Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 1 SC036732 Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County 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

This local authority children’s home provides short breaks for up to six children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. They registered with Ofsted in 2003.

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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: 7 November 2023

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Outstanding 06/10/2022 Full Good 21/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 3

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Inspection judgements

Children make exceptional progress and families have excellent support. This happens because of the highly effective short-break planning process that is in place. Managers ensure that families are fully involved at all stages, from initial planning to their child’s first overnight stay.

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Inspection judgements

Managers and staff are aware that for children and families who are new to having a short overnight break, this can initially be a highly anxious time. Staff look after both the family and child and ensure that progress to overnight stays is at their pace. Once children begin a short-break routine, managers provide a flexible approach. Families value this approach highly.

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Inspection judgements

Children often have short breaks for many years. Staff know the children and families extremely well. Children have opportunities to try new experiences. Some children do things for the very first time. Children have been bowling and trampolining. Other children now enjoy a quieter time at the home because of a bespoke low-stimulus room that has been developed with guidance from occupational therapists.

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Inspection judgements

Staff encourage children to maintain existing skills and learn new ones to increase their independence. Some children are now more independent with their personal care and can eat a meal with less adult help. Staff monitor and review independence skills to make sure that these are achievable and realistic targets for children. All achievements are celebrated.

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Inspection judgements

Children’s emotional and physical health improves. For some children, this means that they are less anxious and can now go out into their community more often, widening their social opportunities. For other children, their physical health has improved. Families say that their time with family is now more positive and has extended the activities that the family can now do together.

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Inspection judgements

A highly consistent team of staff means that staff know the children’s ways of communicating. For some children, this is through a known method, such as Makaton. For others, this is specific to the child. Staff have learned to interpret what children are communicating. When children need electronic communication aids, managers have undertaken research into what is most effective before introducing these.

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Inspection judgements

Children having a short break have access to several communal areas to either play or relax, often after school. When required, specialist equipment is provided. There are sensory and quieter areas. There is a large outside play area where children enjoy a wide variety of activities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 4

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

Highly proactive work from a knowledgeable staff team has meant that there is a low level of incidents involving children. The use of physical intervention is rare, and when used to help children lower their anxieties, staff use an approach that is the least restrictive. Staff use techniques that they have been trained to use. No children have gone missing off site.

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

When incidents occur, managers ensure that they have thorough oversight and record any reflection and learning. When required, changes are made to processes to keep children safe. Risk assessments show clearly what staff must do to minimise any risks for children. Care plans provide sufficient information for staff on how they must support children. Wider learning is disseminated to the staff team. As a result, there has been a reduction in incidents.

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

The approach to sharing of information between staff shifts is highly organised. Staff are confident and knowledgeable about children. When children are new to having a short break, extra time is taken to ensure that all staff have a highly effective handover of information. This means that children’s short breaks are more likely to be successful and that families have their break from caring.

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

Managers have used research to update and change the way that they embed information into care records, including risk assessments and records of physical interventions. This has meant that the language used by staff is now more child focused.

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

Managers have ensured that the recruitment and retention of staff remains a key factor for maintaining a consistent workforce. Only staff who go through an effective recruitment process get to work with children with a high level of disability and additional vulnerabilities.

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

Medication systems are effective and secure. Any errors are met with reflection and learning. Because of this reflection and changes to processes, medication administration has become progressively safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are highly ambitious and dedicated to supporting children and their families or carers. They always strive to provide the very best short-break experience. They have achieved this by creating a staff team who are experienced and qualified. The whole team are aspirational for all children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is well established and bring a high level of skill and experience. Staff are motivated and are excellent childcare practitioners. New staff employed to this team are chosen on their own skills and experience. They have an effective, well-planned induction. New staff said that they feel well supported. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 5 The management team provides staff with regular and effective professional supervision. This process allows for staff’s competence and knowledge of children to be reviewed. In addition, staff are provided with guidance and support that contributes to their continued professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is keen to continually promote staff development. Staff begin their training as part of a thorough induction programme. They then continue to enhance their skills and knowledge with additional child-specific training when required. Children therefore receive individualised care and support to meet their complex needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Meticulous planning of short breaks has meant that children’s stays are a positive and rewarding experience and provide families with a much-needed break. Managers know how to group children so that they can join their peers on shared activities, and with children with a similar sensory profile.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The level of engagement with stakeholders is highly effective. Managers are completely aware of the impact of caring on families, and go over and above to offer a flexible level of support. Professionals say that this is a great strength and that managers adapt to the changing needs of children with highly complex needs. When children are older and preparing for adult life, effective relationships are built with adult social care providers. Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 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: SC036732 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jennifer Whiston

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC036732 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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