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

Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 1 SC429523 Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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 learning and/or physical disability. Some children have life-limiting conditions which significantly affect their activities and daily living.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 20 April 2021 to carry out a full inspection. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was having an overnight stay at the home during the time of the inspection.

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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 outstanding

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2021 Full Good 01/10/2019 Full Good 25/02/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/07/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and vibrant. Staff have made efforts to create homely spaces for children. There is a beautiful sensory space that is adapted for each child. During the inspection, one child enjoyed watching colourful birds projected onto the wall. However, the home continues to have areas that appear clinical.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team has made the most of the outdoor space to provide children with different areas in which to spend time. One area has lovely sensory plants that provide texture and aromas for children to explore. Another area has quality play equipment for children to be active and adventurous.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build trusting relationships with staff. This is because staff know them very well and make every effort to find out what children like and what makes them happy. The team listens to children and acts on their wishes. When children cannot express their views, staff respond effectively to their reactions, ensuring that every child is heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to have lots of fun and memorable experiences during their stay. Families told the inspector that their children get to do things that they cannot do at home. One child went to the cinema for the first time. Another child travelled on a train. This gives families confidence to try new experiences and helps children progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team is actively involved in supporting children coming to the home so that this is well planned. Leaders and managers ensure that they can meet the child’s needs, and introductions are completed at the child’s pace. Staff support children to gradually move to adult services once they approach adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create beautiful memory books of children’s time at the home. They provide a lovely record for the children and their families with pictures, mementos and narration. Parents told the inspector that they value and treasure these keepsakes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress at the home. There is excellent communication with other agencies, particularly health and education. Staff ensure that they mirror goals set by the child’s school to ensure continuity and help children learn new skills.

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

Children’s plans and risk assessments are detailed and provide clear guidance to staff to ensure they consistently keep children safe and meet their needs.

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

The home has robust procedures to ensure that medication is stored, recorded and administered safely. Most children who spend time at the home have complex health needs and intricate medication regimes. Staff always check the accuracy of Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 4 medication with family and medical professionals prior to the children’s stay. There is good management oversight with regular competency checks and audits.

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

Children are kept safe in the home. However, staff did not adequately record an incident where a child arrived with bruising. Management followed safeguarding procedures to ascertain how the bruising occurred and what actions should be taken but did not produce an adequate record of this.

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

Over the last year, the home has managed the risks associated with COVID-19 well. Managers initially reduced the number of children visiting the home to one at a time. This has now been increased to two children. Parents told the inspector that the registered manager went above and beyond to ensure that their child received a good level of service during that time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an excellent understanding of the care children need and receive at the home. Procedures and policies are detailed, relevant and revised regularly. There is robust management oversight, ensuring that carers continue to be knowledgeable and skilled in the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager promotes a culture of high expectations. They believe that all children can do well and should be supported in whatever way meets their needs. The core ethos of the home is to continually improve experiences for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have regular, quality supervision that is recorded effectively. Staff feel supported by managers. They freely discuss practice concerns and seek advice when they need to. Managers give staff the confidence to suggest improvements and discuss concerns openly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers ensure that the home always has a stable staff team. Most staff have many years of experience working at the home or sister homes. As some children have been coming to the home since they were young, they have developed wonderful relationships with the staff. This helps create a home-from-home atmosphere.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The extensive knowledge and skills of staff in the home provide new members of staff and students with a solid and knowledgeable base from which to learn. New staff reported that the training programme is comprehensive, supportive and thorough. They are well equipped to meet the complex needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has outstanding relationships with all agencies that support the children. Excellent communication with professionals and families ensures that staff know the children’s needs and create accurate care plans. One local authority senior family worker said, ‘They are proactive in working with professionals and families to achieve children’s best interests.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 5 The registered manager is well respected and drives improvements in the home. They have high ambitions for children. They support staff to ensure that children receive very good-quality care and have positive experiences every time they visit. Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘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: SC429523 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Penelope Kutz, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC429523 8 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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