Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense Sense Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association 101 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9LG Inspection under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This residential scheme for disabled children is part of a charitable trust. The scheme provides residential activity holidays throughout the year. Young people may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs. In 2018, the scheme offered holidays to 53 young people. In May 2019, the service expanded to include four extra holiday dates, previously managed by Vision England.

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disabled children

The manager was registered by Ofsted in May 2018.

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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: 31 July 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: Sense

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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, Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (1) (review of quality of care) must provide for consultation with parents. (Regulation 30 (3)) 01/12/2019 Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy their holidays. One young person informed the inspector, ‘I love coming here; it is really good.’ Young people overcome significant challenges, learn new skills and develop their self-esteem. This helps them to enjoy new experiences such as fruit picking or visits to the seaside. These activities are carefully recorded in scrapbooks, which act as a permanent memento of the holiday.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One parent commented, ‘He [son] absolutely loves every minute of it. It is the highlight of his year.’ Parents feel that the organisation makes a genuine attempt to get to know young people in advance of the holiday. Holiday planning includes gaining the views and wishes of young people, such as choice of menu and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff adopt a nurturing, attentive and flexible approach. Staffing levels are high and mean that each young person has a minimum level of one-to-one support. Staff alternate supervision well among themselves, to ensure that young people are consistently supported and engaged. Personal care is provided by staff members chosen by young people themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff gently cajole young people to participate in activities and respect their feelings when they choose not to engage. Progress is warmly celebrated by staff. One young person progressed to using a climbing frame safely, without staff support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people behave well on their holiday and benefit from effective strategies that are agreed in advance with parents. Staff work in partnership to use key phrases such as ‘Are you making good choices?’, to support young people when they are struggling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are reflective and understand that young people’s behaviour is often an expression of their emotions. They understand when young people may feel anxious, and adjust support levels accordingly. This includes giving young people increased supervision at vulnerable times of the day, such as bedtime.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are inventive and use their own initiative to offer informal activities during the evening. For example, staff organised an impromptu ‘bake off’ contest, to engage young people.

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

Holiday venues are specifically chosen to provide young people with a supportive environment. Venue owners have an established relationship with the organisation and understand the complex needs of young people. Effective risk assessments allow young people to challenge themselves safely. There are no reports of young people absconding from holiday centres. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense Each young person benefits from a pen portrait. This is drafted by holiday leaders in advance and contains specific guidance on the medical needs, communication skills, and likes and dislikes of each young person. This helps staff to familiarise themselves with the complex needs of each young person.

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

Holidays act as a tremendous source of support to young people and their families. Holidays allow parents a period of respite, during which they can focus on the needs of siblings and themselves. This helps to improve family relationships and benefit young people.

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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 where to report worries if the need arises.

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

Good partnership working with parents supports a strong safeguarding culture. Where appropriate, parents can offer staff behaviour management tips and direct training to help manage complex routines such as peg feeding.

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

Effective planning helps reduce young people’s anxiety. Holiday leaders allocate key support staff with skills matched to the needs of young people. In addition, they send out activity schedules in advance of the holiday. This enables parents and young people to plan accordingly.

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

Medication policies are clear and adhered to. Holiday leaders ensure that medication is safely stored. Staff are meticulous in administering medication to young people and recording the details accurately. Two members of staff administer medication to children to reduce any risk of error.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management of the holiday scheme is effective. The registered manager has been employed by the organisation since 1999 and has completed the required management qualification. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she is well respected by both young people and the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have addressed the sole requirement from the last inspection. Managers’ auditing procedures have been improved, and recommendations swiftly acted on. For example, young people now arrive with a second feeding tube, where required. However, monitoring reports fail to evidence the feedback that the holiday scheme receives from parents. This subsequently limits the effectiveness and quality of such reports.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The allocation of places is a major strength of the service. Young people are carefully matched dependent on need. In some cases, young people have previously enjoyed a holiday with others in the group. This helps to promote good behaviour and a strong sense of camaraderie. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense Volunteers are safely recruited both from within the organisation and outside. Some volunteers have siblings who attend holidays. Volunteers have many transferable skills such as the use of sign language and training in medicine.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is very positive. Many volunteers return year after year and are highly motivated by the positive impact that the holidays have on young people. Staff reported that they receive good levels of management support and that they are well prepared for the holidays. This preparation includes the opportunity to read through risk assessments prior to departure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is effective. One staff member received extra training from an allocated medical professional in advance of the holiday. This enabled her to safely manage a complex health procedure and safeguard the young person concerned.

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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: Sense

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider: Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG Responsible individual: Richard Kramer Registered manager: Ruth Bennett-Anderson

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Email address: ruth.bennett-anderson@sense.org.uk

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Inspector

Barnaby Dowell, social care inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 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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