Children's Home run by Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Cornwall

Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 1 SC432404 Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by an NHS Foundation Trust. It offers short breaks for up to two children with complex health needs and a learning and/or physical disability. Some children have life-limiting conditions which significantly affect their activities and daily living.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, at the time of this inspection, the home was only able to offer care for one child at a time.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since June 2018. The manager is also the registered manager of another children’s home in the area.

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 7 October 2020 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 12 November 2019 Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 2 Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/11/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 16/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/07/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and furnished. It gives children a variety of different spaces in which to play and relax. Children’s bedrooms have a circus or sea theme and are personalised with children’s belongings during each stay. The garden provides sensory spaces with scented plants, hanging decorations and a playroom.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers understand children’s needs and know what they like and dislike. They help children who are non-verbal to communicate through pictures and sign language. Children choose from a wide range of activities and take part in different things during each stay. Children go on day trips on the train and play at the local parks and beaches. They have foot spas, nail painting and massage. This helps children explore their environment and have new experiences.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers make memory books for children that show their achievements and adventures throughout the year. Parents told the inspector that they really enjoy receiving these. ‘The books they give us are wonderful. They show he has an amazing time and does lots of wonderful things,’ said one parent.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress at the home. Carers create targets for children that encourage them to achieve measurable goals. One child now says please and thank you. Another child can sign and respond to the Picture Exchange Communication System. Some children’s progress is recorded well by the home, but records are not completed consistently for every child.

p.4

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

Carers keep children safe during their stays. There are good safeguarding procedures in place and carers know what to do in the event of a concern. However, carers have not always responded swiftly when a child has been at risk of harm while in the care of others. Leaders and managers ensure that lessons are learned from these incidents and carers are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities through refresher training.

p.4

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

The home has had two errors in administering medication since the previous inspection No child was adversely affected by this. Leaders and managers ensure that errors are investigated, and appropriate professionals are informed. Performance plans are used effectively with carers to improve practice. All carers undertake refresher training, and new procedures help prevent further mistakes. Since these incidents, no further errors have occurred.

p.4

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

Children live with their parents and spend one or two nights at the home at a time. Due to children’s complex medical needs, changes in their treatment plans occur regularly. The registered manager has put appropriate procedures in place to improve communication between the home and families so that information is Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 5 shared prior to a child’s stay. Information from medical professionals is sought regularly. This means that carers have the most up-to-date information for children whenever they stay at the home. However, there is a lack of management oversight to monitor that this plan is being followed consistently.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regulation 44 reports provided by the independent person are detailed and focused. The registered manager has acted on the advice given in these reports. This has led to significant improvements in the care children receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a stable and experienced team. Recruitment procedures are thorough. The home has a good induction programme that supports new starters. Carers have access to and take part in appropriate training. This ensures that carers are carefully vetted, they know the needs of the children and work together to ensure children are well cared for.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s plans are detailed documents that clearly assess the needs of each child. There is evidence of good management oversight in most areas.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has good health and safety plans in place. These protect carers and children from risks both inside and outside of the home. However, the home’s location risk assessment is a weak document that requires review.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and families speak highly of the home and the care it gives to children. Parents told the inspector that their children love coming to stay at the home and that they have a fantastic time. Families are very grateful for the care that the home gives their children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

COVID-19 restrictions have had a significant adverse impact on the number of stays the home has been able to provide for children over the last 18 months. Parents report that this has been confusing for their children and frustrating for families. However, they said that the registered manager works hard to accommodate the needs of each child, despite the difficulties. Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 6

p.5

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.

p.6

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).

p.6

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))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that the location risk assessment is a useful document that assesses risks to children and carers associated with the location of the premises. 1 November 2022

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(f))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should ensure that the progress of each child is recorded and reviewed. 21 January 2022 Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

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

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered manager should monitor whether carers are asking parents for up-to-date information about their child prior to each visit. 1 January 2022

p.7

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 for children's home: SC432404 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Trust Head Office, Carew House, Beacon Technology Park, Dunmere Road, Bodmin PL31 2QN

p.8

Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC432404 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9