Children's Home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report children’s home: SC034969 1 SC034969 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. The home provides short-term placements for up to four children and young people who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home provides care for children and young people who are placed in an emergency, as well as planned, respite or remand placements.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 29 October 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC034969 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to experience good-quality care. Many young people arrive in crisis. Staff provide a friendly, warm and welcoming environment from the beginning of each young person’s placement. One young person commented very positively about his admission, saying, ‘Of all the times in my life, I have finally hit a good place.’ Young people are happy to be at this home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Placement matching is carried out very carefully. Because the needs of existing residents are well considered before a new young person is admitted, their progress is not disrupted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people quickly build strong and supportive bonds with staff. They know that they can rely on staff, even after they have left the home. They regularly visit after leaving and continue to receive support. For example, Christmas Day was enjoyed at the home by a mix of young people who lived there and young people who had previously lived there. Staff made sure that they planned this well so that all of the young people had positive memories of the day.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people understand that the home is an interim arrangement to help them to get back on track. The home achieves what it sets out to do for each young person. It provides stability, care and nurture while a more permanent placement is found.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people of school age have all attended education since the last inspection. Other young people have been helped by staff to secure college courses. The home gives young people a sense of belonging and they can start looking forward to their future. One young person said: ‘If it were not for them, I would still be on streets.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working with other professionals is good. Placing social workers spoke highly about the quality of information they receive from staff and managers. They also reported positively about the quality of care given to the young people they have placed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement made at the last inspection, about recruitment checks, is met. This reduces the risk of any unsafe adults working in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The previous recommendation, about care planning, is partly met. There has been progress in helping young people to reduce their drug taking and smoking. However, care plans do not always reflect the strategies that staff should follow. Care plans should be more specific, particularly in relation to whether young people smoke or not, and what can be done to assist them to reduce their smoking. Managers were Inspection report children’s home: SC034969 3 not clear about whether some young people smoke cigarettes or not. This does not enable managers to plan and deliver targeted support. Inspection report children’s home: SC034969 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/10/2019 Full Good 24/04/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/08/2017 Full Good 14/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC034969 5

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Recommendations

 Ensure that in line with their individual health plans and the ethos of the home children are offered support and guidance on health and well-being to enhance, and supplement that provided by their school though Personal, Social and Health Education. Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being such as, but not limited to, nutrition and healthy diet, exercise, mental health, sexual relationships, sexual health, contraception and use of legal highs, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18) This is in particular relation to strategies to reduce smoking and drug misuse.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC034969 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottingham City Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Caroline Brailsford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC034969 7 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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