Sense, The National Deafblind And Rubella Association

Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 1 Sense Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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disabled children

This residential holiday scheme for disabled children is part of a charitable trust. The scheme provides residential activity holidays throughout the summer months. Children may have learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or sensory needs. During 2024, the service has offered small-group holidays across the country.

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disabled children

The inspector visited the children’s holiday scheme that was in Cirencester, Gloucestershire.

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disabled children

The manager has yet to be registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experience 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 residential holiday scheme for disabled children 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 residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy their holiday. Children and their families are fully involved in choosing which is the best holiday location for them. This high-level planning helps to ensure that children can have enjoyable experiences with their peers, and families have the opportunity for time with other family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children have significant health and caring requirements, leaders carry out home visits to meet families. This enables essential information to be shared, and the holiday environment to be suitably adapted. This careful approach to getting to know the children’s complex needs means that their holiday is extremely well planned.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to take part in a wide range of activities. High levels of staff, with an inclusive attitude and careful planning, mean that the children get to try new activities and experiences. Activities are planned, however, with a high degree of flexibility. Children can take part in a whole activity or come and go depending on their confidence and abilities. There are indoor and outdoor activities, on and off site, including swimming and going to a wildlife park. All activities can be adapted to enable all children to take part in their own way, with no barriers from their abilities or disabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Volunteers and leaders know the children well. They are provided with key information before the holiday and are guided by detailed support plans. This helps them to be informed about the children’s specific methods of communication, their often complex healthcare needs, and the children’s likes and dislikes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The volunteers and leaders provide an inclusive approach to communication throughout the scheme. Interaction between volunteers and children is overtly caring and positive. They use Makaton signing to supplement verbal communication. Pictorial symbols are used to help children to communicate their feelings and make choices.

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

Leaders and managers are adept at assessing risk so that activities take account of children’s individual needs. This helps to ensure that when children’s behaviour changes, activities and plans can be adapted so no children miss out. When unexpected behaviours occur, leaders contact families, seek guidance and adapt support plans.

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

Volunteers and leaders are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities. Training provides volunteers and leaders with confidence. They hold the children’s safety and best interests at the centre of their practice. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 3 Volunteers and leaders are required to complete safeguarding training prior to the holiday scheme. They are also required to attend further safeguarding training on the day before the holiday scheme begins. Volunteers have opportunities to speak with a leader, and are able to phone one of the safeguarding team if they have any concerns.

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

Prior to the holiday, the provider will visit the location of the scheme to determine whether the environment is suitable and accessible for disabled children. Any potential areas of risk are identified, and procedures are put in place such as detailed support plans, prior planning with families, training and a high ratio of volunteers and leaders to children. Further measures, such as the use of walkie- talkies, help to ensure that volunteers can maintain communication with leaders when outside in the extensive grounds.

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

When children have regular medication, this is safely prepared and administered by leaders who have been trained. Additional safeguards are that leaders’ competency is checked. Leaders know the process to follow if an administration error is made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The holiday scheme does not have a registered manager. However, senior managers have made steps in providing interim measures. These have been robust. The provider has employed a suitable person to be the manager. The new manager is aware of the requirement to apply to be registered with Ofsted. The senior management team is present throughout the period of the holiday and maintains strong and effective oversight of the day-to-day running of the scheme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have developed a group of volunteers who are caring and respectful towards the children. They aspire for the children to experience new and exciting experiences and become more confident and develop their skills. The volunteers speak about the children very warmly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The scheme provides adults with opportunities to volunteer and to gain new skills and confidence in supporting children with various abilities and disabilities. Some volunteers come back each year. The volunteers are provided with useful information and training before joining the scheme. They are clear about their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and volunteers who usually work in another role for this provider say they benefit from volunteering opportunities at the holidays. They say they have never looked back.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have ensured that appropriate suitability checks are carried out on all volunteers. A robust series of checks and balances ensures that volunteers only get to support vulnerable children if they are safe to do so. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 4 Areas of ongoing development have been identified to further enhance the holiday scheme. Leaders have identified a programme of where regular volunteers can speak to prospective volunteers about the role, expectations and realities of volunteering with children with complex healthcare and behavioural support needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At the last inspection, two recommendations were made. These have been met. At this inspection, no requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 5

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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 Residential Holiday Schemes for Disabled Children (England) Regulations 2013 and the national minimum standards. Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 6

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider: Sense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Association

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Registered provider address: 101 Pentonville Road, London N1 9LG Responsible individual: Richard Kramer Registered manager: Post vacant

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Residential holiday scheme for disabled children details

Email address: Caitriona.Harnedy@Sense.Org.UK

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for residential holiday scheme for disabled children: Sense 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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