Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC424280 1 SC424280 Registered provider: Nottingham 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 is a local authority children’s home. The home provides medium- to long-term placements for up to two children or young people who are unable to live with their families.

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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 outstanding

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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: 19 September 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC424280 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2017 Full Good 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 09/11/2016 Full Good 09/12/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC424280 3

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce-related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1, paragraphs 19 and 20. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.8)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home provides young people with stability and consistency. Predictable daily routines help young people to settle. As a result, they feel secure. This means that they are able to engage positively with staff and other professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to develop positive relationships with young people. As a result of past trauma and loss, sometimes young people demonstrate challenging behaviours. However, staff are resilient and child-focused. They strive to understand the underlying reasons for the behaviour. They persevere, and are effective in building good relationships with young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Some young people have previously not attended school. Staff in this home support them to pursue their academic and vocational interests. As a result, educational attendance improves. Attainment is variable, but from their starting points, young people have improved educational outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are successful in helping young people to develop self-care skills and increased levels of independence. Young people learn skills in line with their age, understanding and ability. This means that they are prepared for their eventual transition to semi- independence.

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

Managers and staff are highly experienced in managing complex safeguarding issues. Child protection concerns are managed in line with safeguarding procedures. Safeguarding professionals and the police confirm that safeguarding situations, including concerns regarding child sexual exploitation, are well managed.

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

Since the last inspection, young people have gone missing from the home and have had unauthorised absence from the home. Staff are effective in managing these situations. Over time, incidents of missing from the home reduce for young people.

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

Behaviour management is very effective. Staff do not use physical intervention to Inspection report children’s home: SC424280 4 manage challenging behaviours. They manage negative behaviours by diverting and de-escalating volatile situations. Incentives are used to promote improved behaviours. In this way, young people are rewarded for learning to regulate their behaviours.

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

Staff have had a broad range of safeguarding training. This includes training in working with child sexual exploitation, sexually harmful behaviours and strength- based safeguarding approaches. This training equips staff with up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding practice. Some safeguarding training is out of date. This has no direct impact on young people. However, a recommendation is set to address this issue.

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

Recruitment practice is rigorous. Staff records show that safe recruitment practices are used. This protects young people from unsafe adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been registered for this home since 2013. He has excellent knowledge and skills in residential child care. He is also the registered manager for one other home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and the assistant manager are a highly effective team. They continue to excel in their approach to provide high-quality childcare. They have high expectations of the staff team and are excellent role models.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have an in-depth understanding about young people, their needs, risks and progress. They are aspirational for young people. They put in place clear plans to enable young people to achieve their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. They have a comprehensive development plan in place, which demonstrates an ambitious vision for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership arrangements are highly positive. Professionals report high levels of satisfaction and say managers and staff communicate very well.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC424280 5 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: SC424280 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottingham City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, Nottingham NG2 3NG

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC424280 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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