The Ear Foundation For Deaf Teenagers

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers

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Ear Foundation, 81 Sherwin Road, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2FB Inspection under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This organisation runs several holidays throughout the year. The ethos of each holiday includes young people increasing their self-esteem and learning about each other’s identity. Young people take on challenges, with the goal being for every young person to feel successful. Aims are for young people to have experiences and to build friendships, and also for them to learn more about their hearing loss and how to manage their hearing technology. The holiday sets out to ensure that each young person can feel part of a bigger community and can optimise their spoken language potential.

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Overall experience and progress of

children and young people, taking into account:

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outstanding

How well children, 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 residential holiday scheme for disabled children provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the residential holiday scheme contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 14 August 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers

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Key findings from this inspection

This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is outstanding because: ◼ Leaders are creative, inspirational and very child centred. ◼ Research-based practice is used to make sure that the most vulnerable children will get the most out of their holidays. ◼ The holiday has an impact on children’s wider lives, and the benefits of the help they receive are likely to be long lasting. ◼ Children have a fantastic time on their holidays. They access activities that they would not normally get the chance to do. Children grow immensely in confidence as they learn about their own abilities. ◼ Children share their experiences of being deaf with other children, some for the first time. They talk about the challenges they face. They learn that they are not on their own and this gives them courage and confidence to overcome the barriers they face. ◼ Staff at every level are talented and gifted in working with children.

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Key findings from this inspection

◼ Safety is very well considered. Staff are experts in protecting deaf children. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in an incredibly short time. Their progress is likely to have an impact on their wider life because it relates to improved self-esteem and confidence.

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outstanding

Each child is highly valued and respected. They are told regularly about how brilliant they are, and their confidence increases. They have access to new experiences and are encouraged to get out of their comfort zone. For example, they go rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing and caving. The exhilaration of doing new and exciting activities is apparent on children’s faces. Their bravery is commended by helpers and peers alike. All children participate in the spirit of comradery. When children feel nervous, they are incredibly well supported. Achievements are highly celebrated, and everyone shouts and claps with pride when a child completes an activity. Children learn that if they persevere they can achieve more, and they take this learning away with them.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to reflect on and share their positive experiences to reaffirm their progress and achievement. Scrapbooks are produced and children are given lots of photographs of their achievements to keep and share with their family and friends. There are also regular slide shows to share and celebrate accomplishments.

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outstanding

The holiday theme this year is about exploring feelings. Children quickly learn about identifying their feelings and what they can do to control and come to terms with them. Children are also able to explore difficult events in their lives. Leaders and volunteers are incredibly skilled in the way that they deliver this theme and the children receive remarkable support.

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outstanding

Children reported that one of the best things about being on the holiday is meeting other deaf children. Many said that they do not usually get to mix with other deaf children. They find this experience helpful, refreshing and reassuring. They learn that they are not alone and that other deaf children face the same challenges and problems as they do. Children also receive excellent support from young volunteer leaders who are deaf themselves and have been through similar challenges.

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outstanding

Safeguarding procedures have improved, and are continuing to improve year-on- year. There has been a focus this year on improving policies so that they include clearer information about how children could be at risk of being exploited. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers The training programme for young leaders is extensive. All staff members have considerable knowledge of safeguarding. They understand the additional vulnerabilities of deaf children and how these can impact on their safety. Staff are vigilant, and children are very well protected.

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outstanding

Every opportunity is taken for children to learn about safety, and the practicalities and challenges for deaf children are well considered. For example, during the day of the inspection, children learned about the importance of knowing that their hearing technology is nearby in case the fire alarm goes off. They also learned that experiences will be different for each young person based on their hearing technology. Children are also taught about how to manage their hearing technology during wet activities. They learn that they can do the same activities as hearing children with the right support and kit.

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outstanding

Children develop a strong sense of safety when they are on the holiday. The higher- risk activities are exceptionally well organised, and safety is a top priority. Through these activities, children learn to trust others. For example, on the rock-climbing activity, they hold the guide rope at the bottom while their peer is doing the climb. Children experience what it is like to take risks, some for the first time. Leaders and helpers get involved and participate to help children to feel safer.

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outstanding

Behaviour management is very creative. Children are truly supported to think about their actions, how they feel and how their behaviour can make others feel. Children learn about how to understand their feelings and how to regulate their behaviour.

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outstanding

Parents of very vulnerable children feel they can trust the staff to protect their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders draw on research-based practice when planning/implementing staff training. Staff and volunteer helpers receive thorough training, including theoretical approaches and the theme for the year. This training is very creative and is over and above what it needs to be. It encourages the already talented leaders and helpers to increase their own knowledge and to optimise children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is gifted in working with deaf children. She leads the scheme with a drive and passion for making a difference to children’s lives. She regularly appraises how the delivery of the holiday is going and reviews the planning. The registered manager never stops reflecting and trying to improve the holiday year after year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children are offered places on the basis of who will benefit the most from the scheme. Collaborative working in the local community and across the country ensures that the most vulnerable children have access to the holiday scheme. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers The scheme also greatly helps the young leaders, some of whom are deaf themselves and have had previous support from the organisation. They are instrumental in making the holiday as good as it is. This is because they are highly skilled in working with deaf children. They know that they can help the children and that is why they keep coming back, in their own time, year after year. Their commitment is remarkable, given that their services are completely voluntary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager supports the young leaders and children between holidays. She is a great support to them and has become an advocate and a champion for deaf children and young people.

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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 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: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: 81 Sherwin Road, Lenton, Nottingham NG7 2FB Responsible individual: Mrs Sarah Allen Registered manager: Mrs Mary Allen

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Email address: Sarah@earfoundation.org.uk

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Inspector:

Caroline Brailsford, social care inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: The Ear Foundation for Deaf Teenagers 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 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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