The Ear Foundation For Deaf Teenagers

Ear Foundation For Deaf Teenagers Inspection report for residential holiday schemes for disabled children

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Unique reference number 1027092 Inspection date 19/08/2015 Inspector Rebecca Quested Type of inspection Full

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Registered person Registered manager Lorna Lord Responsible individual Susan Archbold Date of last inspection N/A Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 2 of 8

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This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated. Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 3 of 8

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Brief description of the service

This holiday scheme is provided for children and young people with hearing loss. The provider is an independent charity that supports deaf children, young people, adults and their families to make the most of the latest hearing technologies to develop communication skills and spoken language.

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Brief description of the service

The purpose of the holiday scheme is to provide young deaf people with the opportunity to meet other young deaf people who wear hearing technologies and develop independence, communication skills, friendships, improved perception of being deaf and wearing cochlear implants and experience new and exciting activities.

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Brief description of the service

The holiday scheme runs in two locations. This inspection took place at Dukes Barn an outdoor activity centre in Derbyshire.

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The inspection judgements:

 Outstanding  Good  Requires improvement  Inadequate

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The overall experiences of children and young people is judged to be outstanding. The registered manager ensures that this holiday scheme provides excellent care and opportunities for young people. As this scheme has run for a number of years she is able to evidence how the scheme had developed in response to young people’s and parents’ views. She now runs the scheme over a longer period and has ensured that the range and variety of activities has developed. Young people are involved in activities as diverse as raft building, wall climbing, obstacle courses, dancing and board games. They experience enduring benefit from their improved independence and increased social interactions with other deaf young people.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Staff provide high quality care that is responsive to the individual needs of young people. Young people benefit from being cared for by highly skilled and experienced staff and volunteers who have specific knowledge and understanding of the experiences of young people who are deaf. All staff are able to communicate Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 4 of 8

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The overall experiences of children and young people

effectively with young people. As a result young people have exceptionally positive experiences which contribute to boosting their self-confidence and their emotional resilience.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Staff and volunteers have effective partnerships with local agencies which improves the experiences of the young people using the scheme. This includes relationships with the staff at Dukes Barn, who facilitate some of the organised activities, but also the police and health professionals. Staff ensure that all activities are appropriately risk assessed, thus ensuring that young people are able to engage in exciting activities safely. Young people are encouraged to challenge themselves and make impressive progress within the scheme. Staff are exceptionally supportive and intuitive; all achievements are recognised and praised. Staff and parents’ recognise that the impact is enduring. One volunteer said: ‘the impact is massive (on the young people), I love to see that and it is why I volunteer on this scheme….it makes them.’

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Young people enjoy coming to the scheme. One young person said, ‘I think it was amazing…it was better than last year.’ They value the activities but above all they value the opportunities to develop friendships with other young people who are deaf. One young person said, ‘it’s good, brill. I like the walking. The best thing is making new friends. It is good to be with other deaf children.’

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Staff ensure that young people know how to complain and are supported with any issues they raise. They administer and store medication effectively and understand young people’s individualised health needs. However, young people’s health care plans need to be readily available to access by all staff to ensure safe continuity of care. Staff have effective relationships with local health agencies and appropriate health care is accessed promptly as required. Young people’s health care needs are met.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The registered manager develops positive relationships with the young people, parents and external agencies. She is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the scheme and consistently seek to improve the quality and hence the experiences of the young people. Parents value her excellent organisation and communication. A parent said, ‘ she is absolutely fantastic, her planning is very comprehensive.’ As a result parents are able to feel confident that their young people’s needs are being met. Leaders and the manager constantly monitor the care provided and activities to ensure that the quality improves. This occurs during the scheme as well as afterwards. This ensures that young people always receive highly individualised care which promotes their enjoyment and progress. Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 5 of 8

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The service is good at helping and protecting children and young people. Young people enjoy a scheme where they feel safe and are able to communicate effectively with staff and volunteers about any concerns. The scheme benefits from having a mix of experienced leaders and younger leaders who have previously accessed the scheme themselves. Young people have a good choice of who they wish to communicate any concerns.

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Staff and volunteers have excellent safeguarding practice and are alert to any issues of concern including bullying. The registered manager ensures liaison with local safeguarding services so that they are aware of the scheme taking place. This ensures young people are safeguarded appropriately if they go missing from the scheme. She recognises that the core information they have available about young people while on the holiday scheme could be improved. Her readiness to act decisively to improve this area demonstrates her commitment to providing an exceptional service for young people.

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Young people receive high quality individualised support that meets their needs and enables them to have an enjoyable holiday. Staff and volunteers communicate effectively with them through sign language and spoken word. They have good understanding of how to ensure each young person’s needs are met and encourage independence in the management and care of their hearing aids and cochlea implants.

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Staff manage medication effectively and support those young people who are able to manage their own medical needs. The registered manager recognises that their health care plans need to be more accessible to all staff to ensure that any member of staff can manage each young person’s health care. Staff support them where necessary in accessing emergency doctor’s appointments and in obtaining replacement equipment for their implants. This promotes their well-being and independence.

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Staff have high aspirations for young people and challenge any barriers to them accessing new experiences. Young people relish the opportunity to engage in activities which have been risk assessed and staff ensure that opportunities are not restricted. Staff thoroughly risk assess activities to ensure that young people are suitably supported and supervised. For example, they take part in raft building. This activity becomes increasingly challenging for those who need to remove their hearing aids when in water. Staff support all of them who wish to take part encouraging independence and resilience. Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 6 of 8

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Staff and volunteers develop positive relationships with young people. They recognise when young people are becoming frustrated or struggling and intervene swiftly with distraction techniques. Staff support young people who feel homesick and encourage their engagement with activities and their peers. A staff member said; ‘I am really proud of how much they develop and grow. For example, when I see a young person who is quiet and withdrawn and home sick develop friendships and self-confidence and have friends.’ Staff and volunteers support young people around their deafness. A volunteer said; ‘I like helping people and being a role model. I can help young people to understand about cochlea implants as that is what I have. One young person came to the holiday and decided to have it (the cochlea implant) done and now says it is the best thing he has done.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The effectiveness of leaders and managers is outstanding. The registered manager provides inspirational leadership to the holiday scheme. She leads by example and is available at all times to staff, volunteers, young people and parents. Parents value her contribution in providing exceptional experiences for their children which have a lasting impact. One parent said; ‘the scheme is brilliant, my daughter comes back buzzing and it boosts her confidence. When I collected her last year she couldn’t stop talking for the whole four hours of the journey home.’ Another parent said; ‘the manager is an absolute star, she really goes above and beyond.’ The scheme is extremely well-planned and the registered manager ensures that the statement of purpose reflects accurately what the experiences of young people. She incorporates young people’s feedback into the development of the scheme. Also, she ensures that the scheme is well

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

resourced and young people are able to attend the scheme regardless of their circumstances. Young people and their families, staff and volunteers are all clear of the aims and objectives of the scheme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and the manager are ambitious and continually generate creative ideas to sustain the excellent care provided. A young person said; ‘this year Duke’s Barn has been so much better than last year because the activities are more fun and you get to meet new people and their stories.’ Young people appreciate the challenges that some activities place on them and are rightly pleased with themselves with their achievements, as one young person said, ‘ …thank you for finishing my target.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The recruitment and vetting of staff and volunteers is thorough and safe. Young Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 7 of 8

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

people are only looked after by appropriate people. The registered manager ensures that there is a suitable number of experienced and skilled staff to support young people. There is an excellent combination of staff who are employed within the Ear Foundation with specific speech and language skills, volunteers with considerable experience and skills in working with deaf children and young volunteers. The volunteers are generally previous service users who have a great deal to offer the young people in providing positive role models. Staff have the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to ensure that all young people enjoy their holiday whilst meeting the objectives of the event.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager monitors and evaluates the quality of care. She is innovative in the ways she seeks young people’s views. For example, she has blank posters around the building which can be used as graffiti walls, she hands out feedback questionnaires at the end of the holiday and has a comments box which can be utilised during the holiday. Consequently young people provide high levels of feedback which are incorporated into the current and future scheme. The registered manager and leaders ensure that all staff and volunteers receive adequate support and supervision to meet young people’s needs. Staff reflect on a daily basis as to how well the holiday is going and whether any changes need to be made to ensure that all individual young people’s needs are met and enjoyment maximised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager is forward-thinking and continually developing the scheme. She has plans to develop the scheme into an additional week for primary age children and to split the teenage age group into two different age groups so that more young people are able to access this excellent holiday scheme. This energy and innovation ensures the scheme remains relevant to young people as they develop and grow.

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children and young people

The effectiveness of leaders and managers is outstanding at working in partnership to improve outcomes for children and young people The registered manager has developed excellent relationships with young people, their families and staff and volunteers. She ensures that the event is meticulously planned and responds prompt response to any queries. Parents are confident that their young people are well cared for. Parents value the opportunities which the registered manager provides through closed social media groups for both Inspection Report Ear Foundation, 19/08/2015 Page 8 of 8

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children and young people

themselves and their young people to share photographs of the holiday. This also provides a safe way in which young people can maintain their friendships throughout the year.

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children and young people

Leaders and the manager identify and develop those relationships which will promote young people’s opportunities to try new activities and promote their engagement in the community. The Ear Foundation works with Dukes Barn and other activity providers in the area. The registered manager is committed to involving young adults who are deaf as volunteers for the scheme. This provides excellent role models for the young people and excellent opportunities for the young adults to develop their leadership skills.

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About this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to inform children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards. The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against Residential holiday schemes for disabled children: The inspection framework, evaluation schedule and grade descriptors.

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