Children's Home run by Nottinghamshire County Council in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC036732 1 SC036732

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Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council 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 6 children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children's home

There is a manager in post who is awaiting registration with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 25 February 2025

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

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

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/02/2025 Full Outstanding 07/11/2023 Full Outstanding 06/10/2022 Full Good 21/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC036732 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During this inspection, 5 children were having a short break. The inspector spent time with all the children and observed their daily routines and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy spending time with staff. Due to the complex needs of the children, close attention is provided when needed. Staff also find the balance between this and providing opportunities for children to have their own independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are highly effective relationships with parents or carers so that they feel confident leaving their child for their short break. Parents feel extremely well supported, from initial contact with the service through to their child's first stay. Staff are always accessible when needed, and they keep parents informed about their child's stay at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy many activities, both within the short break service and in the local and wider community. Children enjoy the large garden area and the local parks and cafés. Children go swimming and bowling. When needed, children access activities that reflect their need for low stimuli and quiet environments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been no complaints. Children's needs are such that staff look for changes in their usual behaviours to consider if they are unhappy, sad or feeling unwell. There are areas in the home that provide opportunities for children to point to symbols if they are happy or sad. The inspector observed staff working closely with children and monitoring them for changes in their usual behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children stay in an environment that is designed to meet their complex care and health needs. Children benefit from lots of space and specialised areas, such as a sensory room. Children are encouraged to bring items to personalise their bedrooms. The garden is very large and has several activities for children to enjoy. However, inspectors found some areas that require minor repair and other areas that required clearing up.

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improvement to be good

The procedure for keeping medication has failed to keep children safe during one incident. This has meant that a child has been able to access medication without staff being aware. This has also meant that another child has been without essential medication for epilepsy. Two children have been placed at considerable risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

When children and families are new to short breaks, good planning underpins the success of stays. Information is gathered effectively, and risks are well understood. Managers work hard to plan short breaks around children's needs. This means that Inspection report for children's home: SC036732 4 children are more likely to have a settled break and that any risk of disruption is reduced.

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improvement to be good

One child went missing from the care of the staff. Staff took effective action to locate the child. They followed the child's risk assessment. Managers ensured that this child's care plan and risk assessment were reviewed and newly identified risks added.

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improvement to be good

Staff have used restrictive interventions to keep children safe. Staff know to use the least restrictive intervention and for the shortest time. All staff are provided with training on how to use interventions safely and appropriately with children. Staff report on any interventions, and these records are detailed and clear. A manager provides a thorough oversight with suggestions for improved practice. Further safeguards include an additional independent overview by an external manager from another children's home.

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improvement to be good

When children have specific care needs that may impact on the safe exit of a building in an emergency, managers have ensured that there are robust plans in place. These include visual prompts and additional evacuation equipment that staff are trained to use.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in leadership and management. The registered manager has left, and a new manager has been appointed. There is a developing and new management team. There are challenges. However, progress is being maintained in terms of staffing and the flexible short break service offered to families and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand their responsibilities for notifying the regulator when there are significant events relating to the welfare and protection of children living in the home and follow procedures well following most incidents. However, procedures were not followed after one significant incident with information not being shared with the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing remains consistent, with several staff working at this short break service for many years. Families value this familiarity. Children benefit from seeing the same people in the daytime and at nighttime. This consistency means that many families can relax, and most children can enjoy their short break with reduced anxiety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff report being well trained and well supported by managers. They know the children and the families extremely well. Staff are provided with a wide and varied programme of training to meet the complex health and care needs of children. Managers are trialling new ways for staff to write about children, and staff are having training on how to keep children at the heart of their recording. When required, managers seek regular advice and support from specialist workers. Currently, the staff team is receiving advice and training on using therapeutic play techniques when caring for children on their short breaks. Inspection report for children's home: SC036732 5 Staff are provided with a good level of support from managers. Staff have the opportunity for formal individual supervision on a regular and planned basis. Team meetings are held regularly. They are well planned for and provide staff with an

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

opportunity to speak about the children and families they support, as well further developmental opportunities. Inspection report for children's home: SC036732 6

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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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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers not taking effective safeguarding action after a serious incident.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff failing to ensure that children are safe when in the community. 26 March 2026

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicines kept in the home are stored in a secure place so as to prevent any child from having unsupervised access to them; 26 March 2026 Inspection report for children's home: SC036732 7 (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to staff not ensuring that medication is stored in a secure place.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to leaders and managers not informing the regulator of a serious incident. 26 March 2026

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that short break settings are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of children. They will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Short break settings must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. ('Guide to children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Nottinghamshire County Council

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 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 9 regulates 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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