Children's home run by YMCA Robin Hood Group

Inspection report children's home: 2691185 1 Registered provider: YMCA Robin Hood Group Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The home is owned by an independent provider. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children's home

The home has a new manager. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: 18 January 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2691185 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2691185 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved on to other placements. Children currently living at the home enjoy positive and meaningful relationships with staff. There is lots of fun and laughter. Staff show genuine emotional warmth and understanding to children. This helps children to build trusting relationships with staff, which supports children to feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are at the heart of this home. Staff speak about children with enthusiasm, warmth and compassion. Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children to try new experiences and have a happy life. Staff go to great lengths to create memories, pictures, photo books to provide happy memories for the children and their families when they move on. This helps to develop children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well prepared for the school day, and this helps them to learn. Staff work closely with education providers to ensure there is effective partnership working to help children make good progress. Where children are not yet ready to go to school, sensitive steps are taken to bring education to the home. When children are home schooled, they work hard with education to motivate them to learn. Children receive consistency in care and education. As a result, children engage with learning and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well considered and met by the team. Staff are supported by the clinical psychologists within the organisation. They provide regular consultation and advice on how to support children. The clinical psychologists also provide direct support to the children. This further promotes children’s health and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from a child’s social worker is very positive. They state that the care shown to their child is ‘very nurturing’ and that they have positive relationships with the staff. They report communication is very good and that the child is experiencing lots of new things. This supports children to be happy and settled in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is cosy and welcoming. Staff help children to develop a sense of belonging and stability. They see themselves as a family around the children, in a family home. However, repairs and improvements are not always completed in a timely manner. As a result, the environment does not always promote the wellbeing of children. Inspection report children's home: 2691185 4

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

The staff have a good understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding training is appropriate for the current needs of the children. Reflections and learning on safeguarding matters are also discussed in staff’s one-to-one meetings. This supports continued learning and development for the team.

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

Staff are diligent when supervising children. This ensures that the potential risks to children are understood and minimised. Risk assessments are thorough. They provide clear and concise information about how children need to be supported. Staff know and understand the underlying causes to more difficult behaviours that children can present. As a result, children are assured that staff will do everything to keep them safe.

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

Staff complete the mandatory training required. They also receive bespoke training that is tailored to the needs of the children. Staff discuss safeguarding issues in team meetings. This provides opportunities for staff to discuss and reflect more on specific safeguarding issues. As a result, training is focused on care, support and the safeguarding needs of children.

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

Staff do use physical interventions although these are reducing. This is to prevent children from placing themselves and others at risk of serious harm. Records show that interventions are necessary and proportionate. However, following some serious events or when safeguarding allegations are raised, the manager did not notify Ofsted. The manager understands and demonstrates a commitment to address this shortfall identified.

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

Staff use their skills and training well to keep incidents to a minimum. The therapeutic approach used to support children is very effective in helping children to regulate their emotions. When incidents do happen, the staff will reflect with the clinical psychologists to improve children’s support and plans. As a result, staff support children to overcome past trauma and are able to manage current risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home had a period of instability following the last inspection. There has been a recent change in the management of the home. The manager has worked at the home since it opened. He was the deputy manager. This means the manager understands the home well. He demonstrates a motivation to helping children make good progress in all areas of their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have faced difficult situations. They have had to manage some challenging behaviours. However, staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities. Teamwork is fundamental in providing children with the best possible care and support. The team is committed to ensuring that children have the best chances and outcomes possible. Inspection report children's home: 2691185 5 The manager strives to promote the development of the staff team. Staff are supported to develop and grow. Reflective practice has begun to underpin the work with children in this home. Staff also receive daily support and guidance from the management team and each other. Staff would benefit from having individual appraisals to develop their practice and reflective challenge to gain confidence and improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership work with external agencies is very positive. Social workers, family members and health clinicians commend the manager and staff on the good communication and the quality of care provided. A common thread in the feedback provided is the positive communication, the progress children make and how happy they are living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has begun to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of care provided and establish new systems and processes. This process is ongoing, and these systems require time to become embedded. The manager is working hard to overturn previous gaps that had been identified. He has a clear vision for the home and understands the strengths and areas for development. Inspection report children's home: 2691185 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 29 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 29 February 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure the home to be nurturing and a supportive environment that meets the needs of their children. With particular reference for the external garden shed area and minor maintenance internally. ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 children's home: 2691185 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Malt Cross, 16 St. James's Street, Nottingham NG1 6FG

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Anthony Gallaher

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2691185 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 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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