Children's home run by Cascade (Banks House) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2532131 1 Registered provider: Cascade (Banks House) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides individual care for children with autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities. The home can care for up to six children aged between 13 and 18.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 10 November 2021

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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: 2532131 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/11/2021 Full Good 24/08/2021 Full Inadequate 07/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2532131 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. The staff have a good understanding of children’s complex needs. Placement plans clearly outline children’s needs and how these will be met. Staff build nurturing and trusting relationships with children, which has helped children to make progress in different areas of their lives. Children enjoy living at the home. One parent said, ‘I don’t think I have ever seen him quite as happy as he is there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s education. They work closely with education staff at the on- site school, which some children attend. Staff directly support children’s education during the school day and after school. Care staff and education staff discuss children’s targets to ensure that everyone works together to help children reach their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to understand their health needs and they work to ensure that these are met. One child has a significant health condition, which is well managed by staff. The staff help children to develop insight in relation to managing their own health needs. This understanding helps children to become more independent into adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with children to help them become more independent. Children are helped to make choices about their care and to undertake chores around the home. Staff have worked with one child to encourage him to regularly save his pocket money, so that he can purchase more expensive items. This has been successful in helping the child understand the value of money and the importance of saving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move to the home, managers work closely with their parents and social workers to create plans that meet children’s needs. Managers are flexible in relation to these plans, recognising when children’s needs change. The staff plan children’s introductions to the home. However, pre-admission assessments for one child lacked curiosity in relation to some behaviours. This meant that the management of the child and the potential impact on other children were not fully explored.

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

There is a clear focus on safeguarding throughout the home. Staff understand children’s individual vulnerabilities and manage these effectively. Managers use safeguarding scenarios in supervisions to ensure that staff understand the expectations of their roles in safeguarding children.

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

Staff respond to incidents in line with children’s plans. Over time, behavioural incidents for some children have reduced significantly. Staff use strategies to help children stay calm during times of distress, often preventing incidents from Inspection report for children’s home: 2532131 4 escalating. This has included incidents when children have displayed self-injurious behaviour and staff responses have helped keep children safe. Following incidents, staff make use of social stories to help children understand the potential consequences of their behaviours.

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

Some incidents have necessitated the use of physical interventions. These are used appropriately and only to ensure that children and others are kept safe. There is a good level of oversight of physical interventions, including additional observations of children.

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

Risk assessments mainly include children’s risks and strategies for staff to manage and reduce these. However, one child’s behaviours include regularly damaging property. This has an effect on other children living at the home. The child’s risk assessment does not cover this behaviour. While the child’s positive behaviour support plan does include some strategies for staff, this had not been updated for several months. Therefore strategies do not reflect any learning from incidents that have occurred.

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

Some allegations have been made against staff. Managers have responded to these effectively, making prompt referrals to the local authority designated officer. Investigations into allegations are thorough, with managers working alongside other agencies when needed. When learning from allegations has been identified, this has been clearly addressed with staff. Good responses to such concerns help to ensure that children are kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is highly experienced and qualified to level 5. Managers are strongly committed to providing children with high-quality care. They have an in-depth knowledge of children’s needs and the progress that they are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers, including senior managers, provide a visible presence at the home and are available for staff when needed. They provide regular supervision for staff, which includes reflection on how children’s needs are being met. Induction processes for new staff are thorough and supportive, enabling staff to understand and perform their roles. Staff are appreciative of the supportive environment that managers have created.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a wide-ranging programme of training for staff. This includes the use of other agencies, who have provided training around specific children and their needs. This approach shares the expertise of other professionals and increases staff’s knowledge of individual children. However, managers have failed to ensure that there is a first-aid trained member of staff on duty at all times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have good monitoring systems in place. These include a tool used to identify and monitor children’s progress, as well as areas where staff need to provide additional support. Managers also undertake regular analysis of behavioural Inspection report for children’s home: 2532131 5 incidents. This helps to ensure that managers are considering any themes or patterns and use this knowledge to consider any changes that can be made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Three complaints have been received from parents in relation to staff practice since the last inspection. The manager has taken all of these seriously and thorough investigations have taken place. Parents have been kept informed and are happy with the outcomes of their complaints. Good responses to complaints help to ensure that learning can be used to improve children’s care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2532131 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 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that pre-admission assessments explore all known risks to children and consider how these will be managed. In addition, ensure that children’s risk assessments include all known behaviours and risks and include strategies for staff to manage these. 12 December

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31 (2)(a)) 12 December

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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: 2532131 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cascade (Banks House) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Therm Road, Hull, Yorkshire HU8 7BF

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Inspector

Joe Cox, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2532131 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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