Children's home run by Nottinghamshire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 1 SC044692 Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since September 2019.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/12/2018 Full Inadequate 08/02/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at this home. All of the children said that the staff are friendly and supportive. As a result, children are happy and are thriving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is seen as very important. The staff support children with homework and revision. One member of staff takes a lead role in ensuring that educational plans are kept up to date. There is regular communication between the staff and education providers. This has contributed to children making good progress in their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views and wishes are central to making decisions. ‘Listen to me discussions’ take place between the staff and the children. The manager responds to each child afterwards. This has led to children feeling listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans are clear and focused on each child’s individual needs. Targets are set with children. These targets are reviewed and updated regularly. This ensures that children are involved in planning for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans for moving on to adult placements are detailed. The staff help children through a ‘getting ready for adult life’ programme. This includes life skills, interview preparation and time management. Support starts whenever a child is ready and can span eighteen months. This improves a child’s move from the home to independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The accommodation is comfortable and well maintained. There are plans to further develop areas of the home. This includes making all children’s bedrooms en suite. Communal areas have been made homely and bedrooms are personalised by children. As a result, the children are comfortable and feel at home.

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

The staff are guided by good risk assessments. When necessary, behaviour management professionals are involved in assessing the risks to children. Weekly team meetings are held to review the risk assessments. This ensures that the staff are informed of children’s current levels of risk and understand the strategies to reduce these.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. There are clear plans and policies in place should this occur. Staff support children in the community when necessary. Children are helped to remain safe from the risks of going missing from the home.

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

The staff handle incidents well. They are aware of situations that may be of concern for a child. The staff make clear and detailed records. Follow-up actions identified by Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 4 the manager are completed. The staff focus on de-escalation, and physical intervention is very rarely used.

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

Children recognise the help and protection received from the staff. One child said, ‘They have helped me a lot in the last four months.’ Another child talked of the individual help given to them. This has led to children wanting to live at the home until they are eighteen. Children feel supported and protected.

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

The staff work closely with social workers and specialists to keep children safe. There are monthly consultations between the team and child’s mental health services. Weekly individual support has also been provided for a child. One social worker said, ‘The staff are brilliant. They have done the best they can to safeguard [child].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by an experienced and knowledgeable manager. They speak very highly of him and the assistant manager. The manager also feels well supported by senior management. Managers provide good supervision and are approachable. This creates a good working environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff benefit from good inductions. A welcome week includes reading children’s plans, assessments and online training. This is followed by two weeks of shadowing experienced staff. This ensures that the staff get to know the children’s routines and the day-to-day running of the home before being on duty.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management oversight of the service has improved. A daily discussion with shift leaders is recorded. Weekly checks include a review of children’s records. There is a monthly management analysis completed for each child. All incident reports have management comments and actions. Therefore, the manager has a detailed knowledge of the work with, and progress of, the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervisions are held regularly. They are reflective meetings. There is also an annual performance development review. Staff find these helpful. This improves the support to staff who say they enjoy working at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and senior management have clear plans to develop the service further. This includes investment in the building. They are aware of the strengths and areas they wish to improve. There is an aspiration to provide outstanding help and support for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 5

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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: SC044692 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 7 regulates and inspects 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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