Children's home run by The Senad Group Limited in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 1 SC358046 Registered provider: The Senad Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and there is a school on the same site. The home provides care for up to 32 children with autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, acquired brain injury and communication difficulties. Most children living in the home return to their family home for the school holidays.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2014.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspectors only inspected the social care provision at this school.

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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: SC358046 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/07/2023 Full Good 24/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2022 Full Inadequate 06/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have continued to provide a nurturing environment for children to live in. There are many strengths at this children’s home, including the preparation and promotion of independence skills for children, based on children’s aspirations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The care for children is bespoke and tailored to individual needs. Staff and managers receive training about children’s specific caring needs, for instance obsessive compulsive disorder and pathological demand avoidance. Because the staff have the knowledge, children settle quickly and develop good relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests. Some children are skilled at crocheting, others enjoy shopping, while some spend their free time gaming. Staff encourage children to share activities with their peers in the home. This helps to build children’s confidence and self-esteem and helps to establish relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Families are positive about their children’s progress. Effective levels of communication, staff understanding their child’s care and health needs, together with any mistakes quickly rectified. This helps to maintain trust between families and the children’s home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. This helps to minimise feelings of loss and helps with the formation of children’s identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. Detailed plans give staff the essential medical information they need. However, when children first begin to live at this children’s home, information in some areas is minimal. Children who have lived at the home longer have detailed and thorough care plans in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted in several ways. Their views, wishes and feelings are sought and acted on. For some children, they have been involved in choosing the decor for a newly refurbished communal area. Children also know how to make a complaint. They are provided with the information through key-working sessions. When children make a complaint, these are taken seriously. Managers ensure that any complaints are investigated fairly and thoroughly. This means that children are listened to.

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

Children are settled and have positive relationships with staff. Children feel safe and comfortable in the home.

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

Managers have developed robust and effective relationships with families. Because some children go home in the school holidays, advice and support continue to be offered out of term time. This means that managers and staff continue to support families to keep their children safe when in a school holiday period. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 4 Managers and staff know the risks that children in their care are exposed to. Any identified areas of risk are regularly reviewed, and safety plans are kept up to date and comprehensive. Managers and staff have a balanced and realistic approach to risk, providing an effective balance between safeguarding and promoting independence for children.

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

Managers have ensured that there is a system in place to share safeguarding concerns with the on-site multi-agency team. These regular meetings mean that safeguarding concerns at all levels have effective oversight, with actions and accountability agreed. Because of this system, children are safer.

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

When allegations are made, leaders and managers share information appropriately with safeguarding agencies, including the local authority designated officer and the police. The regulator is informed.

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

The administration of medication is a safe and effective process. Staff are provided with training and undergo a robust series of competency checks. Only then are staff allowed to independently administer medication to children. When children want to be more independent with managing their own medication, this is carefully risk assessed and regularly reviewed.

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

Managers have ensured that there are safe and effective fire safety processes. They liaise with property services, reporting any faults or concerns identified through regular fire-safety checks. When new children come to the home, a fire evacuation drill is undertaken as soon as practical. Staff are conscience of children’s specific sensory caring needs and anxieties. As a result, children can take part in a role-play scenario with staff, to learn what to do if the fire alarm goes off.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led effectively by a registered manager, who is overtly focused on outcomes for all children. The registered manager is well supported by an experienced care manager. They lead a motivated and positive team of staff, who ensure that children receive the best support they need. Staff work as part of an effective multi-disciplinary professional network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy their work. They are well supported and provided with a broad range of learning and development opportunities. This has increased their knowledge and confidence. When children have specific care or health needs, managers ensure that staff are upskilled in these areas, utilising the clinical psychologist and the therapy team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When staff are keen to develop within their role, they are provided with several developmental opportunities, including further training, and mentoring from senior colleagues. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 5 New staff commit to undertake a thorough induction. This is wide ranging and includes mandatory and child-specific training, delivered by both in-house and external professionals. Some training has an element of competency checking. Safeguarding is a key focus for all staff, beginning at induction and continuing through staff careers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. They are well planned and provide the opportunity for updates about the care of children, with a key focus on safeguarding matters. Staff practice is reviewed, and some team meetings involve reflective discussions, supporting the team to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. They are sensitively supported to improve their practice. Staff feel supported in their role and with their own well-being. Good use of scenario-based questions strengthens and develops safeguarding knowledge and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One requirement and three recommendations from the last inspection are considered met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 6

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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: SC358046 7

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Senad Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Senad Group Ltd, 1 St. Georges House, Vernon Gate, Derby DE1 1UQ

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Inspectors

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 8 and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: SC358046 9

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