Children's home run by Milton Keynes City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 1 SC463692 Registered provider: Milton Keynes Council

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a local authority. It is registered to provide long- term care for up to eight children with learning difficulties and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were five children living in the home and their views were considered as part of the inspection.

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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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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: SC463692 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/01/2024 Full Good 22/03/2023 Full Good 07/03/2022 Full Good 26/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at this home. They have excellent relationships with staff and enjoy spending time with them. They make good progress while also having lots of fun. One parent said, ‘[Name of child] has come on leaps and bounds. She is safe, happy and goes to the staff and cuddles them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children very well. They understand how each child communicates their views and needs. This includes using pictures, symbols, noises and gestures for children who are non-verbal. Staff hold regular one-to-one sessions with children. Creative sessions have included helping a child to sign a birthday card. Another child was helped to have their hair trimmed. This helps children to make choices and their wishes and feelings are understood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans clearly explain to staff how to care for and protect each child. They include all aspects of the child’s life. Routines to support the child are known and used to good effect. The children are clearly at the centre of everything at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education and learning is fundamental to their care. There are good relationships between home and school staff. The manager advocates for children who don’t have a school place. As a result, all children are in full-time schooling and making good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health needs of children are known and met well. This is specific to each child’s needs and disabilities. A child’s medical diagnosis and what that means for the child is clear in the child’s care plan. Children’s medication is stored, administered and recorded appropriately. There are good working relationships with health professionals. This supports the child’s physical and mental health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped in the practicing of their families’ cultures and religions. This includes supporting a child to pray and access faith music. Staff will read religious texts to children who want this. They also support children with faith-related dietary needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to achieve and make progress daily. For example, more independence in self-care, eating, communication and play.

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

The manager takes any allegations against staff seriously. She responds promptly and appropriately. This includes working alongside local authority safeguarding professionals.

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

Each child has an individual assessment of risks. It informs staff of the triggers and behaviours associated with the risk. The actions staff should take to keep the child safe are clearly recorded. It also records responses to children’s behaviours that are difficult Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 4 to manage. Staff understand the additional vulnerabilities of children with complex needs.

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

Children are supported one-to-one by staff within the home. This increases to two staff for one child in the community when necessary. This level of care has meant that no child has been missing from care. Children are helped to enjoy activities whilst remaining safe.

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

Staff respond well to children’s self-injurious behaviours. They are aware of when this is related to the child’s specific disability. The response to this is recorded in the child’s risk assessment and care plan.

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

Children’s unwanted behaviours are managed well by staff. Staff are trained in de- escalation techniques. This, alongside excellent relationships, means physical intervention is not required. Reports of incidents have improved. There are management comments added for learning from the incident.

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

The manager uses safe recruitment processes for all new staff coming to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has addressed the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection. Although improved, the independent visitors’ report needs further development. This includes clear records of time with children. Also, consistent feedback from parents and professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows the children very well. She speaks warmly about each child and the progress they have made whilst living here.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff like working at this home. They feel very well supported by the manager and deputy manager. One member of staff said, ‘I have remained working at this home due to being led by management who remain supportive to staff to reach their maximum potential for the interest of the young people.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive a comprehensive induction to the home. A shift leader is allocated as a mentor. Staff receive comprehensive training during induction and ongoing. This includes training specific to the individual needs of the children at the home. All staff have achieved the relevant qualifications for their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive one-to-one supervisions with a manager regularly. They are productive meetings that are well received by staff. Discussions include the care of the children and staff welfare. Also, how staff practice has met the quality standards for children’s homes. Learning from training is included. Regular team meetings also help staff to develop as a team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 5 An experienced responsible individual supports the manager well. This includes regular formal supervision. The responsible individual visits the home and spends time with children. She provides help and advice to the manager at any time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of quality assurance and monitoring tools are used by the manager. This includes audits, team meetings and staff supervisions. The manager spends a lot of time with children and observing staff practice. This ensures that the manager oversees good care and protection of children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 6

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Recommendation

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. This specifically refers to the independent person visiting at a time when the children are at the home. Also, gaining feedback from children, families and professionals. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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 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: SC463692 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Milton Keynes Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Saxon Court, 502 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3HS

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC463692 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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