Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 1 Sense Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association 101 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9LG Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is part of a charitable trust. The scheme provides residential activity holidays throughout the summer months. Children may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs. In 2021, the scheme offered holidays to 15 children. During 2022, the service has expanded to offer holidays across the country to 31 children.

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disabled children

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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disabled children

The inspector visited the children’s holiday scheme in Beamsley, North Yorkshire.

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Overall experience and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The residential holiday scheme for disabled children provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the residential holiday scheme contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children.

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outstanding

Date of previous inspection: 20 August 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 2

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outstanding

Children thoroughly enjoy their holiday because the staff and volunteers work extremely well together to support children’s individual needs and preferences. Children demonstrate pleasure in their holiday through smiles and giggles, relaxed posture, confident movement and enthusiastic singing and dancing.

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outstanding

Staff and volunteers are wholly focused on providing high-quality care to children. Children demonstrated confidence in the adults even though they had known them for a very short time. When children expressed their feelings, wishes or decisions, the adults responded to them promptly. Helpers carefully assessed each child’s well- being and comfort. They helped children to find solutions to difficulties by offering choices, but also allowing children to have the time they needed to think about their choices.

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outstanding

Children benefit from tailored support and care. The team plans and delivers experiences and leisure opportunities specific to individual children. The plans arise from comprehensive information gathering from their families and the health and education professionals who support them. All guidance recognises children’s unique health, personal care and sensory needs, and addresses their vulnerabilities. Children make the most of the new opportunities presented to them because their important routines and systems remain in place.

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outstanding

The team has created an activity plan that is an eclectic mix of new experiences such as making new friends, visiting new sensory play areas, specialist music sessions, farm visits and a party. In addition, there are opportunities to continue with favourite pastimes such as listening to or creating music, having a massage or going swimming.

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outstanding

Staff build relationships with families before children arrive and contact them if they have any concerns about children’s well-being during the holiday. Children can also have remote contact with their families as part of their holiday experience if this is what they want. This helps children to feel safe and happy during their holiday.

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outstanding

The inspector saw children moving confidently around the premises and outdoor space, eating their meal with unintrusive support, asking for music, or changing their mind about whether they wanted to join in with other children or not. In every situation, staff and volunteers cheerfully responded to children’s needs and wishes. This meant that children were empowered to explore, try a new activity or play with the team and the inspector. The holiday is a fun experience for all. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 3

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outstanding

Exceptional practice in safeguarding disabled children is integral to the team’s approach to providing care. The manager and holiday leaders provide confident support to volunteers to help them to reflect on their day and identify where their practice can improve to better support and protect children. This open and transparent culture promotes children’s safety and recognises that children’s views and responses are important.

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outstanding

Children have their holiday in a specially equipped setting that meets their needs. High levels of adult support and an appropriately safe environment ensure that children can enjoy freedom of movement inside and outside the house. Off-site activities are risk assessed and planned to accommodate each child’s specific needs and preferences. This increases children’s chances of safely trying a new experience.

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outstanding

Positive approaches to supporting children are embedded within the practice of the team. Volunteers are carefully recruited. In addition to necessary safeguarding checks, managers carefully explore their suitability to carry out the organisation’s approach to child-centred care. This was evident during the inspection because staff and volunteers engaged with children continually, anticipating their needs and wishes. This created a warm and harmonious environment to help children to feel safe and cared for.

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outstanding

Where necessary, adults gently redirected children to alternative activities. Adults provided children with options and alternatives, rather than imposing unnecessary boundaries. This meant that children could exercise control over their day-to-day experiences and be confident that adults would support them. This promotes children’s self-esteem.

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outstanding

Staff and volunteers confidently provide healthcare and personal care support to children, with high regard for children’s safety, dignity, rights and entitlements. Using a personalised approach and clear routines, adults encourage children to be active partners in their care. Their all-encompassing approach to providing positive support empowers children to take new steps towards independence and express their views about the quality of care that they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leaders ensure that children have the best possible experience during their holiday away from their families. They consistently take into account children’s needs, wishes, interests and capabilities. The manager is an integral part of the leadership team. She has been appointed this year and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders take bold actions to drive improvement and have improved consultation with stakeholders. For this specific holiday, previous feedback was used to increase Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 4 staffing levels, match children who have common interests and consider children’s mobility needs more carefully.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The organisation provides all staff and volunteers with high-quality training and development. Mandatory training provides information about safeguarding disabled children, positive support and expectations for the conduct of safe care. In addition, holiday leaders access training specific to the needs of each child they will care for. Community nurses provide training to carry out specifically delegated healthcare tasks and emergency responses for individual children, general medicine administration and health and safety protocols. The organisation’s bank of training courses is also available for any carer who wishes to develop their knowledge and understanding in specific areas. These include communication support, sensory support or person-centred practice. A knowledgeable team expertly cares for children during their holiday, and daily reflective practice meetings continuously enhance the quality of care that children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team focuses on achieving the highest aspirations for every child. This focus is applied when reviewing post-pandemic operations, recruiting and training staff and volunteers, and planning for children and matching them to specific holiday events.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Ofsted’s pre-inspection survey of parent views confirms that staff provide constructive and accessible communication with them so that they are confident that their children will enjoy the holiday. The success of this approach is evident in the number of children who return year after year for a much-loved holiday experience. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 5

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and parents 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 Residential Family Centre Regulations 2002 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 6

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider: Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: 101 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9LG Responsible individual: Mr Richard Kramer Registered manager: Post vacant

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Email address: Alanna.Bentley@sense.org.uk

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Inspector

Denise Jolly, Lead professional, Social care policy and regulation Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 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. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under

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Inspector

the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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