Children's home run by The Norman Laud Association

Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 1 Registered provider: The Norman Laud Association

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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 home is a short-break service for four children who have learning or physical disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. The home also provides a day-care service for another two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since 2007.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and managed by a charitable independent organisation. The organisation also operates a CQC-registered home for adults on the same site.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 21 to 22 November 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 good

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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: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 31/10/2017 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children‟s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the „Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 48 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”) has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35(3)(b)(ii)) 14/1/2018

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Recommendations

 Ensure that case records are kept up-to-date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards,‟ page 62, paragraph 14.3) In particular, chase the placing authority for the minutes from review meetings and up-to-date child in need plans.  Ensure that the registered person builds a strong safeguarding culture in the home. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards,‟ page 43, paragraph 9.8) In particular, have a clearer focus on disability-specific safeguarding in staff training and in the review of the quality of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This short-break service gives children great opportunities to make friends, learn new skills and develop independence. A parent described her daughter‟s experience: „[My daughter] gets a lot out of it. She‟s a lot more independent, her speech has improved. She learns from them.‟ The child‟s parent also said that independence skills, such as cooking and shopping, learned at the service, were now transferred to their home life. Parents also benefit. One said, „It‟s a rest for us and she can mix with other young people her own age.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children‟s religious, cultural or individual needs are respectfully addressed. Parents also Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 4 reported prompt, effective information sharing and respect for their parental responsibilities. Staff know the children well and, consequently, care for them well. One parent reflected on her daughter‟s care over several years. „Staff are good. Over the years they‟ve watched her grow up and change. The care [the staff give] is nearly as good as I do.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care of children‟s health, including for those who have nursing care needs, is good. Close relationships with children‟s schools are helped by daily contact when staff drop off and collect children each day. As a result, children receive well-coordinated care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The service makes sure that children have plenty of play equipment, including making good use of technology. Activities are well planned and tailored to children‟s needs. Children have fun and enjoy lots of trips out. Children are active, busy and not bored. This enriches their experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and children share warm, affectionate relationships based on skilful communication and a healthy approach to fun and enjoyment. Staff use communication aids, signs and symbols to ensure that they understand and take account of children‟s views and wishes. Children feel that their views are important and respected. One parent described how much her child benefited greatly „from interactions and participation with one-to-one support‟.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy to come for visits. Photographs of their achievements on the walls of the home and pictorial booklets celebrate children‟s well-being and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents told the inspector about how much they appreciated the support of staff when planning their children‟s futures. They said the registered manager made sure that transitions into the home, and on to adult services, had their child clearly in mind. One said that he trusted the registered manager‟s „honest, confident assessment‟ of their son‟s needs as an emerging adult.

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

Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Staff are alert to risk and understand the vulnerabilities of children who have a disability. Their good practice keeps children safe. A parent described feeling reassured, „I feel safe in myself when she‟s there, because I know she‟s cared for.‟

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

Staff assess and take effective action to reduce any potential harm. The reasons for any restrictions on children‟s freedom of movement, or aids to reduce harm from any self- injurious behaviour, are clear and written into agreed education and healthcare plans. Staff are well trained to help children with restricted mobility and have the equipment they need to do this safely.

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

The registered manager carefully matches children coming for stays so that they visit with friends or children with compatible needs. Staff plan children‟s activities and use the space in the building carefully, so that one child‟s behaviour, excitement or exuberance Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 5 does not cause distress for another.

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

Staff skilfully defuse most behavioural challenges. Restraint is only used to keep children safe. Occasionally, staff may use light touch guidance or stand in doorways to help children get up and dressed in the morning. One record of this, involving the registered manager, was not reviewed and signed off by her line manager. A requirement is raised to address this shortfall so that measures such as these have stringent oversight.

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

Constructive partnership working with social workers, schools, parents and health professionals helps to safeguard some children in need of greater support through a child protection plan.

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

The organisation takes stringent measures to make sure only the right people are employed to work with children. The environment and location are safe and suitable. These well-thought-out arrangements help to give children a feeling of well-being and security. Parents are confident of this too.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This service has established good outcomes for children over many years. Creative management delivers the organisation‟s aims of giving children safety, security and positive experiences. Regular, meaningful consultation and communication with children also keeps its focus on child-centred facilities, resources, policies and activities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation is a small regional one, but it punches above its weight in terms of professional, child-focused service delivery. Approximately 33 children use the short- break service, from three local authorities. The organisation operates only this service for children and one adult residential provision, next door. Some young people transition there.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager appreciates the increasingly effective external monthly monitoring, which she says gives her useful critical challenge to improve. She has an extensive grasp of all details of the operation of the home, its strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are some areas for improvement, recognised by the registered manager. The training plan for staff could consider a more formal focus on safeguarding children who have a disability. Similarly, the formal review of the quality of care could also highlight how the organisation has promoted children‟s safety and protection. This is a missed opportunity to reflect on the quality of practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Sometimes information in children‟s formal care records is not up to date. For example, minutes from review meetings and updated child-in-need plans are not always forwarded by the local authority and the registered manager does not always chase this information. This has not had a direct impact on the care children receive, because the registered manager and/or staff attend meetings and take notes, so they are aware of any changes that are agreed. Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 6 The registered manager has challenged the local authority when it has delayed children‟s reviews, failed to attend or provide a consistent service. A highly effective, down-to- earth person, she has an eye for the detail as well as the strategic direction of the service. She stands up for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are skilled and have plenty of opportunities to develop areas of expertise within the service. Training records are now up to date. The vast majority of staff are appropriately qualified. Professional supervision is increasingly effective, with a strong safeguarding and staff development focus. There is a wealth of skill and experience among the members of the staff team, some of whom have worked at the home for very many years.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A parent summed up the unanimously positive views of parents: „Wow! I‟m over the moon with the service provided to our son. We always are well informed on what they are doing with him, work together with information and support etc. Staff are brilliant with him. We would truly be lost without this service.‟

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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: 1252997 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Norman Laud Association

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lime Grove House, Lime Grove, Sutton Coldfield B73 5JN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elaine Mountford

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Inspector

Christy Wannop, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1252997 8 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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