Children's home run by Peterborough City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 1 SC058778 Registered provider: Peterborough City and Cambridgeshire County Councils Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority-run home provides short breaks for up to five children and long- term care for a further three children. The home provides specialist care for children with physical disabilities and/or learning disabilities and/or sensory impairments.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2007.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/07/2021 Full Good 04/02/2020 Full Good 30/01/2019 Full Good 07/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home and two children were receiving shared care. Since the last inspection, no children have moved on from the home and one child has started to receive care at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff were observed to be nurturing and kind and were actively encouraging children to take part in meaningful activities. Staff understand how to communicate with children who have complex communication needs. Children were enjoying the inclusive and specialist playground equipment and joining in with sand and water play. Children were happy and relaxed and enjoying spending time with staff. Staff have built warm and positive relationships with the children, who are at ease in staff’s company.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children all attend education placements that meet their individual needs. Most children attend the school that is situated on the same site as the home. An education professional said that they have an excellent, open and transparent relationship with the manager and staff at the home. The manager works closely with schools and staff attend education meetings. Children have good education outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are well planned. The manager understands the importance of gradual moves. One child was met by the staff at her family home before having day visits and then overnight stays at this home. The child’s parent said that the move took the child’s needs into consideration. The parent said that they never have to worry because the staff are excellent and have taken time to get to know the child. Children and parents are introduced to the home at their pace, and parents feel reassured when their children stay at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are curious and find creative ways to seek children’s wishes and feelings. Many of the children are non-verbal. On one occasion, a child became anxious just before bedtime. Staff met with the manager and discussed what they thought the child was trying to tell them. They felt that the child was unhappy with having supper too soon before bedtime. Staff changed the routine and this has resulted in the child being more settled and happier at bedtime.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and has recently been redecorated. Children’s bedrooms are welcoming and meet the children’s individual needs. There is a sensory room in which children can relax and feel calm. However, there are weeds growing at the front entrance and in the back garden that detract from an otherwise well-kept home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 4

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

Children are safe at the home. Staff are well equipped to manage safeguarding concerns. Social workers and parents are impressed with how effectively children are kept safe.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. There are high staffing levels and children are constantly supervised. One child has attempted to climb the home’s fencing. Staff managed the incident well to ensure that the child was kept safe. Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and take effective action to keep children safe.

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

Staff do not often use physical intervention. Physical interventions when used are appropriate and proportionate. The manager has held multi-agency meetings to look at different ways to reduce the need for physical interventions. Staff use their positive relationships with children to reduce the need for physical intervention.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour support plans are individualised, clear and regularly updated. One child with complex behaviour support needs has a detailed risk assessment that has been agreed by managers, parents and social workers. Joined- up working means that risk-reducing strategies are agreed and implemented. Consequently, the risks have reduced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She has managed the home for over 18 years. The manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager. Most of the staff have worked at the home for several years. The managers have high expectations of the staff and act as excellent role models. Staff benefit from the managers’ knowledge and experience. The children benefit from consistent care and have their needs met well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is an excellent advocate for children. One child’s health needs were not being addressed in an acceptable time frame by the relevant external professionals. The manager ensured that the child had an independent advocate to pursue the child’s needs with health specialists. The child’s family has been supported to ensure that their child’s health needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals spoke highly of the home. One social worker said that she only has good things to say about the home. A clinician from a behaviour support team said that the home is a ‘breath of fresh air’. These good relationships with other professionals ensure effective partnership working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most staff hold a relevant level 3 diploma or are working towards the qualification within agreed time frames. Some of the staff hold a level 5 qualification. Generally, the training for staff is good. However, some staff’s refresher medication training has lapsed. One member of staff was unclear about who to whistle-blow to externally if there is a concern about the manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 5 Staff say that they receive good guidance and have regular supervisions which are helpful, and the managers are approachable and very supportive. However, the manager has not always set clear goals to continue to develop staff professionally. Key workers are not always given clear targets to help them to benefit children. When targets are set, they are not always monitored or revisited. Consequently, opportunities to measure progress may be missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not ensured that the children’s records contain all relevant information to provide a full picture of children’s care. Staff training records are unclear. This makes it difficult to monitor when some staff training is due to be refreshed. Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

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))

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Requirement Due date

staff training records are updated to reflect the training that staff have received;

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Requirement Due date

all impact risk assessments are recorded before a child begins respite care;

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Requirement Due date

all incident records, including physical intervention records, hold clear and relevant information. 8 September 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment. In particular, ensure that the front entrance to the home, and the gardens, are well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access resources to support their training needs. In particular, ensure that staff receive refresher training in medication and whistle-blowing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 7  The registered person should ensure that staff supervision supports staff to continue their professional development and that targets are set and reviewed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: SC058778 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Peterborough City and Cambridgeshire County Councils

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Scott House, 5 George Street, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE29 3AD

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Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC058778 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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