Children's Home run by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in Barnsley

Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 1 SC422464 Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority children’s home provides short breaks for up to eight young people who have learning disabilities and physical disabilities, and who may have challenging behaviour.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2017 Full Good 22/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/10/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 3

p.2

Recommendations

 As set out in regulation 44(2), when the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.3

Recommendations

(a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

p.3

Recommendations

This is with particular reference to the independent person being proactive in ascertaining the view of parents and professionals in the quality of care being provided.

p.3

Recommendations

 As set out in regulation 23, the registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

p.3

Recommendations

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

p.3

Recommendations

(b) medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed; and

p.3

Recommendations

(c) a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child.

p.3

Recommendations

This is with particular reference to staff administering the correct prescribed dosage of medication as identified on their health plan.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people are making measurable and sustained progress relative to their complex health needs and disabilities. They are assisted to engage in new experiences that enhance their quality of life and ability to be more independent. Achievements are celebrated and recorded, for example through the completion and display of ‘WOW’ moments.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children and young people very well. Referral and admission processes are highly individualised and are undertaken at the children and young people’s pace. Parents and carers confirm that they feel completely reassured in the quality of care, and many report it being a real home-from-home experience for their children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people enjoy a wealth of recreational activities both ‘out and about’ Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 4 and within the environment of the home during their short break. High staffing ratios enable the children to undertake activities of their choosing alongside managing the range of health and safety issues. For example, children and young people have enjoyed going to the fire museum, the local park and the cinema. In addition, they develop friendships and spend quality time broadening their experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children and young people to learn new skills and develop their independence. For example, one young person is helped to change bedding, tidy their room and use the washing machine. Another young person is assisted to prepare basic meals. Consequently, young people feel a sense of pride in their achievements.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team is skilled and experienced in the range of verbal and non-verbal communication methods, and some staff are Makaton trained. Children and young people are assisted to complete questionnaires that ensure their views, wishes and feelings are clearly heard and represented.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people’s healthcare plans are updated in accordance with their changing care needs. Regular consultation takes place with specialist services, and on- site training takes place in areas such as gastrostomy and peg feeding techniques and managing epilepsy. This ensures that the children and young people’s complex health needs are clearly met during their stay.

p.4

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

A particular strength of the staff is their ability to manage the complex behaviours and vulnerabilities often displayed by the children and young people. This is because staff know the children and young people very well, understand what triggers certain behaviours and what situations heighten anxieties. As a result, the use of any form of restraint is minimal, and there have been no incidents of children and young people going missing.

p.4

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

High levels of care and supervision during the children and young people’s short breaks promote their well-being and keeps them safe from themselves and from others. Staff are intuitive in their response to certain behaviours, and use strategies to curtail behaviours that would be inappropriate in the presence of others. The dignity of and respect for the child or young person are maintained.

p.4

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

Each child and young person receiving respite care has a well-documented risk assessment in place. Close working relationships with social workers, education professionals and parents ensure that health, social and environmental risk factors are well-known, and there are clear management strategies in place.

p.4

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

Staff are extremely diligent in their care of the children and young people, both in the home and in the community. This is balanced against their need to develop independence skills to equip them as they transition into adulthood. Social media and the associated risk is just one area that staff help the children and young people to understand. Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 5 Since the last inspection, there have been some shortfalls in the administering of medication that have seen some children and young people receiving missed or incorrect dosages. The registered manager has completed a thorough review of the processes involved. However, a recommendation has been made following this inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and skilled in her role. She has a wealth of experience spanning a number of years. She leads a highly motivated staff team, morale is high and peer-on-peer support is clearly evident.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the staff have developed close working relationships with other professionals, parents and carers. This enhances the quality of care and promotes partnership working in achieving positive outcomes for the children and young people. A professional commented: ‘We all communicate really well. Parents contribute a great deal and are very much involved. [This is] a very child-focused service. Care plans are very detailed, with personalised packages of care.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has good staffing levels and the retention of staff is good. Children and young people see familiar faces when they come for their short break. The children and young people have positive and nurturing relationships with staff and receive continuity of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is regular, purposeful and reflective. The staff have access to continuous learning opportunities and all staff either hold the relevant qualifications or are in the process of completing the relevant training. This ensures that the care that children and young people receive is from a suitably qualified staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager engages well with the wider community, professionals and parents in evaluating the quality of care. Feedback given is used productively to improve service provision. The independent visitor provides detailed reports that acknowledge progress made and any shortfalls in the home. The independent visitor should be more proactive in their consultation with parents and professionals. A recommendation has been made.

p.5

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. Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 6 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

p.5

Information about this inspection

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: SC422464 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2TA

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jonathan Banwell

p.7

Inspector

Cath Sikakana, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC422464 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.

p.7

Inspector

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 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 .

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8