Children's home run by The Qalb Short Break Services Ltd in Tower Hamlets

Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 1 SC389781 Registered provider: The Qalb Short Break Services Ltd

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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 provides residential short breaks, day care and after-school club services. The home can admit up to eight young people at any time. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home is for young people with disabilities and/or special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder. The organisation also runs another short- break service in the host borough on a separate site, and an outreach service in the community for young adults with complex needs and disabilities. The registered manager was registered with Ofsted in 2009.

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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 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/07/2017 Full Outstanding 15/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/08/2016 Full Outstanding 03/03/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 3

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Recommendations

 Children using short break provision may have very complex health needs. Staff will need to understand that safeguards may need to be greater than for other children. With this in mind, the provider should ensure that all written plans to meet complex health needs are frequently reviewed, updated and reflect advice from health professionals. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.20)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide care and support to young people which is of very high quality. They have a deep understanding of the needs of each young person and provide individual care that promotes learning and fun, and enables children to have a ‘home from home’ experience. Young people look forward to their short breaks and benefit from warm and nurturing care. Transitions into the home are excellently planned to ensure that young people and parents feel welcome, safe and secure. One parent praised the way that staff worked with her child to develop and maintain trust. She described how staff frequently call when he is at home to see how he is doing. This parent felt that her son had made significant progress in learning independence skills and he is now more confident around other young people. Outstanding and highly effective partnership working is a strength of the home. Staff reach out beyond the short-break experience to work with parents and schools. This

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

gives leaders, managers and staff a comprehensive understanding of the needs and experiences of each young person. Care is structured in a way that seeks to enhance the life experiences of young people not only during their stay but also when they go home and when they are at school. A parent described this attention to detail as ‘nice touches that show they care about him’. Managers and staff demonstrate excellent knowledge and expertise in meeting the needs of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. This is particularly true for young people who are diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Staff plan activities to ensure that young people can join in and get the most out of their short- break stay. The physical environment is designed with care and thought to provide the right sensory environment for each young person according to their needs. Staff use a vast range of methods to help to overcome barriers to communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Individual care plans identify the best way to support young people to participate in decision-making and share their own experience of care. Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 4 Staff put young people at the centre of care planning. Activities in the home and the local community are varied. They provide young people with a wide range of experiences to learn from and enjoy. Many young people may only spend one weekend per month living at the home. Irrespective of this, each young person has identified targets to help to improve their life skills and get the most out of their shared-living experience. Despite spending limited time in the home, many young people make remarkable progress in achieving their targets and all young people develop close and trusting relationships with staff. The atmosphere in the short-breaks service is very much one of a ‘happy family’.

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

Personal care is provided in a way that protects young people from harm and respects their dignity. Staff know what to look for and how to act upon concerns. There have been no significant concerns relating to the protection of young people since the last inspection. Several of the young people using the service have complex health needs. In some instances, the different records for each young person provide conflicting information. This presents a risk that errors could occur, although in practice staff know the young people well and they provide safe care and undertake regular training to ensure that they can meet these needs. The home is well resourced and there are always sufficient experienced and well-trained staff on duty to meet the needs of young people. Individual risk assessments identify areas of vulnerability for each young person, and staff follow clear plans to reduce risks. Managers and staff pay close attention to the individual needs and behaviours of young

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

people when planning short breaks. Shifts are carefully planned, and resources are used in a way that reduces the risks and protects young people from potentially harmful behaviour. Incidents are rare, and staff manage young people’s challenging behaviour using positive strategies. When it is appropriate to promote learning, staff help young people to understand the consequences and impact of their negative behaviours. Staff have not needed to use physical restraint to manage behaviours. The physical environment is conducive to promoting a calm and safe space for young people to explore and enjoy. All equipment is regularly maintained, including hoists. All checks in relation to building health and safety are completed in line with safe practice. Staff work closely with parents, schools and healthcare professionals to ensure that they implement agreed strategies to promote the health and well-being of young people.

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

Without exception, parents and professionals report a shared view that young people are safe and happy in the home. Staff are recruited to work in the home in line with safe recruitment practice. They receive a thorough induction and excellent training in key areas of child protection. A community nurse is closely involved with the home to train staff and quality assure their work. Staff provide the care necessary to keep young people safe. Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Young people using the home have great fun, make excellent progress and benefit hugely from the high standards of care and support provided by staff. The registered manager of the home is experienced in the role. He is a qualified social worker and has obtained level 5 qualifications in social care leadership and management. He is well respected by the staff team, and several staff members described him as being knowledgeable and supportive and offering excellent direction. The home benefits from the strong leadership of the registered manager, who uses his considerable social work training and experience to model outstanding standards of practice that place the needs of young people at the centre of service development and practice. He is hugely ambitious for young people and ensures that high standards of care are maintained. Leaders and managers ensure that they maintain an excellent oversight of the care

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

provided by staff. The registered manager is visible within the service and accessible to young people and, along with other senior staff, conducts regular unannounced visits during the night to ensure that high standards are being maintained at all times. The registered manager is an excellent advocate for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities within the local authority, local community and other short- break provider networks. He shares good practice and keeps up to date with research and developments within the sector. The rights of young people are constantly championed by leaders and managers, who strive to ‘raise the bar’ in relation to the help and support provided to young people and their families. The registered manager models behaviour that is calm, thoughtful, confident, professional and competent. This approach is also evident in the practice and approach of the whole staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager prioritises the need for the home to be inclusive. He ensures that staff provide high levels of care that consistently promote diversity and meet the many different needs of young people and their families. He consults closely with parents, staff and young people and uses their views to inform service improvement. For example, he has worked closely with the Bangladeshi community to develop a better understanding of potential cultural barriers and make the service more accessible to them and their children. Leaders, managers and staff make excellent use of feedback from a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, professionals, staff and young people. Many young people have significant barriers to verbal communication. The home is designed and managed in such a way that there is constant attention placed on the experiences of young people. Even the smallest cue from young people is noticed by staff and acted

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

upon to inform practice. Sessional staff now have increased access to training and supervision. The registered manager has introduced regular development sessions for the staff team to explore and reflect on how to improve care, with reference to the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. This creates a learning environment and provides staff with a wide range of opportunities to learn and develop. Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 6

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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: SC389781 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Qalb Short Break Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 35 Beaufort Court, Admirals Way, South Quay Waterside, London E14 9XL

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Inspector

Lee Kirwin, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC389781 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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