Children's home run by Nottingham City Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 1277041 1 Registered provider: Nottingham City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated and managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018.

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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: 1277041 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Good 01/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/07/2021 Full Good 06/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1277041 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have strong and trusting relationships with the adults caring for them. Staff invest time and energy in listening to the children and understanding them. Children are settled and refer to this as their home and their family. Children have a good sense of belonging and permanence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress with their education and have good school attendance. Staff work hard to promote education; however, there has not always been a consistency in approach to the child’s education. This is something that is being worked through.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health and are thriving. Staff support children with their routine appointments and to follow a healthy lifestyle. Staff support the children to understand themselves and to feel good about who they are.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive life experiences and are encouraged to try new things. They enjoy a range of activities, such as going on their first holiday abroad. Children have visited their chosen football team’s home stadium for a tour and to watch a match. The children spoke with pride and excitement about this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are learning the skills they need in preparation for becoming young adults. Staff support each child to continue to take more age-appropriate responsibility in caring for themselves and their environment. The children are proud of their ability to do this, and it prepares them for when they move on from the home .

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a home that presents as being lived in. They have personalised bedrooms that reflect their individuality. However, some areas require attention to improve the home’s overall presentation.

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

Staff know the children and their vulnerabilities well. They consistently adhere to children’s care plans and risk assessments, which are kept up to date. Staff recognise when a child needs support and intervene early to help the child make safer decisions. Children feel comfortable discussing their concerns with staff and say they feel safe. This is echoed by professionals working with the children.

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

Children are aware of the boundaries in the home. Staff provide regular and focused work to help children understand their feelings and how they affect their behaviour. The consensus from staff and professionals is that the children have matured and developed the ability to reason and negotiate. Children can manage their emotions and behaviours more effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 1277041 4 Children do not go missing from the home. Staff know the correct procedures to follow if this happens. Staff understand the risks children are exposed to when they are away from the home, and they work with children to ensure that they are also aware of these risks. Staff help to create an environment in which children want to spend their time.

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

Staff understand the risks associated with the internet. When children attempt to access inappropriate content, staff take action to protect the child. Staff work with children to help them understand and navigate the risks associated with the internet.

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

Children are aware of how to make complaints and have access to independent advocates. There are few complaints and allegations in the home. When they happen, they are fully investigated, well recorded, and the appropriate agencies are informed. Children are consistently informed of the outcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a suitably qualified manager. The manager and staff have high expectations for the children. This has helped children to understand that they can achieve in life. Children have thought about their future and have ambition moving forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by a stable staff team, and staff turnover is low. This consistency of care means that children can maintain the close relationships they have built with staff .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has some processes in place to monitor practice and have an overview of what is happening in the home. A board in the main office directs staff on what should happen for each child that day . Staff work together well as a team to meet children’s needs. They maintain daily records that reflect the children’s care plans and risk assessments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have developed a good working relationship with most professionals involved in the children’s care. The manager and assistant manager are confident in challenging plans for the children, and they advocate strongly on their behalf.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive regular supervision in line with the home’s policy and statement of purpose. However, the supervision record does not encourage staff to reflect on their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff appraisals are carried out annually; however, these do not contribute to staff development or to the manager’s understanding of the team’s strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, opportunities are missed to celebrate good practice and identify areas for development. Inspection report for children’s home: 1277041 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In most cases, children’s homes are homely, domestic environments. The home should comply with relevant health and safety legislations, such as alarms and food hygiene. However, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person must ensure the necessary support is given to children to enable them to access their education or training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.13)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and

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Recommendations

experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should consider, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year, as well as children in the home’s care. As part of the performance management process, poor performance should be addressed with a timely plan for improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 1277041 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottingham City Council

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Lisa Gordon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1277041 7 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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