Children's Home run by North Lincolnshire Council in North Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC033152 1 SC033152 Registered provider: North Lincolnshire Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides short breaks for children and young people, irrespective of gender, aged between five and 18 years who have a learning disability. This includes those with additional complex health needs and/or autistic spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in place since 2007.

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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 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: 10 October 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC033152 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2017 Full Outstanding 26/01/2017 Full Outstanding 26/01/2017 Full Outstanding 19/07/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC033152 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people who have short breaks in this home receive a very good standard of care to meet their complex health and behavioural needs. The staff team is highly committed and provides personalised care which ensures that children and young people are safe, happy and comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people, including those who cannot communicate verbally, are well supported to actively participate in decisions about their day-to-day lives. Staff use a variety of communication methods to ascertain their needs and wishes and enable them to make choices. For example, one young person was able to communicate, through the use of his communication system, that he wished to lie down on his bed, and staff acted upon his wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are well-developed partnerships between the staff and the parents and carers of the children and young people. Parents are confident about leaving their children in the care of the staff team, and value the open and supportive response that they receive from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people who are new to the service receive thoroughly planned introductions, with a number of visits. This minimises any stress that may be felt by children and young people, and families feel more confident.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Other agencies who support the children and young people speak highly of the service. This includes health staff, who regularly visit the home and provide training to staff, helping them to better understand the complex health procedures that are involved for some children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Effective communication with school staff ensures that there is coherent practice across both provisions. This ensures that children and young people receive consistent care which meets their needs and helps them to progress.

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

The vulnerabilities of the children and young people are well understood by the manager and all of the staff. Full information is gathered prior to any admissions and is used to inform detailed risk assessments. This written documentation clearly guides staff in the ways to mitigate any risks. The good communication systems help to ensure that all of the staff are up to date with this information.

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

Staff teach children and young people about positive behaviour. Physical intervention is used only when absolutely necessary and to prevent harm. It is recorded in line with the regulations.

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

The manager has recently improved the recording of physical marks sustained by the Inspection report children’s home: SC033152 4 children and young people. This makes it easier for staff to identify any recurring patterns of injury, and enhances their safeguarding practice.

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

The manager has also reviewed medication procedures, following advice from health personnel, and has introduced measures to ensure full compliance with regulations regarding the use of controlled drugs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by an experienced manager, and has an established team of staff who are suitably qualified and experienced. They receive the training necessary to meet the specific, complex needs of the children and young people, for example peg feeding, stoma care and management of epilepsy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has been stable for a number of years. However, recruitment has recently commenced. The manager held an open day to attract potential new recruits. She is committed to ensuring that any new staff have the right level of skills and experience to fully meet the needs of the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff’s accountability and ownership of care practice are fostered by regular supervision and team meetings. The manager creates opportunities for staff to develop their skills, such as through being involved in the recruitment process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems to ensure the quality of practice in the home are particularly strong, with the manager having a good oversight of all aspects of the service. She ensures that the home operates within the statement of purpose. She has an excellent knowledge of any risks to the children and young people, and regularly reviews and acts on these. This helps to safeguard the children and young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager gathers feedback from the parents and carers, and uses it to inform her review of the service. Staff also use a variety of ways, such as observation, to capture the views of the children and young people, and these are acted on where possible. For example, one young person pointed out that her bedroom mirror was too low for her to see herself, so a full-length one was installed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff provide consistent care practice, helped by clear care-planning documentation, which is regularly reviewed. Much of it is written from the child’s or young person’s point of view, which ensures that the focus remains on the needs of that child or young person.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good links with social workers and the transition team. This ensures that, as the children and young people grow older, planning for transition to adult services can start in a timely manner. Inspection report children’s home: SC033152 5

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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 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.

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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: SC033152 6

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Children’s home details

Registered Provider: North Lincolnshire Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pittwood House, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe, South Humberside DN16 1AB

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Inspector

Janet Black, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC033152 7 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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