Children's home run by Peterborough City Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 1 SC058778 Registered provider: Peterborough City Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority runs this home, which provides short breaks for up to five children and long-term care for a further three children. The home provides specialist care for children who have physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities and/or sensory impairments.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home was registered with Ofsted in March 2007.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 30 January 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2019 Full Good 07/08/2017 Full Good 20/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/08/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care and have fun during their stays at this home. The staff work in complete partnership with families and external professionals to ensure that they understand each child’s communication needs. The children flourish in a caring and safe environment that celebrates each child’s individual personality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff understand that children progress through their experiences. The staff encourage the children to take part in new activities. One child recently enjoyed a visit to a dry ski-slope centre. The staff celebrated this fun achievement by video recording the trip. The DVD was shared at the child’s review and added to his memory box for him to keep as part of his life story.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children have a child-centred placement plan. These plans provide the staff with a clear guide on the likes and needs of each child. The plans are regularly updated to ensure that the dedicated staff continue to work effectively with the children’s changing needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from the home being situated on the same site as the school that most of them attend. Children’s attendance levels at school are high and communication between the staff and education professionals is of a consistently high standard. Collaborative working supports better outcomes for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions are extremely well planned. The staff and managers visit the children and parents prior to the children’s first stay. Robust plans that include children visiting for tea to familiarise themselves with the home and other children help to reduce any anxieties. The managers proactively support the children and their families when they are ready to move to adult provisions. A parent said, ‘The staff go above and beyond for children and families. I would crumble without them. They are brilliant.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The well-maintained home provides a safe physical environment for the children. Since the last inspection, improvements to the home’s environment have been made. A newly installed hydro bath enables children to enjoy a relaxing spa experience during their stays.

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

The children are supervised to a high level by familiar staff who know them well. Parents said that their children are safe and happy during their stays. A parent said, ‘I never worry when he is there. They care for him so well. When I watch the staff with him, I can see how caring and protective they are of him. It is so reassuring to see. I know that they will keep him safe and that they really care.’

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

Physical intervention is rarely used as the staff are skilled at de-escalating situations. When intervention is necessary due to self-injurious behaviour, the staff are quick to Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 4 respond to prevent injury. Managers review the effectiveness of actions taken and provide the staff with guidance to reduce the likelihood of further incidents.

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

Sanctions are not used due to the children often having limited understanding. The staff concentrate on reinforcing positive behaviours by regularly praising good and kind behaviour. The children respond well to this nurturing practice.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Many of the children have no understanding of danger and the staff monitor their movements to ensure their safety. Managers ensure that they have the correct staffing levels to adequately meet each child’s needs.

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

All the staff have received safeguarding training. They have a clear understanding of the procedures to follow and recognise that they have a duty to safeguard the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The dedicated, experienced and knowledgeable manager has been in post since March 2007. She is supported by the deputy manager. Together, they ensure that the children’s needs are paramount throughout the service provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers lead by example. They have high aspirations for each child and are strong advocates for them. The managers have developed excellent working relationships with external professionals and influence decision-making. A social worker said, ‘The staff have the children at the very heart of what they do. They are able to challenge to get the right outcome.’ This approach has led to children accessing the extra support required to enrich their lives. Managers are creative. For example, they noticed that one child’s eating improved during their stays due to a specific tray that is used at the home. The managers shared this with parents and provided a tray for the child to use at home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staffing remains consistent, with no changes since the last inspection. The dedicated staff team is very experienced. The staff have an in-depth understanding of each child and take great pride in providing excellent care. The children benefit greatly from a stable staff team that is attuned to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The managers recognise the home’s strengths and have systems in place to evaluate any areas for improvements. Monthly reports from the independent visitor suggested that progress could be better evidenced. This shortfall was immediately addressed with the staff, who confirmed that action has been taken and significant improvements made. The children are now fully included in the reviews and their successes are clearly documented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular staff meetings and training sessions support the staff’s work. Alongside this, the staff receive regular formal supervision and yearly appraisals. The staff said that they find their work very rewarding and feel valued. One staff member said, ‘Without a shadow of a doubt, the management is always very supportive.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 5 All the staff are up to date with the organisation’s mandatory training. However, one staff member, who had worked at another children’s home previously and not achieved a level 3 qualification, has not met the timescale to achieve this, as set out in regulation. The manager has enrolled the staff member and they are working towards the qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The four requirements set at the last inspection have been met to good effect.

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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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32(4)(a)(b)(5)(a)(b)) 29/05/2020 Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 6

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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: SC058778 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Peterborough City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough PE1 1PJ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Wendi Ogle-Welbourn

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC058778 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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