Behind the Rating: Tailor-made care from loyal staff

The past year has been good to The Bungalow. First, the children's resource centre that the children's home is attached to was refurbished; then it achieved the National Autistic Society's Autism Accreditation; and now it is celebrating another glowing Ofsted report.

What makes its Ofsted success all the more notable is that the home offers both short breaks and longer-term residential placements for 10-to 19-year-olds with severe learning difficulties.

Though a challenge to deliver, this dual service is advantageous since it means The Bungalow constantly reassesses its work. "Short breaks and longer-term placements do require different approaches," says Helen Simmons, its registered manager. "We're constantly making sure we've got the balance right because it's not right for everybody to live in a short break unit. If it is not right then we would seek a more appropriate placement."

This attention to individual needs runs deep in The Bungalow's DNA. So much so that Ofsted highlighted how comprehensive each individual's care plan was and how this results in "care that promotes all aspects of their individual needs and identity".

In keeping with this, rooms are individualised to account for young people's likes and dislikes. "Thankfully we've got staff who are really artistic and really good at making wall murals and changing the scenes of the bedrooms regularly so that they are updated to the current trends. It's not a homely building but we do our best to make it as homely as possible."

Ofsted noted that the staff are "very enthusiastic and motivated" and, says Simmons, their commitment is crucial to the young people. "Because of the way we work and the way we are constantly trying to improve, people stay," she says. "It's been a stable team and that's really helped us in developing a relationship with the young people and building their self-esteem."

A strong training programme is one part of fostering this commitment but so is enabling staff to do what they are best at, says Simmons. "We really look at the skills of the staff and make sure we are using them to our best advantage. If someone's really good at making communications systems for young people then we will make that their role. We always make sure the staff are interested in what we are asking them to do so there's always a new angle for them."

The Autism Accreditation also fits in with the culture of constant improvement. "We found that really helpful," says Simmons. "We had to meet 287 standards, which are all around the specific needs of young people with autism but there isn't anything in there that wouldn't be helpful for young people without autism. It really made us think about the building and equipment. In fact, as a result we asked the Rockinghorse Children's Charity to raise money for our outdoor gym equipment."

The gym - complete with non-mechanical cross-trainer bike and treadmill - is popular with the young people. "It's been fantastic," she adds. "It's a great way for them to keep fit and be independent on gym equipment in our own back garden. It's very popular, particularly with the older boys - they love it."

FACT FILE

Location Eastbourne, East Sussex

Description The Bungalow is a local authority children's home run by East Sussex County Council. It offers care and accommodation to 10- to 19-year-olds who have severe learning difficulties. Its services are a mixture of short break care and residential placements. It has around 20 staff including part-time workers. The county council's independent advocate visits each week on different days.

Number of children The Bungalow has seven beds for children in residential placements, but also offers short break services for young people.

Ofsted inspection unique reference number SC031410

HELPFUL HINTS

• Keep it tidy The Bungalow's approach to mess and damage is similar to the 'broken windows' policing theory, which says that when neighbourhoods are left in a run-down state it encourages further neglect. "Maintaining the environment is one of the most simple things to do," says Simmons. "Keep it tidy, keep it clean, make sure breakages are not acceptable. It really does help with the self-esteem of both the young people and the staff."
• Don't stop improving "Never think 'oh, we're outstanding now so that's it'," says Simmons. "Always think: 'How can we make this better?'"
• Try to provide what people want from the service As an example Simmons points to how The Bungalow offers parents and carers a choice of dates for short breaks rather than telling them which days they can use the service. "As far as possible we say to parents and carers 'are there any particular days you want?' and then we try to fit them in," says Simmons. "It would be much easier to go 'here are your dates' - that would be easy - but it's about making sure the service does what people want it to."