Children's home run by Central Bedfordshire Council in Central Bedfordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC391503 1 SC391503 Registered provider: Central Bedfordshire 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

A local authority runs this service which provides short breaks or long stays for up to four children who may have physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 25 to 26 September 2018

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2017 Full Outstanding 04/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/08/2016 Full Outstanding 03/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC391503 2

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5) In particular, ensure that the assessment of the effectiveness of safeguarding arrangements is recorded in the monthly report.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home continues to make a significantly positive difference to the lives of children and their families; children thrive. Carefully planned admissions and significant help to facilitate daily transitions ensure that the children have good experiences and fun during their stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Very recent changes to the conditions of registration demonstrate how willing the registered manager and responsible individual are to be flexible and to make child- centred decisions when changes in family circumstances occur.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make excellent progress in developing their skills in communication and independence. A sensory approach to meeting the holistic needs of every individual child ensures that all children are encouraged to fulfil their potential. Children are encouraged to exercise personal choice whenever circumstances allow this to be possible. This ethos invites children to safely explore their world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This service is particularly welcoming and homely. There are plenty of toys, arts, crafts and play equipment readily available for the children to express their individuality. A colourful sensory garden, generous space and outdoor equipment entice children outside. Staff have good knowledge of the local area, and ready access to transport ensures that children can visit local and national attractions. These experiences promote learning and the children’s inclusion in their community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Attention to detail means that children’s bedrooms are personalised for their stay. Waking-night staff and specialist beds and equipment ensure that children are comfortable and have a good, restful sleep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Individualised support plans and ‘all about me’ booklets help to ensure that staff understand and are responsive to the unique and individual sensory and personal care needs of each child. Inspection report children’s home: SC391503 3 Children’s school attendance improves. The home has excellent relationships with local and specialist services, which in turn ensure that the children experience continuity with their unique and respective healthcare needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Without exception, all parents represented in this inspection spoke positively about the support and help that they and their child receive. Parents and carers feel included in their child’s support plan and recognise the significant difference that the service makes for the family unit.

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

Children are safe. The staff and the children build nurturing and trusting relationships. The staff are knowledgeable about safeguarding.

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

The staff’s regular and meaningful communication with parents ensures that any matters of concern are identified and acted on immediately. The staff have highly effective working relationships with a range of professionals, thus providing another layer of safety for the children.

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

Children do not go missing. In the unlikely event of this happening, staff are clear about the action to take to ensure a coordinated and robust response.

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

Physical restraint is unusual. If used, the reason for the intervention is clearly recorded, which allows managers to have meaningful input and maintain effective oversight of practice. Records show that interventions are brief and used to keep children safe from causing further harm to themselves or others.

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

Staff value the children’s contributions. Staff do not use sanctions. A high-praise low- criticism approach to behaviour management ensures that children are encouraged to do their best in any given situation. This fosters a culture of respect and positive regard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is extremely experienced and respected by the staff, the children and their families. The inspirational manager continues to deliver highly effective and personalised services. Supported by knowledgeable and competent long- standing deputy managers, the leadership team continues to seek new and aspirational ways to improve this highly effective service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers are highly visible and proactive. They help the staff to plan and to anticipate risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular community events and open days help the leadership team to maintain an open dialogue with children’s families and their social workers. These opportunities ensure that any issues are quickly identified, and that action is taken to circumvent problems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The long-serving staff team continues to receive high-quality supervision and support Inspection report children’s home: SC391503 4 designed to encourage reflection and build professional competence. One member of support staff has achieved a relevant level 5 qualification. Group supervisions with local authority social workers and practice workshops in team meetings help to raise standards and ensure that staff stay mindful of children’s progress and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The arrangements for staff training and development are clear and effective. Managers take decisive and structured action to address any shortfalls in practice. Internal quality assurance processes help to identify weaknesses and provide a platform for the managers to introduce improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

External quality assurance provides a consistent overview of the arrangements for promoting the welfare of children. Specific comment in the independent visitor’s report is necessary to clarify the visitor’s assessment of the effectiveness of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding. This shortfall has no impact on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Several staff who provide residential support are also involved in providing community services. This means that many staff see children in their home and community. This enables staff and managers to understand the child’s whole social experience and enables the residential experience to be shaped exceptionally efficiently to meet individual need.

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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: SC391503 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, SHEFFORD, Bedfordshire SG17 5TQ

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Inspector

Rosie Davie: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC391503 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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