Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cotswold Chine School in Gloucestershire

Inspection report children’s home: SC030367 1 SC030367 Registered provider: Cotswold Chine School Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This independent charitable school is also registered as a children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to a maximum of 42 children. The accommodation for children is provided across seven houses located on or near to the school site.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 19 to 20 February 2019

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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 outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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: 21 February 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC030367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/02/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/09/2017 Full Good 01/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/10/2016 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC030367 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Leaders and managers apply a multi-disciplinary model of care and education, which includes therapists, educators and youth workers for each child. All aspects of children’s lives are considered, and research and significant consultation with leaders in the field are effectively used to inform practice. As a result, children make outstanding progress in their education and in their emotional and social well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Parents and professionals speak exceptionally well of the positive outcomes for their children. They describe the progress that their children have made since living in the home as ‘staggering’ and ‘amazing’. They speak of how the systemic family therapy sessions have led to improved family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, capacity to support children therapeutically has been increased through additional staffing and increased use of trained therapy dogs. Consequently, 90% of young people meaningfully engage in therapy. Records demonstrate a direct correlation between engagement with therapy and significantly improved and sustained outcomes for children. For example, families are supported to work collaboratively to change behaviours and relationships are repaired, which results in children having increased levels of family visits and in some cases returning home to their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Excellent partnership working between leaders, managers and care staff ensures that children receive high-quality, consistent and individualised care and support. Skilled and informed staff undertake extremely effective, thoughtful and sensitive work with children. This results in children making significant progress in coping with change. For example, children are supported therapeutically and academically through the effective application of a neurosequential model used in the home that includes a brain mapping tool.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home provides all children with an extensive range of facilities and activities. Child participation is consistently used to plan these daily activities, therapeutic targets and educational objectives. As a result, children who have suffered significant trauma and have complex and challenging needs are making significant progress in all aspects of their lives.

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

Leaders, managers and staff have an excellent understanding of how children’s previous experiences of trauma and abuse affect their behaviour. Bespoke training produced by experts in the wider field helps staff to better understand and address the impact of early trauma on children’s physical and emotional development.

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

All staff have received safeguarding training that is of a high standard. Bespoke safeguarding training is regularly provided by trainers whose practice is underpinned by current research, for example training in protecting children from criminal exploitation Inspection report children’s home: SC030367 4 through county lines, which is prevalent locally.

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

Staff support families to understand the complexities of their children’s behaviours. Their deep understanding of such circumstances, supported by clear safeguarding policies and procedures, helps to keep staff, children and their families safe.

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

Focused analysis of the community and social skills and emotional needs of the child are used well to prepare each child to keep safe when out in the community independently.

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

Positive behaviour is promoted well, and staff routinely use the least restrictive approaches. Scrutiny and analysis of all records by the registered manager and designated safeguarding lead are of a very high standard. Their analysis is used to inform up-to-date risk assessments, including triggers and trends that help staff to effectively understand the children’s needs and to find alternative ways of supporting them.

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

All children are supported to express their wishes and feelings and to participate in the decisions that affect them, including those with additional communication needs. By providing a wide range of accessible communication tools, and research-led informed therapeutic support, all children are provided with safer and more personalised care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have embedded research across all practice, resulting in transformational outcomes for children and families. They have an excellent reputation with local authorities and educational professionals. Practice by staff is recognised by social workers as exceptional, and learning is shared across the sector and internationally. For example, senior leaders recently presented their findings from their practice model to a European study group.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers maintain exceptionally high standards of practice within a culture of continuous improvement. Professionals speak highly of the ‘tremendous’ and ‘impressive’ impact that the home has had on children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers recognise the value and importance of children being involved and participating in their care and plans. Children’s views, wishes and thoughts are embodied in all aspects of their care. Diversity is valued and recognised through all aspects of living and activities, for example through artwork, at mealtimes and in group discussions. All activities are inclusive and consider individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have responded to a national shortage of appropriately qualified care workers through the innovative use of youth support workers. A high percentage of staff are undertaking high-quality training to support their continuous professional development. A culture of developing and sharing practice is enhanced further through links with a local university, enabling the home to provide trainee social work placements. Inspection report children’s home: SC030367 5 An extensive range of documents, including a development action plan, are informed by professionals, children, families and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Rigour has been applied to the recruitment process. This results in the appointment of consistently motivated and dedicated staff, who bring a wealth of personal and professional skills such as climbing, walking and snowboarding that enrich children’s experiences.

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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: SC030367 6

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cotswold Chine School

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Inspector(s)

Linda Bond: social care inspector Janice Hawtin: social care inspector Joy Howick: Her Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC030367 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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