Children's home run by Cascade (Banks House) Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2532131 1 Registered provider: Cascade Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides individually tailored care for children with autism spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. The home can care for up to six children aged between 13 and 18 years.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2532131 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/08/2021 Full Inadequate 07/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2532131 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been significant improvements at the home since Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit in September 2021. The provider has met the four requirements and one recommendation that were raised at the monitoring visit.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have made good progress. Incidents of restraints have reduced, and behavioural incidents are more effectively supported. Children’s independence skills have increased, and community engagement has greatly improved. Staff ensure that the children’s learning disabilities do not prevent them from accessing a wide range of exciting activities. Staff have taken children to a rock concert, meals at a pub, drinks in a cafe, bowling and for trips on a bus. These opportunities increase children’s confidence and broaden their experiences in a variety of social settings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and social workers unanimously said that children progress because of living at the home. Parents and professionals identified improvements in children’s independence skills and communication. There are clear improvements in the support and guidance that staff provide to children. This has enabled children to feel more settled at the home and strengthened their relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff maintain comprehensive records of the children’s progress and objectives. Staff understand the children’s needs and work collectively to ensure that children are cared for in line with their care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are accessing education. One child, who has experienced difficulties at school, has been exceptionally well supported by staff. Staff spent time at this child’s school sharing their knowledge and understanding with the school staff. Staff at the home understand the importance of partnership working to meet the needs of the children effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a nurturing environment. It is well resourced with toys and equipment that are readily available for children to use. Children’s bedrooms are well maintained and are tailored to their preferences. However, there is no window covering in one child’s bedroom. This detracts from the homeliness of their room and does not give any shade from the early morning sun.

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

The management of safeguarding concerns has significantly improved. Staff have a greater awareness of what constitutes a safeguarding concern. Staff respond swiftly to safeguarding concerns, making appropriate referrals to the relevant agencies. The manager works in collaboration with the designated officer and ensures that she follows the designated officer’s advice and guidance. The designated officer said that managers and leaders manage allegations of poor staff conduct and safeguarding concerns to good effect. Inspection report children's home: 2532131 4 The manager ensures that Ofsted is notified of incidents promptly and provides regular updates appropriately. This provides Ofsted with sufficient oversight of the home’s safeguarding concerns.

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

There have been no restraints since the monitoring visit in September 2021. This demonstrates that the children feel much more settled, and staff are using de- escalation techniques competently.

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

The frequency of incidents has reduced, but when they occur, they are recorded comprehensively. Children are supported in line with their behaviour support plans during periods of crisis. The responsible individual carries out incident analysis for each child. This analysis is used to create actions that reduce the likelihood of further incidents occurring.

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

Children’s health needs are exceptionally well supported. One child has very complex health needs. A health specialist complimented the staff on how well they have managed the child’s health needs. Staff have received the appropriate training to ensure that they have the skills required to support this child. Staff work collaboratively with health professionals to meet children’s needs.

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

Overall, the home is maintained to a good standard and is free from hazards. However, in one child’s bedroom, a cleaning product was found that staff had not stored away appropriately. During the inspection, this product was put away safely, but there had been potential for a child to access and misuse this item.

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

The location risk assessment sets out a variety of risks in the locality. However, the crime statistics used to inform the assessment are outdated. The location risk assessment refers to regular engagement with the police; however, this does not currently take place. Therefore, the assessment of risk and the arrangements to reduce risk require updating.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership team has made vast improvements since the full inspection in August 2021. The home has benefited from additional leadership support from managers from within the organisation. There has been an intensive focus on addressing shortfalls and improving staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have received improved managerial support and feel more confident in their roles. As a result, children have experienced improved standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality of staff induction has improved. This has led to staff feeling supported and better equipped to provide children with the care and guidance that they need. Consequently, the quality of care for children has improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training opportunities are good. Staff are provided with the training that they need to fulfil their roles safely and knowledgeably. Inspection report children's home: 2532131 5 The leadership team gives great consideration to children when they move to the home. Children experience several visits to the home before moving in. All the staff at the home visited a child’s previous placement before he moved into the home. The leadership team understands the importance of good planning and support to ensure that each child’s experience of moving to the home is positive. These arrangements ensure that children meet with staff before moving in. The leadership team makes child-focused decisions and considers children’s needs effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Improvements in monitoring the quality of care have led to positive changes. Staff morale has improved, management oversight has strengthened and children are happier. Inspection report children's home: 2532131 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to installing a window blind in one child’s bedroom 10 December

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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—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff store cleaning products safely. 3 December 2021

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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 10 December Inspection report children's home: 2532131 7 calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, update the location risk assessment with up-to- date crime statistics and the current arrangements for engagement with the police.

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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: 2532131 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Therm Road, Hull, Yorkshire HU8 7BF

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Inspectors

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2532131 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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