Children's home run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Cornwall

Inspection report children’s home: SC429523 1 SC429523 Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This service is provided by an NHS foundation trust. It offers short-break care for up to four children at any one time. Children who have significant health needs and learning disabilities are cared for by a team of nursing and care staff.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager and her staff team provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for the children and adults who visit the home. A stable and long-standing staff team provides a good level of individualised care to the children who stay for short breaks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A vast range of trips and enjoyable experiences are facilitated by the home. Children are helped to make choices about how to spend their leisure time. The staff keep a journal of photographs for each child. These record the fun outings and activities that the children take part in. All the requirements made at the last full inspection are met. The recommendation Inspection report children’s home: SC429523 2 regarding the need for the team to create a more domestic and homely environment remains. Although the home is very well cared for and provides spacious and colourful rooms for children, further work could be done.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding and the protection of children are given a high priority and carried out to a very good standard. For example, low-level physical intervention was required on two occasions in order to ensure a child’s safety. These interventions were closely reviewed, and learning for the staff and the child took place. A social story was created to promote the child’s understanding of the risks. The child’s needs, wishes and feelings were also fully considered within the debrief process.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A number of compliments were viewed during the inspection. Two parents also spoke with inspectors; both praised the registered manager and her staff team for the care that they provide to their children. One parent expressed, ‘They go over and above here. My son really enjoys visiting the home.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The leadership and management of the home are of a good standard. This is demonstrated through a proactive approach to learning from incidents to promote the best interests of children. For example, a child became frustrated due to transport difficulties, which resulted in an incident. The registered manager ensured that learning was taken from this incident and that the care plan was amended to include new strategies to address the issue, should it reoccur.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

During observations, it was clear to inspectors that children are relaxed and happy in the home. Interactions between children and staff demonstrated the good understanding that staff members hold in respect of the individual communication needs of each child. The children are also supported to enjoy positive relationships with each other. A child was offered a number of food choices for their dinner. These were processed foods from the freezer. Staff are aware that this child needs support to make healthy choices. During further discussions, staff demonstrated that home-cooked meals are often provided for children. However, this was not observed during the inspection. Therefore, a recommendation to reflect this has been made.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/07/2018 Full Good 23/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/10/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC429523 3

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9).  Children’s homes staff should encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day to day health and well-being. Where children have specific health needs or conditions, they should be supported to manage these subject to their age and understanding. In particular, nutritional meals should always be provided in line with children’s needs (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 7.10).

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report children’s home: SC429523 4 Unique reference number: SC429523

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trust Head Office, Carew House, Beacon Technology Park, Dunmere Road, Bodmin PL31 2QN

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Inspector

Polly Soper, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC429523 5 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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