Children's Home run by Barnardo’s in Oxfordshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 1 SC013143 Registered provider: Barnardo’s Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is registered to accommodate up to six children. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides full-time care for children with disabilities. This includes children with learning, physical, health and social behavioural needs. The service is delivered and managed by a national charitable organisation. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2014.

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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: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/10/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/05/2017 Full Good 14/11/2016 Full Good 13/04/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 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 the measure, the registered person or the authorised person has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(ii)) 28/07/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— is kept under review and, if necessary, revised. (Regulation 21 (c)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any surveillance arrangements are kept under regular review to ensure that these are justified and proportionate. 28/07/2019

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Recommendations

 In some extreme cases where children have very complex care needs, a child may need to be restrained by mechanical or chemical means. Any use of such restraint should follow a rigorous assessment process and, as with any restraint, be necessary and proportionate. Wherever such restraint is planned, it should be identified within a broad ranging, robust behaviour support plan which aims to bring about the circumstances where continued use of such restraint will no longer be required. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 47, paragraph 9.45) In particular, ensure that the use of high sided beds is kept under regular review to ensure that each use is justified and proportionate.  Each local authority should have clear arrangements in place for the management and oversight of allegations against people who work with children. The relevant officer or teams within the local authority should be informed promptly of all

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Recommendations

allegations that come to an employer’s attention or that are made directly to the police. For further information, including about the role of a local authority designated officer see Working together to safeguard children. (‘Guide to the Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 4 children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.18) In particular, ensure good record-keeping of any allegations, and that these records contain the local authority’s safeguarding officer’s advice and/or guidance. In addition, include a description of the action taken in response.  As set out in Regulations 31–33, the registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that staff receive supervision on a regular basis which covers all areas of their roles and provides a system for tracking the work undertaken to meet agreed actions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience nurturing and stable relationships with staff who know and understand them well. As a result, the children feel secure, cared about and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand that some children communicate their feelings with the smallest of signals, such as an eye gaze. For the children who are non-verbal, the staff record when they see a child expressing a wish or a concern. Staff understand the importance of listening to, involving and responding to the children. This inclusive approach helps the children to feel valued and to develop confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff advocate well for the children to ensure that specialist health and education services are in place to help them to achieve. Children have direct access to a longstanding independent advocate. She visits the children on a weekly basis and attends their review meetings. Consequently, children’s wishes and feelings about their care are represented well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Attuned staff support the children to develop at a pace that is right for them. Sometimes health complications cause the children to have set backs. Staff care for and support the children through whatever challenges they face. The smallest of achievements are noticed and celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The structure and culture at the home ensure that the children’s day-to-day health and well-being needs are well met. The children enjoy an adapted and spacious home environment. This includes a well-used sensory room and a large garden that offers a range of play equipment. Small touches around the home, such as sensory blankets made for the children by a local quilting group, further enhance the children’s day-to-day living experience. Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 5 Children have access to a range of leisure activities in the home and in the local community. Staff carefully plan for activities that they know children will enjoy, as well as encouraging new opportunities. Staff recognise that engagement in the wider community enriches the children’s life experiences, enjoyment and well-being.

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

Staff know what to do if they are worried about a child. They are vigilant to any signs that may need further consideration, including potential child protection concerns. Child- focused daily handover meetings and open communication between the staff and the managers reduce risks to the children.

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

There has been one lapse of safeguarding practice, which is otherwise good. An allegation was promptly responded to and investigated by the registered manager. However, records did not show the local authority’s safeguarding officer’s advice and guidance. Nevertheless, appropriate safeguarding actions were put in place by the registered manager to ensure the safety and well-being of the children.

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

Parents told the inspector that they feel their children are safe and well cared for. Staff work proactively and positively with the children’s families. This helps the children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and increases their ability to form and sustain attachments.

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

Staff are skilled at identifying potential risks and triggers. When the children become distressed or worried, staff use their knowledge of the children to help reduce their anxiety. The use of physical intervention is rare, and it is used only as a last resort to protect the children or adults from immediate risk. However, on one restraint record, there was a lack of detail and a time delay of the manager’s review. A lack of timely management oversight means that practice is not always scrutinised to ensure safe practice.

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

The home uses fixed visual monitors in the bedrooms for children with complex health needs. Individual placement plans and assessments set out the arrangements and consents. However, the use of the visual monitors is not reviewed. Similarly, staff have not reviewed the restrictive use of a high sided bed for one child. While the use of monitoring and restrictive practice may be necessary to ensure safety, its regular review is required to ensure that measures are proportionate and meet the changing needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a longstanding management team whose members are visible and work directly with the children. There are sufficient staff and a strong core team. Consequently, high standards are achieved, and the children benefit from living in a well- run home. Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 6 Equality and inclusion principles permeate throughout the culture at the home. Leaders and the managers value the strengths that individual staff members bring to the team. A diverse staff team reflects the differing needs of the children. Staff welcome and value the uniqueness of each child. Specific cultural needs of the children are celebrated and well catered for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy manager ensures that staff receive mandatory and child-specific training. On some occasions, trainers are invited to the home to meet the children and staff. This ensures that training is relevant and tailored to the needs of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective action has been taken to address all requirements and recommendations from previous inspections. Staff report that they are well supported and receive regular supervision. However, supervision records sampled were variable in their quality, and did not show strong management oversight on some occasions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and leaders work well with the wider professional network. Feedback from a social worker was positive about the communication between herself and the staff. There is a real commitment to partnership working. Positive relationships between staff, parents and professionals ensure that the best interests of the children are at the heart of practice.

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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: SC013143 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Barnardo’s, Unit 13A Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne NE27 0QJ

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Inspector

Anne-Marie Davies: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC013143 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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