Children's Home, Residential special school run by Rowden House School Limited in Herefordshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035625 1 SC035625

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Registered provider: Rowden House School 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 part of a residential special school. It can care for up to 30 children with learning disabilities across several houses in the grounds of the school.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, 16 children were living in the children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2020 and holds the appropriate qualifications.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors 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: SC035625 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

At the time of this inspection, there were 16 children living at the home. Since the previous inspection, five children have left and two children have come to live at the home. Most children have left due to their age and were supported by staff to move to adult services. However, for one child, managers made the difficult decision to end their placement because they felt that they could no longer meet their needs.

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The care of children

Managers make sure that children’s moves to and from the home are positive. Moves to the home are well planned, with good information-sharing between those who know the child well and the home. Children are sent videos of the home and the child’s bedroom so that they become familiar with the environment before moving in. As a result, children have settled in quickly.

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The care of children

There is a diverse staff team supporting children. This diversity enhances the experiences for children. Staff with first-hand knowledge have embraced what is important to children, for example by encouraging one child’s interest in different countries’ national anthems and supporting another child to celebrate a traditional African Christmas.

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The care of children

There is good multidisciplinary working, and staff have improved the plans for children that support the 24-hour learning experience. Staff are proactive in progressing and reviewing children’s plans and targets. Consequently, children are developing their independence skills, improving communication and growing in confidence.

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The care of children

Staff actively encourage children to express their views. Children are consulted at a level they understand, using simple language, pictures, signs and symbols. As a result, children can choose foods for the menu, activities they would like to do, how they would like their room decorating, and soft furnishings for the home.

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The safety of children

Children living at the home are vulnerable due to their disability and limited understanding of risk and danger. Staff know children well and can pre-empt behaviours. Staff have developed plans that set out the risks, along with the action staff need to take to keep children safe. Staff are very creative when defusing situations and use humour and distraction well.

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The safety of children

The home is well maintained. When repairs are undertaken, they are done so safely and do not create further risks. Consequently, children are protected from harm. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035625 3 Some children do not have an awareness of the importance of maintaining their dignity. Staff have put in place curtains and screens for some children outside their rooms. This means that if children exit their rooms or leave the doors open when undressed, staff can maintain the child’s dignity and privacy.

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The safety of children

Staff understand that some children may self-harm. Staff use well-thought-out plans to help children reduce the need to harm themselves. When concerned about children’s behaviours, staff have sought help and advice from other professionals. For one child, this support has meant a significant reduction in incidents of self- harm.

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The safety of children

When children or others raise concerns, these are taken seriously by managers. Concerns are recorded, reported and investigated. When necessary, managers do suspend staff until the investigation has been concluded and managers have satisfied themselves that children are safe.

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The safety of children

Some staff stay on site when not on duty, living in temporary accommodation that is separate from the children’s home. Managers have risk assessed this and put in place clear guidance about expectations while living on site, and the areas staff can and cannot access when not on duty. As a result, there has been no impact on children living at the home or their safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have been proactive and committed to improving the quality of care given to children. They have taken action following the previous full inspection and have met all the requirements and recommendations made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There has been some restructuring of the management of the home to provide better oversight and monitoring. Managers have reviewed their monitoring systems and identified areas for improvement. Managers have implemented new systems that have meant that staff practice has improved. There is greater consistency and changes to the way staff work. This has resulted in positive outcomes for children. Examples are a reduction in incidents of self-harm, reduced medication errors, children’s plans being reviewed regularly and containing all the information needed, and children’s targets being progressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Recruitment of staff has been a challenge, with there being few applicants. However, the organisation has taken part in the government sponsorship scheme, which has meant that some staff have been recruited from abroad. This group of staff have made a positive contribution to the overall staffing at the home. Managers have made sure that all staff are recruited following safer recruitment practices. However, there was one omission with an employment history. This has the potential for managers to not have all the information they need to assess the suitability of staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Managers have provided staff with a variety of training to support children’s needs. For example, children with pathological demand avoidance (PDA) need staff who Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035625 4 understand fully how this affects children and the need to respond in a specific way so as not to inflame situations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff spoken to were positive about the home. They were keen to show inspectors the improvements that have been made. Staff showed motivation and were invested in making the necessary improvements. Staff also said that they felt supported by managers who have an open-door policy.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/06/2021 Full Good 01/10/2019 Full Good 05/03/2019 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035625 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure good employment practice is maintained. Specifically, that all gaps in employment are fully explored before workers commence in their role. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035625 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: Rowden House School Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 St George’s, Vernon Gate, Derby, Derbyshire DE1 1UQ

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Inspectors

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Louise Battersby, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC035625 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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