Children's home run by Nottingham City Council in Nottingham

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470928 1 SC470928 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities and associated communication difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in January 2022.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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: SC470928 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/06/2023 Full Good 20/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 14/12/2021 Full Good 20/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC470928 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views were sought during the inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cherished and cared for by a skilled and experienced staff team. The staff speak about children with considerable warmth and compassion. They know children very well as they have cared for them for several years. Children have good routines which are carefully balanced between activities and relaxation time. Staff help children to set individual goals, which ensures that they make good progress. Children enjoy a range of experiences, which over time has helped them gain confidence and new skills. These experiences are captured in memory books, which children enjoy and treasure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children have trusted relationships with staff because they have developed good knowledge of children’s preferred communication methods. These are used consistently, which helps children to express themselves and take an active role in decision-making about their daily lives. Two children are moving on very soon. The manager and staff are working hard to ensure that children have carefully planned transitions into homes where their needs can be met. Children are being supported in the planning processes as much as possible.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend education. Children are making excellent progress with learning and socialising. One child has become a recycling ambassador for their school, and another child is now able to go on school outings, which is a new accomplishment. There is very good communication between the home and school, which means that children have consistency throughout the day. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met. The manager and staff work effectively with several health professionals to ensure that children receive specialist assessments and support where needed. One child has some ongoing health needs which require regular pain relief. It is not always clear in records why pain relief has been administered. This is important in terms of monitoring any patterns which could be of concern.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in receipt of disability benefits. There is a transparent system in place to monitor appropriate use of these funds. Children have benefited from some activities and resources funded by their benefits; however, managers have not ensured that they are being used to their full extent, which could enhance children’s lives even further. Accruing benefits could negatively impact on children’s eligibility to other benefits when they become adults.

p.3

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

Leaders, managers and staff have been dealing with a very complex situation in recent weeks. This has impacted on all children living at the home. They have managed this Inspection report for children’s home: SC470928 4 with determination and skill, based on their commitment to the children’s ongoing care and safety. Creative and well-thought-out approaches have enabled all children to continue to live at the home in the safest way possible. This is a significant achievement under the circumstances. The team has received recognition from the provider for its hard work during this time.

p.3

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

The managers and staff have a detailed understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. They create detailed risk management plans, which are child centred and proportionate. The manager has worked closely with other professionals to ensure that the plans are effective and reviewed regularly. Managers and staff respond quickly to emerging risks, and safety plans are implemented which keep children safe.

p.4

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

Staff support children to take risks appropriate to their age and stage of development. As a result, they gradually become more independent. For example, one child has started learning the theory of driving a car. Children’s online activity is monitored to prevent them from being exploited. Therefore, children can enjoy the benefits the internet offers in a safe way.

p.4

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

Children have consistent boundaries and respond to these well. Physical interventions are rarely used. Staff use their positive relationships with children to support them when they feel distressed or upset.

p.4

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

Staff are recruited safely, and agency staff are closely monitored to ensure that they demonstrate ongoing safe practice. Concerns raised about or by staff are responded to quickly. The manager carries out investigations where required and implements proportionate actions to ensure ongoing safety for children.

p.4

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

Staff are not always recording when visitors are in the home. This means that records do not accurately reflect who has spent time with the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about the children she cares for. She has looked after the children for a considerable period of their lives and has very strong relationships with them. The manager has had a period of absence from the home since the last inspection. During this time, the deputy manager led the home. This provided consistency for the children and staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual provides good support to the registered manager and deputy. This helps the home to run effectively, especially during difficult times. The manager has good oversight of the home and has a current development plan that has been devised using the views of children and staff.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals. This encourages them to reflect on their practice and keep the children at the centre of their work. Staff also receive regular training and development, which provides opportunities to develop their knowledge and skills. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470928 5 One child currently requires additional support. Therefore, agency staff are being used. The manager has ensured that the same staff work at the home, which means that the children have consistency of care. Agency staff are assigned to duties that they have the skills and experience to manage safely.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have excellent working relationships with a range of professionals. There is good mutual communication to ensure that children’s needs are consistently met. Professionals and parents have confidence in the care provided for their children and say that they make good progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470928 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that benefits of disabled children are regularly used to help them access leisure or cultural activities and/or resources and opportunities which meet their individual needs. The registered person, in conjunction with any relevant person, such as a parent or school staff, should assess what would be safe, achievable and reasonable for each child, in line with their relevant plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.10)  The registered person should ensure that medicines are always administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication and the reasons why it has been administered. This includes occasions when medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks

p.6

Recommendations

to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This includes recording when visitors are in the home on all occasions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.6

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: SC470928 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG2 3NG

p.7

Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470928 8 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.7

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8