Children's Home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

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

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children. These children may have emotional, social or behavioural needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in November 2003. The registered manager has been in post since June 2013.

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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

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection:

Compliance notices were issued following the interim inspection on the 28 February 2022. These compliance notices were found to have been met at a monitoring visit on the 19 April 2022. Inspection report for children's home: SC034969 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 29/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC034969 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This has been a challenging year for the manager and staff. They have been determined to get the home on an improvement trajectory following the interim inspection earlier in the year in which the home was judged to have declined effectiveness. The manager and leaders have worked hard to make the required changes. There is currently one child living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have continued to show tremendous commitment to the child. As a result, this child has been given the opportunity to build trusting relationships with staff and experience the stability she needs. The child is now much calmer and is more responsive to making better choices. The child said that they are happier than they have been in a long time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are becoming more consistent and confident when enforcing and maintaining safe behavioural boundaries for the child. Although the child is not always happy with the behavioural boundaries, the child is starting to recognise why these are important and is making some progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although the child has an educational placement, their attendance is not yet good. This is an area in which staff are working hard to rectify to ensure that the child’s potential can be reached.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s relationship with the wider professional network has improved. This has enabled the child to be more active and assured in making decisions about their own life. For example, the child confidently contributed in their last looked after children’s review and advocated on behalf of what they wanted. This demonstrates that the child is becoming increasingly empowered.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been a significant decrease in the number of serious incidents that children have been involved in. When incidents have taken place, they have been well managed. Incidents have been resolved sooner and with less intensity. This is due to improvements in how staff de-escalate potentially difficult situations.

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

Staff recording practices have improved in relation to children’s records. However, children’s views are not always recorded in a timely way.

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

The safety and cleanliness of children’s bedrooms have improved. There is now more of an emphasis on staff working alongside children to ensure that bedrooms are maintained to a good standard. However, where staff monitor the cleanliness of children’s bedrooms, the recording of this could be improved. Inspection report for children's home: SC034969 4 The child currently living at the home is considerably safer due to a reduction in risk- taking behaviour. The manager’s decision to provide care for only one child has meant that staff have had the time to develop good relationships with the child. This has led to the child feeling safer, happier and more content. Staff have had the opportunity to regroup and plan care in a way that works well for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have implemented plans that meet the support needs of staff and the safety needs of the child. Following the interim inspection, they quickly implemented an improvement plan. This plan was endorsed by senior leaders in the organisation and quickly led to improvements in all areas of care provided. This plan has led to a reduction in the number of children they are caring for. Managers and leaders are considering the registration status of the home, including changing from a short-term home to one that provides medium- to long- term care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a committed and experienced manager. He proactively manages the team, including holding staff to account for the care they provide to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good relationships with partner agencies. His communication with Ofsted has significantly improved, and this means the regulator is kept fully appraised of any developments. The manager has reflected on the previous shortfalls identified at the inspection and has led on the improvement plans to reduce risk to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular professional supervision. The managers have recently adapted the format to better capture the development needs of staff. All staff are asked during supervision and in team meetings if they have any issues to raise regarding care practice. Staff have started to contribute more and share ideas in team meetings. However, staff appraisals are not yet completed to an appropriate standard, which is important to help staff continually develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has improved internal monitoring systems, so they are now more robust and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager could be more specific in terms of setting actions to improve outcomes for children. This is necessary to keep children’s progress on track. Inspection report for children's home: SC034969 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed by a timely plan to bring about improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 for 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: Nottingham City Council, Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham NG2 3NG

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Inspector

Andi Lilley-Tams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for 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 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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