Children's home run by Worcestershire County Council in Worcester

Inspection report children’s home: SC037396 1 SC037396 Registered provider: Worcestershire County 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 local authority short-breaks service provides short periods of residential care for up to four children and young people who have physical and/or learning disabilities. The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2007. The registered manager is appropriately experienced and qualified.

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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: 24 October 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2017 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC037396 2 09/08/2016 Full Outstanding 15/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC037396 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting and safe relationships with staff who know them well. Staff provide children with high levels of warmth and attention that reassure them during their stays. This means that children enjoy visiting for short breaks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that children feel welcome. Bedrooms are personalised with toys and children’s favourite bedding that is neatly pressed. Short-break care plans are of a very good quality and focus on children’s communication needs and behaviour. This provides a consistent level of care and promotes positive experiences for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are able to make choices about their favourite food and how they spend their time. For example, there is a ‘summer dreams’ artwork on the wall with photographs of children and drawings of their chosen activities for the holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of fun and personalised activities. Children enjoy time with friends in the home and are also supported to go out into the local community to experience new opportunities. This means that children develop their confidence and social skills. Group sessions are also held with children on cooking, independence and self-care.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no complaints from children, parents or professionals. There have been no significant safeguarding incidents. Children are positive about their experiences and like visiting this home.

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

There have been no physical restraints or any sanctions since the last inspection. This is because staff understand the needs of each child and follow a well-planned routine. There is a great focus on enjoying and achieving. Staff work hard to reduce and avoid incidents.

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

Staff understand how to safeguard children and are confident about how to follow child protection procedures. The home is very well maintained. The environment is very safe and secure. Risk assessments are of a very high standard, and are regularly reviewed. This ensures that children are kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is extremely passionate and is highly ambitious for the service. She is supported by a dedicated and well-thought-of assistant manager. Staff are Inspection report children’s home: SC037396 4 remarkably enthusiastic about, and committed to, providing the highest level of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has worked hard to meet the requirements and recommendations made. She has been thorough and reflective in her response. Staff have been extremely innovative and resourceful in how they gather the wishes and feelings of children, for example through newsletters, one-to-one sessions and helping children create their own children’s guide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly motivated and provide a consistent level of care for children. They are able to confidently demonstrate the positive impact that staying at this home is having on children’s development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular, high-quality supervision and effective yearly appraisals. The registered manager ensures that all staff are up to date with mandatory training and additional specialist training is provided on relevant subjects, to improve staff awareness.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that team meetings are held monthly. They are highly informative and exceptionally well documented. Staff give presentations on topics such as anxiety and depression and risk assessment. This excellent practice develops the staff’s skills and confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has completed a very well-evaluated review of the quality of care that the home provides. She is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service and is able to demonstrate areas where improvement has taken place. Regular file audits take place to continuously review the quality of support that children receive. These systems drive improvement and ensure that children receive high-quality care.

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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 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: SC037396 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Worcestershire County Council, County Hall, Worcester WR5 2NP

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC037396 6 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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