Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC424348 1 SC424348 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by the local authority. The home provides medium- to long-term care for two children and young people who are unable to live with their parents/carers.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 10 to 11 September 2019

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and 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 children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC424348 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/06/2018 Full Good 11/10/2017 Full Good 03/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC424348 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Very soon after young people move into this home, they start to look forward to brighter futures. Staff help them tremendously as they come to terms with what has happened to them in the past. The efforts of staff make a dramatic difference to young people. Young people grow in confidence and become happier individuals because of their very positive relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Care planning is meticulous. Individual needs and preferences are explored in great depth so that staff have a comprehensive understanding of how best to care for each child. Staff and managers use the very latest research to inform care planning. They also work closely with other agencies to ensure that young people have access to all the services that they need. For example, staff have worked with charities such as the NSPCC to ensure that the best possible support is given to young people who have previously been sexually exploited.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff regularly tell young people that they are special. Young people know that staff genuinely care about them and that they will never give up on them. They experience care that is provided by resilient, warm and affectionate adults. Young people live in a family-like setting, which is homely, nurturing and loving. Young people say that nothing is ever too much trouble for staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are cherished. The respectful and child-centred language that is used in the home’s records demonstrates that young people are held in high esteem by staff. During the inspection, staff referred to one young person as ‘delightful’. Young people appreciate the fact that they are not judged by their behaviours but are valued as individuals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people who have previously struggled to envisage a positive future for themselves soon become aspirational and ambitious. They have excellent attendance and attainment at school. For example, one young person is looking forward to further study when they leave school. Overall, young people make tremendous progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people take part in many activities. One young person has just been given a new keyboard and plans to take music lessons. Another young person is taking ice-skating lessons. Both young people know that they will be supported to sustain their lessons as far as they wish to progress. Staff have very high aspirations for young people and provide all the encouragement that children need to develop their talents.

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

Staff are incredibly knowledgeable about young people’s risks. They are incredibly good at piecing information together and are very good at noticing even slight changes in behaviour. Staff interpret information well so that they can build up a very clear picture Inspection report children’s home: SC424348 4 of young people’s vulnerabilities. Most importantly, young people are open and honest with staff about where they have been and who they associate with. Honest and trusting relationships enable staff to protect young people very effectively.

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

The staff training programme in relation to safeguarding is extensive. All staff members have considerable knowledge of how they should protect young people. They fully understand how attachment disorders and early childhood trauma impact on young people’s safety.

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

There is an excellent response from staff when young people go missing. Every opportunity is used to prevent young people from going missing. One social worker reported very positively about joint working when young people go missing, saying: ‘Staff do go the extra mile.’

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

Young people feel able to tell staff if they have a worry. If they disclose information, the support they receive from staff is superb. Young people experience genuine high-quality care and support when they are worried or distressed.

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

Behaviour management strategies are very creative. Young people learn how to manage their emotions and regulate their behaviours. Staff understand that each young person is different, and they know them incredibly well. Incidents are avoided because of this very proactive approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is very capable, committed and devoted to the young people. She is supported by a dedicated deputy manager. Together, their leadership inspires staff to be excellent practitioners.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff and managers are gifted in working with and supporting previously traumatised young people. They are capable and are highly driven because they feel that they are making a difference.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The thorough and high-quality training programme encourages the already talented leaders and staff to increase their knowledge. Research-informed approaches to care are included in the training curriculum. Training is adapted in response to young people’s changing needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Performance management of staff is excellent and promotes continual improvement. The manager takes the lead when she feels that joint working could be better. She makes extremely good use of the professional networks that she has developed. She is a great advocate for young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC424348 5

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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: SC424348 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

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Inspector

Caroline Brailsford: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC424348 7 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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