Children's home run by Longboat Special Education Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 1 Registered provider: Longboat Special Education Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of an independent school. It provides residential care for up to 16 children and young people aged between 11 and 19 with severe learning disabilities and associated needs, such as limited verbal communication. Children may also have autism.

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Information about this children’s home

The school offers term-time or 52-week residential placements. At the time of the inspection, 13 children were residing in the residential provision. The home is led by a manager registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a school on the same site, which the children attend. Inspectors only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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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

Date of last inspection: 21 November 2023

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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: 2523030 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Good 07/02/2023 Full Good 18/10/2022 Full Inadequate 07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff team creates a warm, loving and nurturing environment where children are safe and well cared for. Children remain central to everything staff do. The staff ensure that children enjoy positive and enriching experiences, which contributes to them achieving outstanding outcomes. One parent said, ‘The progress my son has made is remarkable, they just want him to do well and are behind him every step of the way. They really are amazing.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who stay in the home make exceptional progress. Despite their learning disabilities and complex needs, they make considerable developmental progress in all areas of their lives. Staff provide children with outstanding levels of care and support, and they have very close relationships. The staff ensure that children’s achievements are celebrated. This means that disabled children with the most complex needs lead fulfilling and enriched lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff know the children very well and are attuned to their individual communication needs. Children communicate using signs, symbols and pictures, and they always have access to these specialist systems. Staff receive in-depth training about the best way to communicate with children. This allows the children to make their wishes and feelings known.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff support children to enjoy an abundance of experiences and enjoyable activities. Care is carefully planned by staff, and risk assessments are carried out. This means there are no unnecessary barriers to children enjoying these experiences. Children are very well prepared for new experiences through an extensive use of signs, symbols and stories to support their understanding. Staff understand the importance of disabled children experiencing consistent and predictable routines, so this is fully embedded throughout the children’s care experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children really enjoy spending time with their family. Staff have worked hard to show family members the best way to support the children. Working together in this way has allowed children’s relationships with their families, in some instances, to repair and strengthen. This has also included staff supporting children to go on holiday with their family. This enables children to have experiences which would not otherwise be possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The support for children when moving into the home is a real strength and very child focused. Staff take time to prepare information for each child in a format that is accessible for them. This is shared with the children, so they know what to expect. This can alleviate some anxieties for children. The children already living in the home are prepared for a new child moving in so that this does not come as a shock to them when it happens. Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 4 Managers have worked effectively with health professionals to monitor children’s progress in relation to food and nutritional intake. For example, one child cannot eat solid food. With careful care planning, staff have supported a child to try a new range of meals. They are beginning to gain weight and becoming healthier. This now means that the child has access to a broader meal choice, which is exceptionally good practice.

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

Leaders are acutely aware of the additional safeguarding vulnerabilities for disabled children and what amounts to inherent risk factors. Learning from research is a strength of the leadership team and is shared throughout the service in several ways, including discussions, supervision sessions, team meetings, newsletters and one-minute briefings. The information contained in the safeguarding committee newsletter and one-minute briefings is worthy of wider dissemination with other organisations. This is an outstanding example to support staff in extending their knowledge. Staff understand the importance of an open safeguarding culture. As a result, they know how to recognise, report and act on any safeguarding concerns.

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

Staff understand children’s needs and risks extremely well. This ensures that the potential risks to children are understood and reduced. The children’s individual risk assessments and care plans are extremely thorough. They provide staff with clear, concise information about how children need to be supported. Staff know and understand the underlying causes of challenging behaviours that children may exhibit. As a result, staff employ well-considered strategies to manage behaviour.

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

Children’s complex health and behavioural needs mean that there are frequent times of upset, distress and behaviour that is challenging for staff. Staff are skilled at promoting positive behaviour and have embedded a consistent response on these occasions. Although the overall number of incidents is high, incidents have reduced over time. This demonstrates that as staff gain a deeper understanding of the children’s ongoing needs, they are better equipped to respond effectively and at an earlier stage, which prevents behaviours from escalating.

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

Staff are appropriately trained in physical intervention, and the home has a designated behaviour lead. Staff have used their positive relationships with children, alongside holistic interventions, to try to reduce the need for physical intervention. Staff know to use all other positive behaviour support techniques before using physical intervention. If physical intervention is required, this is tried at the lowest level and then a graduated approach is used, only when necessary.

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

Managers respond to any allegations against staff, in accordance with guidance. Records of investigations show a thorough approach to managing concerns. When allegations are made, managers work with safeguarding partners to ensure that all allegations are shared, and investigations take place. Staff are also supported throughout this process and children remain protected. Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is run by an aspirational, experienced and suitably qualified manager. She is supported by a knowledgeable and committed deputy. The managers are passionate about creating opportunities that promote children’s progress, and they have a clear vision for the children in their care. They are proud of how the members of the staff team have significantly influenced and enhanced children’s lives .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective leadership promotes a strong ethos and culture of high aspiration and positivity. Staff are extremely committed to their work and speak with immense pride and affection about children’s achievements. Staff work well together and look for new opportunities for children. Staff enjoy working at the home. One staff member said, ‘I really love working here, seeing the progress that children make is the best job satisfaction ever. I absolutely love it and wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed and maintains systems to track children’s needs and behaviours. These highlight emerging themes which inform changes to staff’s responses to children. Staff said that these systems have had a positive impact on their care practice and consistency in meeting children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff collaborate closely with the organisation’s therapy team to provide the highest standard of care. The therapy team takes a proactive approach and works effectively with staff. The time that therapists spend with the children helps them to make progress and build their emotional resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers ensure that staff receive regular professional supervision. This includes group supervision and health and well-being checks. Supervision is thorough and includes discussion about the children and staff members’ well-being. Staff say they are supported and listened to and know they can always turn to the manager for help and guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has exceptional working processes alongside quality assurance mechanisms. The manager’s oversight of the home allows all information to remain up to date. If needed, the manager will chase local authorities for information. Equally, she will advocate for the children with external professionals to promote their needs and wishes. All this work enables the team to have all it needs to provide optimal care for the children and promote excellent outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team works hard to develop and sustain commendable relationships with children’s families and external professional agencies. Communication has been key in this area, and the manager ensures that everyone is updated on a regular basis. Working this way allows individuals to feel valued and involved in the children’s care. One parent said, ‘I cannot speak highly enough of the place. Staff are easy to talk to and I can contact them anytime.’ Another parent said, ‘There is nothing they could improve on, just let him stay there forever.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 6 The manager has improved the induction process for staff, tailoring this specifically to supporting children with learning disabilities. Staff’s progress is regularly reviewed. Any shortfalls in practice are met with a rigorous response, and difficulties are worked through in a professional and accountable way. As a result, the quality of care for

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

children remains consistent, which helps children to thrive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff training is of a high standard. Training is tailored to meet children’s specific needs. For example, staff have attended Makaton safeguarding training, which has increased their signing vocabulary to safeguard children. They also understand attachment and trauma, epilepsy, and a range of important training that helps them to provide excellent care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 7

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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: 2523030 8

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Longboat Special Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hilltop Farm, Danethorpe Lane, Danethorpe, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2PD

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Inspectors

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Linda Mason, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2523030 9 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

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