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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 1 Registered provider: Senad Limited

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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 with learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. The manager is qualified and registered.

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Inspection date: 10 January 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 10 January 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children’s social, emotional and healthcare needs are now being better met by a motivated and optimistic staff team. Staff love their work, and they are well supported.

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The care of children

At the time of the inspection, two children had very recently moved to this home. Effective transition planning and matching has meant that these children are beginning to settle. They have started their new school. As part of the transition plan, children are provided with information about the home in a format that they can understand. This enables children to see before they arrive which staff will be caring for them, their bedroom and other areas of the home and school. Careful matching has meant the new children have already begun to form friendships. For some children, this is significant progress.

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The care of children

Managers have ensured that there has been a gradual reduction in using temporary staff. Changes to shift patterns and improved staff benefits have meant staff retention is improving. Care staff now work across the children’s home and the school. This means that children who need a consistent approach to their care can build up trusting and reliable relationships with their carers. As a result, incidents have significantly reduced.

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The care of children

Children have various opportunities to make their views, wishes and feelings known. An independent advocate carries out regular visits. Children have uninterrupted access to several communication aids, including ‘talk tiles’, personal communication tablets, ‘now and next’ resources and social stories. These communication systems are replicated across both school and home.

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The care of children

Children live in an environment that meets their individual care needs. All bedrooms are large and, if children choose, they are personalised. Children can access the school’s facilities, including a soft play area. Managers have created a warm and homely environment for children with varied and complex learning disabilities.

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The safety of children

Managers are changing the way risk assessments are presented and recorded. This new model is clearer in identifying all risks associated with children and measures to reduce risk factors. When risk assessments are changed or updated, staff are informed and given time to understand the changes. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 3 Medication administration processes are safe. This is due to regular and effective audits overseen by a senior member of staff or a manager. Senior staff overseeing the process are trained. Also, all care staff are being trained, with a robust series of competency checks ensuring the process remains safe.

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The safety of children

When children put themselves in risky situations, immediate action is taken by the staff, in line with risk assessments. When required, changes are made to the environment and risk assessments are further updated. These measures mean that children are safer.

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The safety of children

Children have not gone missing from this home. This risk is minimised because of several safeguarding factors. These include a high staff-to-child ratio, a keyless door opening system and alarms so staff can call for extra support. All children have their own individual protocol, telling staff what to do in the event of the child going missing. However, these protocols need to be clearer, so that the correct information is shared with safeguarding agencies, including the police, if needed.

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The safety of children

When complaints and allegations are made about the home, leaders and managers take appropriate action to safeguard children. They undertake robust, detailed and wide-ranging investigations. Outcomes are shared with safeguarding agencies. As a result, children at this home become safer.

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The safety of children

Managers ensure that when staff use physical intervention with a child, records are reviewed. This effective overview means that managers can monitor the staff team’s response to challenging behaviours. Children are only physically held after staff have exhausted all other non-restrictive methods. There has been a steady reduction in physical interventions, and the manager aspires to stop the use of them altogether.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager and his staff team are positive role models for all children in their care. They are clearly child-focused. Staff enjoy supporting the children, and children trust the staff to provide a high level of care. Staff want the best for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have an effective system for monitoring all aspects of the children’s care. Since the last inspection, managers have begun to make improvements that have boosted staff retention, which has improved consistency of care. Staff now benefit from regular monthly supervisions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff have further opportunities to increase their knowledge and skills. The manager has introduced monthly training sessions. These regular sessions complement other existing opportunities for staff to develop their skills. The number of staff who are now qualified in residential childcare has doubled since the last inspection, with all remaining staff due to complete the course.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff say they feel supported by managers. They are provided with various training opportunities. When staff are looking to develop to more senior roles, this is Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 4 encouraged. Higher-level training is provided to support the additional responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have begun to make changes to the home’s senior team structure. Two new team leader posts are to be recruited to and will increase the level of support for care staff. Additional capacity from the school senior leadership team means further oversight of care practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

At this assurance inspection, all requirements set at the last inspection are met. One recommendation has been set at this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that is helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 6

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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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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2581909 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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