Children's home run by Milton Keynes City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 1 SC463692 Registered provider: Milton Keynes Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide long-term care for up to eight children with learning difficulties and who may also have physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2020.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2022 Full Good 26/06/2019 Full Good 15/11/2018 Full Good 06/03/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home and two children have moved in. Four children were living at the home at the time of this inspection and are making good progress. They enjoy spending dedicated time with staff who know them well and who celebrate their individual personalities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three of the children have good attendance at school. The registered manager is proactive and has worked in partnership and advocated strongly for one of these children to ensure that their education package will continue after their next birthday. One child receives tutoring in the home and is due to start school shortly. The registered manager has worked tirelessly to source a suitable school place for the child. Collaborative working supports better outcomes for the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have individualised, child-centred placement plans, which guide the staff effectively. The plans show that children’s views and opinions are continually sought. These considered plans help staff to understand every aspect of each child’s daily needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of interesting activities at the home and in the community. The children enjoy trips out to the bowling alley, local parks and swimming pools. The on-site activities in the garden have recently been much improved with new play equipment being installed following a thoughtful donation from a previous neighbour. These activities provide the children with opportunities to develop their social skills further.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are positive about the quality of care. A parent said:

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

‘I have never felt more secure in the fact that he is well cared for. The staff are amazing and do everything they can to provide the very best for him. He loves living at the home and is doing well. I could not ask for anything more.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s moves into and out of the home are well planned. The registered manager ensures that visits are facilitated prior to children moving into the home. The children who have moved out of the home have been very well prepared for their moves and extremely well supported throughout the process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use imaginative ways to ensure that children have meaningful experiences. Photos are taken of the children enjoying these experiences and are added to children’s memory books as a record of their time at the home. The registered manager has recently introduced a praise book for each child, which documents their successes. All achievements children make are acknowledged by staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 4

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

Staff provide nurturing care and are attentive to the children’s individual needs. Trusting relationships are evident and the children are happy living at the home.

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from home. The children’s vulnerabilities mean that they do not always recognise dangers, and staff closely monitor their movements to ensure their safety. Children are supported by high levels of staffing at the home and in the community. The registered manager ensures that they have the correct staffing levels to meet each child’s needs.

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

The staff are proactive in ensuring that children can use their preferred communication method to express themselves. Having well-structured routines and systems to make their wishes known helps children to feel safe and move calmly from one activity to another.

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

There have been no safeguarding incidents since the last inspection. Staff have received safeguarding training and demonstrate good knowledge of the policies and procedures to follow. They understand the importance of reporting and following up concerns. Professionals and parents say that staff safeguard the children well.

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

Staff skilfully intervene to prevent children from hurting themselves and others. Staff respond calmly and use distraction techniques to prevent injury. The registered manager reviews the effectiveness of the actions taken and provides staff with helpful guidance to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is dedicated and knowledgeable. She holds a relevant level 5 qualification and has been in post since January 2020. A committed deputy manager supports her. They are strong advocates for the children and ensure that children’s needs are paramount and quality care is provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is very high. Staff say that they feel valued and listened to and describe the registered manager as ‘very approachable’ and ‘always supportive’. A consistent staff team remains in the home. Since the last inspection, only one member of staff has left. Children benefit greatly from a stable team of staff who are attuned to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the skills and experience needed to support the children well. Staff receive effective supervision, attend regular team meetings and have access to good-quality training opportunities. One member of staff is currently working towards the required level 3 qualification and all other staff have completed this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have maintained strong relationships with professionals. Social workers describe the communication as ‘very good’. They say there is no delay in sharing information and they appreciate the high level of partnership working. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 5 The independent person visits monthly and provides reports. However, the reports rarely contain any recommended actions for improvement or consultation with the children, parents and social workers. This reduces the effectiveness of the report as a quality monitoring tool and does not provide the intended safeguards for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work in line with the ethos of the home as detailed in the home’s statement of purpose. This is to ensure that children receive individualised care and are supported to reach their full potential. The registered manager has reviewed and updated the statement of purpose. However, the updated version has not been submitted to Ofsted as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has completed a review of the home and is in the process of carrying out another. At the last inspection, a requirement was set due to the report not including feedback from children, parents, staff and relevant professionals. This requirement has been partially met as improvements were seen during the inspection in the report that is currently being composed. However, a recommendation has been made due to the report received failing to detail any feedback from the children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the one other requirement and the one recommendation raised at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 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

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 29 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a) (5)) 29 May 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a system in place which allows them to monitor the matters set out in regulation 45 at least once every six months. The registered person should carry out a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided at the home, the experiences of the children living there and the impact the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.2) Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 7

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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: SC463692 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Milton Keynes Council, Saxon Court, 502 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HS

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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