Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire YMCA in Nottingham

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a local charity. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who display behavioural difficulties and may have mild learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 18 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit. Assurance visit report: 1271383 2

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The care of children

Young people benefit from stability within this home. Despite the period of COVID- 19, staff have ensured that young people enjoy well-balanced lives.

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The care of children

Staff support young people to engage in education and plan for college. This enables young people to develop skills and knowledge. This is essential for a successful early adult life.

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The care of children

Staff have been creative and provided a range of stimulating indoor activities. They have helped young people to develop confidence. This has enabled young people to take part in sporting and outdoor activities.

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The care of children

Staff collaborate with young people and their families. This supports positive relationships and communication.

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The care of children

Young people are positive about staff. They enjoy warm and trusting relationships. They feel valued and respected. Staff nurture young people. In turn, the young people feel valued and they thrive.

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The safety of children

The operation of the home has improved since the inspection in February 2020. Low levels of safeguarding incidents reflect this improvement.

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The safety of children

Young people have not gone missing from the home or had unauthorised absence from the home. Staff have strategies in place to manage these situations.

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The safety of children

Police confirm that this home does not need regular police support. There has been one incident requiring police attention.

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The safety of children

Behaviour management is very effective. Staff do not use physical interventions to manage difficult behaviours. They manage negative behaviours by diverting and de- escalating potentially volatile situations. Staff reward young people for learning to regulate their behaviours.

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The safety of children

There has been one safeguarding incident. Young people did not come to harm. The out-of-hours management arrangements were not effective. Lessons have been learned through reflective supervisions.

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Leaders and managers

The home has not had a registered manager in post since June 2020. This has not affected the day-to-day operation of the home. An experienced interim manager has provided robust day-to-day management of the home.

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Leaders and managers

A new permanent manager is in post and is applying for registration with Ofsted. Assurance visit report: 1271383 3 Staff report that they feel very well supported. They say commitment from managers and senior leaders drive improvements. One staff member said, ‘The home keeps getting better and better. This is because new managers and senior leaders bring fresh ideas.’

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Leaders and managers

The training and supervision of the team has continued to the same standard throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff engage in reflective practice. This supports learning.

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Leaders and managers

This visit identified that several requirements have been addressed. These relate to the quality of care, education, health and working in partnership. A future inspection will review all remaining requirements.

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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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that staff—

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(vi)) 01/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; in regard to Schedule 3 points 11,17 and 19.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year, taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard). 01/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 1271383 4 When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public holiday. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire YMCA

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: YMCA, 4 Shakespeare Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG1 4FG

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1271383 5 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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