Children's home run by Nottinghamshire County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 1 SC044692 Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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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

Date of last inspection: 2 September 2024

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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: SC044692 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/09/2024 Full Good 21/05/2024 Full Inadequate 11/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 26/07/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, two children have left the home and two children have moved in. The inspector spoke with the children. There was a warm and lively atmosphere, with fun and laughter shared between the children and the staff who care for them. The children who come to live at the home experience a nurturing approach from the staff, who provide positive and consistent care. This supportive environment enables the children to develop positive relationships with the staff team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support children to develop age-appropriate independence skills, including the ability to take well-managed risks. Staff are confident in supporting children to access community facilities and engage in new experiences. For example, one child is a member of a boxing club and attends weekly. Another child has arranged to go Christmas shopping in Liverpool and stay overnight with her best friend. This support encourages confidence, resilience and personal growth.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a say in their day-to-day care and in their long-term plans. Their wishes and feelings are actively sought and responded to. Children have ‘listen to me’ discussions. Together, children and staff discuss sensitive issues and have difficult conversations. This alleviates children’s worries and enables them to reflect, learn and develop. The skill of listening and respecting children is a core feature of this home. Staff understand the children well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged and supported to attend education or alternative provisions. Children have sat exams and some are going to college. Staff worked very creatively to make sure one child had positive educational experiences, despite challenges in the last few months when they did not have a place in education. Another child has gone on to gain meaningful employment. This supports children to learn and make good progress and begin to prepare for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a home that is spacious and enables them to spend time either together or apart. The home is homely, relaxed and calm, and has a nurturing environment. Children like to spend time with staff. For example, children and staff relax together in the communal areas of the home, preparing meals and eating together. Children can personalise their bedrooms and make them homely with their belongings. Staff ensure that children develop a sense of belonging and stability. They see themselves as a family around the children, in a family home. This helps children to have a real sense of belonging.

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

Staff are well trained and they know how to manage risks. At the same time, they help children become more independent and confident. In cases where there are safeguarding concerns, procedures are followed and there is clear communication with Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 4 social care and other external agencies such as the police. This supports the safeguarding needs of children.

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

Children enjoy the trusting relationships built with the staff team. They provide a strong and consistent routine which children benefit from. As a result, children grow in confidence, develop their self-esteem, and are supported to feel safe and secure.

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

Children have clear plans and risk assessments in place. These plans are regularly updated, which supports staff to keep children safe. Managers and staff go to great lengths to understand how best to protect and support children to grow and develop, and there is constant reflection, and adaptations to support and safeguard each child. This approach helps to ensure continuous improvement in the care and support children receive and in understanding and managing each child’s lived experiences.

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

The manager and staff have a therapeutic approach to the care provided. They have received child-specific training to understand that children’s behaviour can be a way of communicating feelings and emotions. The staff have a patient and empathetic approach to care while understanding potential triggers to children’s behaviour. Children and staff also spend time with the therapeutic social worker who provides either one-to-one support or reflective practice in team meetings and team development days. This further enhances the nurturing relationships carers have with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager’s dedication and commitment have created a happy and nurturing family home. She is reflective and continues to strive to improve progress and outcomes for children and the staff team. The emphasis on learning and growth not only benefits the team and children but also sets a tone for continuous improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is building a stable team of staff who are committed to their roles. Staff have positive supportive relationships with each other, providing children with stability and consistency of care. They speak with pride about the home and enjoy their work. They express pleasure in spending time with the children and enhancing their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete the mandatory training required. They also receive bespoke training which is tailored to the needs of the children. The staff team experience a high level of support through regular one-to-one meetings and team meetings. These are reflective and mean that staff can learn lessons and adapt their own practice. Staff could benefit from further discussions in their one-to-one meetings and team meetings on wider safeguarding issues. They also receive daily support and guidance from the management team and each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with other professionals, such as social workers, independent reviewing officers and the police. She communicates effectively, ensuring a team-around- the-child approach. When necessary, the manager escalates her concerns within the wider system to ensure decisions made are in the children’s best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 5 The home experienced a period of change and challenge, which staff navigated with professionalism and care. Throughout this time, the manager and team demonstrated resilience, teamwork and a commitment to maintaining a stable and nurturing environment. Staff reflected on their practice, adapted their approaches and remained focused on supporting all children effectively. Their actions helped to minimise disruption and ensured that children continued to feel safe, valued and well cared for. One child’s move out of the home was managed in a planned and sensitive way, with their well-

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective systems in place to support the monitoring of the quality of care and aid reflection and learning. She understands the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. The manager has a clear vision for the home and remains focused on making continued progress, because she knows this will benefit children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that team meetings and one-to-one sessions include discussions on safeguarding issues which allow carers to reflect on their practice and the needs and external risks of children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.4)

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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: SC044692 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council

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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

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC044692 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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