Action Breaks

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks Action Breaks Action For Children 23 Derham Park, Yatton, Somerset BS49 4DZ Inspection under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is provided by a national children’s charity. It provides a variety of residential holidays throughout the year to children who have complex health needs and/or learning difficulties.

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disabled children

The manager has been in post since April 2019 and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted.

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Overall experience and progress of

children and young people, taking into account:

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good

How well children, 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 residential holiday scheme for disabled children provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of previous inspection: 29 October 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks

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Recommendations

◼ The registered person regularly monitors, in line with regulations, all records kept by the scheme to ensure compliance with the scheme’s policies, to identify any concerns about specific incidents and to identify patterns and trends. Immediate action is taken to address any issues raised by this monitoring. (NMS 14.1) Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive encouragement and high levels of support from staff to attend this holiday scheme. Staff are dedicated and flexible in their approach, they welcome children last minute and complete home visits to gather information. Each child who attends receives a certificate to celebrate their individual achievements. This develops their self-esteem and encourages their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children receive a warm and friendly welcome when they arrive. Inspectors observed children happily greeting staff and known friends, as well as making new friends. Staff ensured that parents were reassured and well supported on arrival. Children made the holiday rules and staff made sure this was done in a fun and meaningful way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s wishes and feelings are listened to and acted on. For example, children chose the food for the holiday, including home-made pizza and fish and chips, as a treat. Staff gave a choice of movies and activities to ensure that there were options to meet different needs, for example a forest school trip, walking, karaoke, arts and crafts and swimming in the heated pool. This promotes children’s fun and enables them to access new opportunities .

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have warm and positive relationships with children. Staff understand the individual needs of each child because of the in-depth support plans. Behaviours and routines are discussed with and shared by parents. Staff gather information from social workers before children attend. Consequently, children enjoy a fun-packed holiday with staff who understand their needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers ensure that the children’s guide is user-friendly and that relevant information is included in a fun and creative way. However, information about the use of mobile phones, games consoles and the internet requires further consideration and review. This is because this is not clear within the guide and has not been considered in line with the needs of some children.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no allegations, complaints or incidents of concern. Staff have a good knowledge of safeguarding procedures and respond swiftly and appropriately to concerns.

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

Staff ensure that children are kept safe and are well supervised. This is because written risk assessments provide all necessary information and are kept up to date. There has been no use of physical restraint since the last inspection because staff use distraction and support to minimise potential incidents. This approach benefits children. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks Managers ensure that the holiday accommodation is well maintained and secure. During this inspection, children were observed to take part in a fire drill. Staff managed this in an entertaining and calm manner, to which children responded positively. Managers ensure that recruitment processes prioritise the safety of children. This is because the necessary identification documents, checks and verification of references are in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new manager has been recruited. She has submitted her application to register with Ofsted. She is suitably experienced and is completing her level 5 in leadership and management qualification. She is supported by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic team leader. Staff speak positively about the support and guidance that they receive from the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that meaningful and reflective supervision takes place during the holiday so that incidents are well managed and responded to effectively. Managers hold regular team meetings and senior leaders’ meetings to ensure that follow-up actions are completed and reviewed. Managers use these meetings to reflect on and improve the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive the necessary mandatory training required for the role. They also receive additional training in autism spectrum disorder, manual handling, mental health first aid and Makaton. This means that staff can meet the individual and diverse needs of children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has completed an annual review of the scheme and she has thorough systems in place to monitor and review the strengths and areas of development across the service, including to commissioners. However, this could be improved by evaluating the positive impact that the holidays have on children, as well as including the views and wishes of children to drive improvement going forward.

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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 the 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 residential holiday scheme for disabled children 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 Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks well it complies with the Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider: Action For Children

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: 23 Derham Park, Yatton, Somerset BS49 4DZ Responsible individual: Mr Lee Furniss Registered manager: Post vacant

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Email address: lee.furniss@actionforchildren.org.uk

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Inspectors

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Action Breaks to 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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