8

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager has been registered since April 2014 and has significant experience in working with children and young people with a disability. She has recently completed her level 5 diploma in leadership and management and is waiting for her certificate. In addition to the manager, the home has 17 permanent care staff. Eleven staff members are qualified to level 3 diploma in childcare. One member of staff requires existing qualifications mapping against the level 3 award. Two members of staff who have been in post for over two years have enrolled on a level 3 qualification but have been unable to start the award. Three members of the team who are undertaking the level 3 diploma have not completed the award within the required timescales. Children and young people benefit from the support of a stable staff team, which helps them to feel secure. One member of staff told the inspector, ‘The staff team is small but

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

consistent. We gel well together and this is what young people respond to.’ Staff have regular opportunities to meet as a team and speak highly of the registered manager’s leadership approach. A member of staff shared with the inspector, ‘The manager has time for us when we need it. She encourages, respects and will consider ideas. I like to plan activities and she will consider them.’ However, staff do not receive regular supervision. Furthermore, the manager has not yet developed a workforce development plan. The lack of attention to ensuring that the effective oversight and supervision of the workforce hinders the opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice and to plan for their professional development. The manager has not ensured the appropriate vetting of staff. Staff have commenced employment without references, identification or evidence of qualifications. Gaps in employment histories are not checked. A lack of attention to safe recruitment means

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

that there is potential for children and young people to come into direct contact with unsuitable adults. The registered manager is ambitious for the children and young people in her care. She encourages the team to enable children and young people to do their very best, build friendships and have fun during their stays. The registered manager ensures that the staff team has a strong relationship with external agencies. A school liaison officer said to the inspector, ‘It’s real joined-up working with us, the child and parents. Often, the children have not been the easiest when they first arrived at the home, but the manager sees beyond the paperwork and they work hard with the child and others to help the child settle and then develop.’ Relationships with parents and family members are positive. Parents are welcomed to the home and daily diaries help parents to know how their child has been during their

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

stay. Parents and siblings are invited to the home for celebration events, which they enjoy and help to foster friendships between children, young people and their families. A parent told the inspector, ‘When we come to functions here it’s just lovely. We don’t want to go home. We have food and are able to chat and have fun and build friendship as a family.’ The home uses bedroom door sensors and voice sensors to monitor the safety of some of the children and young people throughout the night. The manager has assessed what Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 9 level of monitoring each child and young person needs and has given guidance to staff. However, these individual arrangements have not been agreed and recorded as part of children and young people’s placement plans. Since the last inspection, there has been one allegation about staff conduct. The local authority was informed. However, the manager failed to inform Ofsted. Neglecting to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

report allegations of abuse to outside agencies reduces external scrutiny of the conduct of the home. An up-to-date statement of purpose sets out the aims and objectives of this short-break service. This means that parents and professionals have access to clear information about what the service offers. Since the last inspection in February 2017, the registered manager has taken action to address the one requirement and one recommendation raised. The registered manager undertakes regular audits of records and makes good use of the independent visitor’s reports to help make improvements to the service. However, the registered manager has not completed a review of the quality of care within the timescales required by regulation. Furthermore, the previous review does not show her evaluation of the views of children and young people. The registered manager recognises that this is a missed opportunity, especially given that children and young

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

people share their views at the end of every stay. Delay in completing a quality of care review, which accounts for the opinions of children and young people potentially, hinders the development of the service.

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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: SC033056 10

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Coventry City Council, Council House, Earl Street, Coventry CV1 5RR

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Inspector

Alison Cooper, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC033056 11 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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