Our short break respite home has maintained its “Good” rating from Ofsted, following an inspection over two days last month.
The home provides care through short break arrangements for children with learning and/or physical disabilities, some of whom have complex health conditions.
Highlights of the report are as follows:
Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good
Inspectors found that children make good progress from attending the home’s short-break provision, and it has made a positive difference to their lives.
The staff spend quality time with the children, and this time and support have helped the children develop their verbal communication and independence skills. As a result, children have become more resilient, as they have been helped to reduce their anxieties and frustrations.
The relationships between the staff and the children are nurturing and calm; staff know the children well and they make sure that the children’s short-break stays are fun and entertaining. The children are relaxed in their environment, and they enjoy being in the company of the staff and the other children.
Children make progress with their personal care because of the support they receive from the staff. Staff support the children with their personal hygiene by implementing routine and boundaries during their stays. These are then shared with the children’s family so that the care provided to the children remains consistent. Family members see the changes in their children, and they know that this is due to the support and guidance that their children receive from the staff, inspectors say.
How well children and young people are helped and protected: good
The children receive a high level of supervision and support from staff, which helps to keep them safe. Staff know the children’s risks and vulnerabilities and they follow the children’s up-to-date risk assessments. This reduces the likelihood of the children being exposed to unnecessary risks and helps them to feel safe.
The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good
Inspectors report that the service continues to provide much-needed support and respite for an increasing number of children and their families. The registered manager has a wealth of knowledge and she supports a stable staff team to provide good care to the children. The staff are creative. They continue to improve the home and provide the children with new opportunities to gain new experiences.
Children communicate their wishes and feelings. The staff understand the children’s subtle cues and respond appropriately to their requests, excitement, feelings of unhappiness, pain or discomfort. Communication resources continue to be developed. Children are helping the staff to complete a ‘I said you did’. This approach has helped one child receive the specific bedding they wanted for their stay.
Cllr Trevor Cave, Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s Services, said: “I’m proud to say that the home has been rated Good in every inspection since 2018, and the hard work of our staff means that the quality of services provided has remained consistent. My sincere thanks go to all the staff, whose dedication shines through in this inspection report.
“The home has been designed to provide a welcoming environment for the children who stay, which means that they always feel at home, where they enjoy spending time and can flourish.”
Pictured are respite home staff with representatives from our Children's services team
Top row: Dave Ainsworth, Matthew Boud, Trevor Adamson, Cllr Cave Trevor Cave, Jennette Rennison
Bottom row: Karen Simpson, Sue Hatton, Jade Walton, Diane Wharton, Denise Gillott, Vicky Gibbs, Danielle Higgs, Ashley Mullet