Children's Home run by Good News Nwk Ltd in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 1277479 1 Registered provider: Good News Nwk Ltd

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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 privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1277479 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/07/2023 Full Good 11/04/2022 Full Good 20/04/2021 Full Good 07/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1277479 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has made exceptional progress in many areas of his life. This includes his communication, spending time with other people, education and independence skills. He is happy and has good relationships with the support workers and manager. A family member said, ‘[Name of child] is very happy there and very well looked after. For us, it has been amazing right from the start.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There are clear and detailed plans for the child’s care. They are clearly written and focus on the specific needs of the child. This guides staff in how to deliver a high level of care and protection. The staff and manager are very positive about and ambitious for the child. Targets are set and celebrated when achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child returned to education following a long time out of school. He has made great progress with learning. Staff support him on his journeys to and from school. This helps with the communication between teachers and home staff. There is a close working relationship between them. They meet at the start and end of the school day. This helps them to understand how the child has been and how best to care for and support him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child has made excellent progress in his ability to communicate with others. The child’s preferred communication methods are known to staff. He can use pictures, social stories, gestures and some vocal expressions. Staff understand him very well and he can express his feelings and wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

One-to-one time between the child and staff is well planned. Management feedback and reflections help staff to develop their practice in this area. These key-work sessions help the child to learn. This is particularly successful with regard to his health. Staff enable him to understand appointments and what will happen. There is very good use of pictures and symbols. This has led to very positive visits to doctors and dentists and a home optician appointment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child is making very good progress with independence skills. For example, he is now able to choose and prepare his own breakfast. Focused care by staff has also helped him to develop some personal care skills.

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

Staff understand risk. There are detailed risk assessments addressing the child’s specific needs. Behaviours that are difficult to manage are assessed. Clear ways of caring for the child are identified. This helps staff to minimise any known risks. A high risk of self- injurious behaviour has reduced significantly. Staff use key-work sessions to help the child learn different ways to communicate his feelings and manage emotions. Inspection report for children's home: 1277479 4 Staff deal with the child’s unwanted behaviour well. They are trained in de-escalation of incidents. They recognise triggers and warning signals. Therefore, all incidents are managed without the use of physical intervention.

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

The child is helped by staff to learn how to remain safe when out in the community. This has given him confidence to accept new people and busier environments. As a result, the child has coped with new experiences and activities. This has included going on a holiday, visiting a circus and attending a family wedding.

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

The manager ensures that safe practices are used when recruiting and appointing new staff.

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

The child does not go missing from the home. The child is always supervised and supported by staff. The level of staffing is increased when the child is out of the home. However, clear procedures and protocols are in place should the child go missing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection have been fully addressed and met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that staff receive monthly one-to-one sessions with him or the team leader. These sessions are very effective. Staff are helped to reflect on and develop their practice. Staff keep a reflective diary to discuss with their supervisor. There is a themed monthly scenario that assesses staff knowledge of important work topics. They are also supported with their own well-being. Staff say they love working at this home. They feel well supported by the manager and the company.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is aspirational for his staff. A workforce and home development plan has clear actions identified and this includes improvements for the home. It also sets out a thorough induction and training programme for the staff. Policies and procedures have been reviewed and amended to be more specific to working with children with learning disabilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is excellent use of integrating evidence-based research into practice. The manager embeds learning into supervisions, team meetings and training. This has included using research to inform guidance on closed cultures. There has also been research on clinical peer supervision. This is in preparation for introducing an additional supervision for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Comprehensive quality assurance processes are used by the manager and team leader. There are weekly and monthly audits. The manager monitors incident records and daily records. His oversight is recorded for staff to learn from his review. The manager speaks of the importance of his observation of staff practice and talking to the child and staff. This has helped the staff to care for and protect the child to an excellent level. Inspection report for children's home: 1277479 5 The manager feels very well supported by the responsible individual, assistant operations manager and other managers within the company. He has supervision internally each month. He also has an additional monthly supervision with an external consultant. He sees his development as crucial to providing excellent support to his staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager works closely with other professionals involved with the child. He also ensures that staff work in partnership with the child’s family. There is excellent communication with all involved with the child. The child’s local authority personal assistant said, ‘They are great at communicating with me. They have his very best interests at heart.’

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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: 1277479 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: First Floor Offices, 25 Sanders Road, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough NN8 4NL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nokuthula Mangwendeza

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1277479 7 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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