Children's Home, Residential special school run by SENAD Limited in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 1 Registered provider: Senad Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is the residential provision of an independent special school. It provides care for up to eight children aged from seven to 16 years who have learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is qualified and registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 3

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improvement to be good

Children’s experiences are variable. There was a concerning incident involving two children in which one child expressed feeling very uncomfortable during the incident. This incident was not followed up with discussions with the child, about how they felt, or any further actions required to support them.

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improvement to be good

Overall, staff have trusted, warm and nurturing relationships with children. This is despite the number of new staff. Staff turnover has been concerning for other staff, parents, and external professionals about the lack of continuity of care provided to the children.

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improvement to be good

Children have made some good progress from when they first moved to the home. This includes progress in developing life skills, communication, emotional and physical health, and behaviour. A parent said, ‘He went from an anxious, quiet child back to his sunshine face.’

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improvement to be good

Children are very well supported to attend the school, which is on the same site. Children struggle with school due to their autism spectrum disorder, which makes it more challenging for them to transition from one place to another quickly. These children are sensitively and patiently supported. They are now able to get into school quicker than when they first arrived. This helps them to learn and gain confidence.

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improvement to be good

Managers and staff promote children’s health. Children are supported well by staff, who use social stories to help them to attend healthcare appointments. This has been new for some children, who have not been able to attend health appointments previously. Similarly, for some children who have not attended hairdressers, they are now doing so. This is progress.

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improvement to be good

Children have access to a range of activities such as arts and craft materials, toys and books. They can also use the school facilities such as the sensory room and the occupational therapy room. There is a large garden with pet rabbits and hens, and a trampoline, a swing and bikes. Children have enjoyed holidays and day trips to the beach. These activities enable children to enjoy themselves, develop new skills and form friendships and relationships.

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improvement to be good

The environment is homely, clean and safe. Bedrooms are personalised to meet the children’s needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 4

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improvement to be good

An incident occurred between children within the school. This incident was not typical of the usual behaviour for a child and was not discussed with staff in the home, even though the children live in the same part of the building. The child’s risk assessment has not been updated. There is no incident record for staff to view, the only record being within the safeguarding records, which most staff do not have access to. Staff do not have knowledge of all the risks that children may pose towards each other and do not have strategies to mitigate these risks. Nevertheless, children are highly supervised by staff when they are in the home.

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improvement to be good

Staffing levels help to keep children safe. Staff know the children well and remain vigilant. However, some staff are worried about working with some children because of the levels of violence that can be exhibited. This has led to several staff leaving.

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improvement to be good

Children have been supported to learn about safe touch and positive relationships. This has helped them have more positive relationships with other children.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children with their anxieties and can help children calm when they become upset. The staff use a range of techniques that children respond well to, such as deep-pressure massage, and aids to improve communication such as ‘now and next’ boards. The use of these techniques has helped to reduce the number of holds to a moderate level. Staff are trained in physical intervention techniques and use these appropriately when required.

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good

Staff retention is poor. There are vacancies, despite the ongoing recruitment. This means there is a lot of new staff and the reliance on agency staff is high. However, the manager tries to ensure that the same agency staff are on shift so that the impact on children is kept to a minimum.

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good

Some staff, especially new staff, do not feel well supported. Staff supervisions are not regular, not robust and lack reflection. For example, one member of staff who was on induction has only received one 15-minute supervision session in three months. Some new staff are inexperienced and need a higher level of support than is currently being provided.

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good

Team meetings are brief. Some new staff have not attended a team meeting at all since they started. Records from team meetings do not reflect meaningful discussions about the children or behaviour support strategies. This prevents staff from sharing effective behaviour management strategies and gaining from the mutual support of colleagues in structured meetings.

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good

Internal communication is poor, as staff are not always aware of changes to risk assessments or children’s plans. They do not feel supported and staff shortages Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 5 have impacted on their morale. The registered manager is not aware of how staff are feeling and the impact that the high staff turnover has had on them. Additionally, given the irregularity of meetings, the managers cannot fully assure themselves of the quality of staff’s care practice.

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good

Most staff are not appropriately qualified. They are either waiting to enrol on the appropriate qualification or completing it. This means that staff may not have the skills and experience to care for children effectively. Nevertheless, children appear safe and well cared for.

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good

The newly appointed manager is qualified, registered and suitably experienced. He has made several positive changes since taking up his post. He understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and knows they are on an improvement journey. He aspires highly for children and knows them well.

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good

Communication with parents and professionals has significantly improved. The manager is proactive in building positive professional relationships with key external agencies. Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 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

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to having sufficient qualified staff by having good staff retention policies and practice. 30 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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(vi)) 07 August 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 7 This relates to risk assessments not being appropriately updated and not communicating effectively with staff about risks to children.

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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

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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

This relates to the lack of good-quality staff support, oversight and supervision. 7 August 2022

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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: 2581909 8

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Senad Group Ltd, 1 St. Georges House Vernon Gate, Derby, Derbyshire DE1 1UQ

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Inspectors

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Pradip Panchmatia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 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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