Action Breaks

Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks Inspection report for residential holiday schemes for disabled children

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Unique reference number 1027084 Inspection date 23/10/2015 Inspector David Kidner Type of inspection Full

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Registered person Action for Children-North Somerset Registered manager Kirsty Preen Responsible individual Lee Furniss Date of last inspection 28/10/2014 Inspection Report Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 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 Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 Page 3 of 8

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Brief description of the service

This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is a national children’s charity. It provides a variety of residential holidays throughout the year to children and young people with complex needs, including learning and physical disability and complex health needs.

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Brief description of the service

The aims and objectives for the scheme is to provide exciting residential short break holidays for children and young people to enjoy and experience a time away from home, to have fun, make new friends, enjoy social occasions and be involved and try out new activities of their choice. Primary focus will be given to children and young people in Bristol and the South West.

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Brief description of the service

The scheme operates from offices at another registered residential provision that the charity operates.

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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 Good Children and young people are provided with a good range of activities and experiences while attending the scheme. They are consulted about the choice of activities they wish to take part in, and are able to change their minds and choose an alternative if they so wish. Regardless of their individual support needs and known risks, staff ensure children and young people have access to the resources and facilities that are provided to the general public.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

One young person said ‘I went swimming, it was fun, it’s fantastic here, I’d come again!’ ‘Another young person gave 10/10 for the activities so far and said ‘I’m having sandwiches for lunch, cinema this afternoon and pizza for tea, not bad for a Saturday.’

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Children and young people develop skills in making new friendships and learn to respect and understand others’ needs. They are kind and considerate towards one another. Inspection Report Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 Page 4 of 8

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Staff provide children and young people with good quality care and support. They place them at the centre of their practice. Detailed care and support plans provide staff with guidance in how to meet young people’s individual needs. Children and young people said that the staff respect their privacy. They feel listened to and have enjoy positive relationships with the staff. They said they feel safe and are safe.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

Staff manage any episodes of young people being homesick with great sensitivity. They ensure parents are consulted and thorough effective communication, and in the best interests of the child, positive outcomes are achieved.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The accommodation at this holiday scheme was at a venue open to the general public. The quality of the accommodation is good and the children and young people thoroughly enjoy staying at the venue. They benefit from a variety of meals, snacks and drinks based on their likes and dietary requirements.

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The overall experiences of children and young people

The leadership and management of the scheme is effective. There are good links with families and with the local authority who request some children and young people attend. The scheme has received positive feedback from parents and the local authority.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, the Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Statutory Requirements

Requirement Due date Ensure that the registered person complies a written statement covering the matters listed in Schedule 1. In particular, a description of any electronic or mechanical means of surveillance of children which may be used in premises or sites used by the scheme to accommodate children. (Regulation 3 (1)) 30/11/2015 Inspection Report Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 Page 5 of 8

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Recommendations

 Ensure employees receive high quality training commensurate with the needs of the children using the scheme. This will enable them to enhance their individual skills and keep them up to date with professional developments to look after the children accommodated at the HSDC. In particular, training in respect of autism and Asperger’s Syndrome (NMS 11.1).

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protected

The service is Good at helping and protecting children and young people. Children and young people are safe and the leaders and staff follow good safeguarding practices and procedures. The local safeguarding services aware of the scheme and do not report any concerns. Staff receive regular safeguarding training, including specifically for disabled children and young people. They demonstrate a good awareness and understanding of procedures and protocols.

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protected

Children and young people said that they feel safe. One young person said ‘I feel absolutely safe.’

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protected

Staff demonstrate a good awareness of behaviour management approaches and provide children and young people with effective guidance and clear boundaries to manage their behaviour. Since the scheme has been operating there has been one recorded use of restraint. Records pertaining to this are recorded in line with regulation and parents are informed of any use of restraint. Children and young people have not been missing from the scheme.

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protected

Staff provide children and young people with good quality and individualised care and support. Parents are fully involved in the development of the care and support plans and risk assessments. These are detailed and provide staff with guidance and support in how to manage the individual needs of the children and young people. Staff have the skills to communicate with young people and are patient and sensitive to their needs.

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protected

Children and young people speak highly of the care and support they receive. One young person said ‘the staff are friendly, you can’t thank them enough.’ Another young person said ‘staff are ‘really cool, they are firm but fair.’

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protected

There are good systems for the management, administering and the recording of medicines. Care and support plans identify the emergency medical protocols for young people. The scheme ensures that parents are informed of any accidents relating to their child when they are attending the scheme. Inspection Report Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 Page 6 of 8

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protected

There are robust systems in place prior to the holiday taking place to ensure that comprehensive and satisfactory risk assessments are completed in respect of the proposed activities and of the venue.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The effectiveness of leaders and managers is Good The Registered Manager leads by example and provide good and effective leadership. She is committed in providing the children and young people with an enjoyable holiday with high quality care and support. On some holidays she works alongside the staff as part of the team. The staff team are dedicated and enthusiastic and have a clear understanding of their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is good monitoring of the scheme and visits take place to each holiday and comprehensive reports are completed. The report covers the quality of safeguarding, specific arrangements for the holiday, activities, care and support plans, consulting with children and their parents, behaviour support complaints, meals, healthcare and staffing arrangements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The Registered Manager undertakes a detailed annual review of the scheme and has a good understanding of its strengths and weaknesses. In addition, the Registered Manager and senior managers undertake a detailed analysis of each holiday and provides those who they work in partnership, such as the local authority regular reports on the performance and the outcomes for children and young people attending the scheme. This demonstrates good partnership working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The scheme’s Statement of Purpose is informative and provides comprehensive information as to the aims and objectives of the scheme. However, it does not give a description of any electronic or mechanical surveillance of children which may be Used during the holiday.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The scheme ensures that the recruitment and vetting of newly appointed staff is robust and protects children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is sufficient number of suitably skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of young people. They receive good support from the Registered Manager. Detailed records are kept of the training that individual staff has undertaken. Records confirm that staff receive the required mandatory training, including safeguarding, first aid and the schemes preferred chosen method of de-escalation and restraint training. Additional training provided includes medication training, epi-pen pen and anaphylaxis, effective supervision, engaging with disabled children and young people on short breaks, and understanding diversity and inclusion. Inspection Report Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 Page 7 of 8

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

However, records do not confirm that staff have undertaken training in respect issues relevant to the children with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome.

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children and young people

The effectiveness of leaders and managers is Good at working in partnership to improve outcomes for children and young people The scheme is good at working in partnership to improve outcomes for young people. The Registered Manager continues to maintain links with the local authority and is a member of the multi-agency resources panel. This panel meets to discuss the referrals that are made by the local authority for children and young people to attend the scheme.

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children and young people

The Registered Manager reports that there has not been any safeguarding concerns and has not had reason to refer any matters to the local safeguarding services. However, the Registered Manager has not yet developed strong links with the local safeguarding services but acknowledges the benefit of this.

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children and young people

The Registered Manager ensures that there is good engagement with parents and children and young people. At the end of each holiday the scheme obtains formal feedback from parents and children and young people. One parent said: ’Just thank you very much as a family to everyone involved, in making the weekend fun, fun, fun.’ When children and young people were asked what their favourite part of the holiday was they replied, making friends, singing karaoke, drumming and going down the water slides and in a go-kart. Inspection Report Action for Children - North Somerset Short Breaks, 23/10/2015 Page 8 of 8

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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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