Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire YMCA in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 1 SC444681 Registered provider: Nottinghamshire YMCA

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local charitable organisation. It provides care for up to three children and young people who are experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 December 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 24 October 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2017 Full Outstanding 13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2016 Full Outstanding 06/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 3

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Recommendations

 Staff should ensure that case records include clear information relating to health appointments. This particularly refers to recording reasons for any missed health appointments and plans to reschedule them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in all areas of their lives. They grow in confidence and develop close and extremely positive relationships with staff. They develop a much stronger sense of self-worth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education and training are key areas of strength. Children learn the value of education and make amazing progress. Their educational attendance is 100%. They take great pride in their attendance and engagement. They work with staff on any issues of concern and have higher aspirations for their futures. One child has recently secured a college placement for next year. Another has increased their attendance and engagement considerably since moving to live in this home. Their placing social worker said: ‘Before moving to this home, their attendance and engagement was not good. It is now fantastic and I am so pleased with this achievement.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have a strong voice in how this home is run. They feel listened to and are confident that they can positively influence their own lives. They work with staff to plan meals, go shopping together and agree on decor for the home. Children have not made formal complaints because they feel able to resolve any issues informally with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A wide range of fun activities are provided. Children learn to interact better with their peers. They form social relationships and feel extremely well integrated into the local and wider community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Another key strength relates to the work done to prepare children for their eventual move to independence. Staff undertake bespoke work from a very early stage in the placement. Children learn all the necessary skills to make a successful and positive transition. They respond extremely well to incentive plans and undertake chores in the home. They feel very well prepared for their eventual move from this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work imaginatively and creatively to support the physical and emotional health needs of children. This includes consideration of such issues as weight, healthy eating and exercise. Children feel able to address their specific health issues safely and with Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 4 dignity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Several young people who have moved to independence from this home remain in very regular contact with staff. The attachments they formed during their time living in this home remain strong and extremely important to them. Former looked-after young people have come back to socialise with staff and children. They continue to contact staff for emotional and practical support. This reflects the lasting and positive relationships made in this home.

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

Staff understand the actual and potential risks posed to children. They ensure that detailed and clear risk assessments reflect the current and changing needs. Children are kept safe from harm as a result of such positive and proactive practices by staff.

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

The registered manager has challenged placing authorities robustly when concerns arise. She demonstrates a clear understanding of her role in protecting children. Staff and the manager place the safety and welfare of children at the centre of their work. If risks are identified, urgent action is taken to minimise potential harm. This includes taking the difficult decision to end placements if risk cannot be reduced.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in children going missing and incidents of unauthorised absence. This relates to one child who no longer lives in this home. Staff and the manager took necessary action on each occasion. They followed their own internal and multi-agency procedures. Close partnership working is evident with placing social workers and the police.

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

Staff work with children to consider any concerns they may have in relation to bullying, self-harm or exploitation. They support children to learn about risks and how to better protect themselves. They ensure that children have advocates and independent visitors in place. This further enables children to feel able to discuss any concerns.

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

The use of restraint in this home is rare. Staff form such positive relationships with children that they de-escalate situations effectively. Children understand and accept the rules. They learn to manage their own behaviours positively and constructively.

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

Staff appreciate that children need to be supported to take age-appropriate risks. Staff encourage them to learn how to use public transport unaided. They support them to spend time in the community alone. This enables children to learn new skills and to grow in confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked in this home for a considerable period of time. She demonstrates a passion for meeting the needs of children in her care. She has high aspirations for children. She understands the complex needs of each child and has clear plans for how their needs will be met. Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 5 Staff speak very highly of the management support they receive. They report having regular and good-quality supervision. They receive training, which increases their skills and competence. They understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. They feel confident in being able to report any concerns they may have through internal whistle-blowing procedures. As one staff member stated: ‘I feel valued. We work as a team to support the children to make the best progress possible. I love my job.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Paper case file records do not always reflect the positive work being done to support children. When health appointments have been made but not attended, there is a lack of clarity as to why appointments were not attended.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruitment procedures are robust and prevent unsuitable adults from working with vulnerable children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has clear systems in place to monitor and review the services provided. She and her staff take pride in being able to see and articulate the progress being made by children. The staff team takes urgent action when concerns about children’s needs arise. Staff work closely and proactively with placing authorities and involved agencies.

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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: SC444681 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire YMCA

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham NG1 4FG

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Inspector(s)

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC444681 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(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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