Children's Home run by The Rose Road Association in Southampton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 1 SC042446 Registered provider: The Rose Road Association Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The service provides care for up to eight children between the ages of four and 18 years who have severe learning difficulties and may have additional physical disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and/or complex health needs. The home is owned by a charitable organisation and provides primarily short overnight breaks. At the time of this inspection, 48 children were accessing the short-breaks service.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2016 and is suitably qualified. The manager is also registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and manages care for adults with similar needs in a separate part of the building. Care staff work across both adult and children’s services. A separate report by CQC is available for the adult service.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2023 Full Good 25/10/2022 Full Good 24/11/2021 Full Good 10/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thrive in an environment that is tailored to their individual needs. They are cared for by staff who they know well. Staff know each child’s particular needs and ensure that they are met. Staff prepare well for each child’s arrival.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals say that the children are well looked after by committed and caring staff. The children’s parents consistently say they feel that their children receive a good standard of care. The staff have developed positive relationships with the children. Consequently, the children look forward to coming to stay at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are not able to communicate verbally are encouraged by staff to use their preferred methods of communication, such as pictures or symbols.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress due to the support of the staff. For example, staff have encouraged sleeping arrangements and routines, which now enables one child to have uninterrupted sleep for longer hours. Another child is now able to independently express when they want to use the bathroom.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have gone above and beyond when planning for one child’s return home. They have worked particularly well with the family and universal services to ensure effective transition planning for this child. This has ensured that the process is smooth and that the child receives wraparound care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers work hard with parents to build their trust in the staff. They help parents to continue to feel that they play an active role in their child’s life.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers embrace the values-based ethos of the service. The values framework introduced by senior leaders is threaded throughout practice, relationships with family members, staff and children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers have effective working relationships with partner professionals, which enables informed and consistent care for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength of this service is the advocacy for children. Staff and managers ensure that care planning and decision-making are always in the best interests of the children. Children come first and remain the focus in all decision-making and day-to-day practice.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements and milestones are celebrated by the staff. The organisation’s annual awards ceremony is well attended and is thoroughly enjoyed by children and their families. Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 4

p.3

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

Children live in a safe, suitable and comfortable environment.

p.4

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

Children are cared for by informed, experienced and skilled staff. The staff are well trained in meeting the children’s complex health needs. However, some staff who have worked at the home for over two years have yet to complete the required level 3 qualification .

p.4

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

The staff team is diverse. Staff have a range of experience and backgrounds, which helps them to provide children with support and care that meets their cultural needs.

p.4

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

Staff are aware of each child’s risk factors, including health, medical needs and behaviour, for example self-injurious behaviours and risk of choking. Children’s individual risk assessments are clear, concise and enable staff to be fully informed. These include helpful tips on the use of de-escalation techniques, such as singing, soothing and distraction. Staff have clear guidance on how to evacuate each child in an emergency.

p.4

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

The registered manager has good oversight of medication. The manager ensures an effective multi-agency approach. Medical advice is sought swiftly when necessary. Consent and delegations are well recorded.

p.4

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

Complaints are rare. When they are raised, they are managed effectively with clear and concise management oversight.

p.4

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

Physical restraint is rare and is only used as a last resort. However, recording of the one incident of physical restraint was not completed or reviewed within the statutory timescales. This means that the manager did not have appropriate oversight of the use of physical intervention.

p.4

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

New staff are subject to safer recruitment processes. However, the manager has not shown sufficient professional curiosity. One member of staff’s previous work with children was not explored fully.

p.4

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

On one occasion, staff allowed someone who did not yet work in the home, and had not been subject to safer recruitment processes, to feed a child. This individual was not left unsupervised but they had not received training in the appropriate care and support needs of the child. This potentially placed the child at risk.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders and managers are child focused and want the best outcomes for all the children they provide care for.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are well looked after. Staff were consulted about the recent restructure. Their views and opinions have been considered, which has resulted in a significant increase in staff morale. Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 5 Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. There are plentiful opportunities for staff to share ideas, reflect on practice and their own development. These include staff forums, team meetings and staff surveys. Staff feel heard and know that senior leaders act on their views.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management monitoring systems are consistent and effective. Regular and purposeful quality assurance activity identifies early indications of good practice and any improvements required. The manager’s own quality of care review enables a clear oversight of the service, which is triangulated via the governance arrangements and regular meetings.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, there is an effective leadership team that focuses on the child throughout to ensure best outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)) 3 July 2024

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure; a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure; 31 July 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 7 within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 31 July 2024

p.7

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.7

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

p.7

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The relevant date is— 19 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 8 in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a))

p.7

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: SC042446 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Rose Road Association

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rose Road Association, 300 Aldermoor Road, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 5NA

p.9

Inspectors

Emma Haskell, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Jill Sephton-Wright, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC042446 10 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10