This inspection took place on 19 October 2016 and was unannounced. We undertook this inspection in response to an Ofsted inspection which rated the college as 'inadequate' in safeguarding students. We wanted to be sure that residential students were safe and their needs were being met.

Hereward College is a further education college for students with disabilities and additional needs. They provide specialist facilities for both day and residential students with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. They also provide respite care breaks for 16 to 25 year olds. At the time of our visit, 23 students were using the residential accommodation.

The residential unit had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff told us the management team were open and transparent. The management team were open with us about their recent Ofsted inspection and the actions they had already taken to put things right. However during our visit, we saw information about an incident which had been dealt with by the college, which we believed should have been reported to the safeguarding authorities.

There were enough staff on duty during the 24 hour period to maintain student safety. Students understood the college's safeguarding procedure and felt confident in reporting any concerns to staff.

Students enjoyed living in the residential unit. They told us staff were caring and fun to be with. Students enjoyed learning to be more independent and developing life skills they could use in the future. They liked the activities they participated in both within and outside of the campus grounds. Students enjoyed the meals they planned, and helped to prepare and cook.

Students told us they felt safe at Hereward College. Student safety was maintained through recruitment practice which minimised the risks of employing unsuitable staff; secure premises and procedures which reduced the risks of uninvited visitors accessing the flats; and through good risk assessments of students health and social care needs.

The college nursing team provided students with good support to meet their healthcare needs. If students needed to visit or be seen by other healthcare professionals such as the GP, these were arranged. The nursing team supported staff with training to help them understand some of the complex needs of students who lived on campus.

Student received their medicines as prescribed. This was either with support from staff, or through self administration. The nursing team oversaw medicine management to ensure medicines were administered safely. Students health and social care needs were also supported by occupational therapists, psychologists and speech and language therapists.

Residential staff enjoyed their work, and most had worked at the college for a long time. They had received training to meet the needs of students who lived on campus, and were provided with management support to undertake their roles effectively. They knew how to safeguard students and who to report any safeguarding concerns to.

Staff cared for the students at the college, and supported them in ways that respected their privacy and dignity. They understood the importance of seeking student consent before undertaking any task, and worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.

Students knew who were the team leaders and the registered manager. They felt able to talk to them if they had any concerns about life at the college. There were regular opportunities for students to voice their opinions about college life, and students told us staff acted promptly if they raised any points. Students were fully involved in planning their care and support needs

This inspection took place on 5 November 2015 and was unannounced.

Hereward College is a further education college for students with disabilities and additional needs. They provide specialist facilities for both day and residential students with complex disabilities and learning difficulties. They also provide respite care breaks for 16 to 25 year olds. At the time of our visit, 27 students were using the residential accommodation.

The college has a registered manager responsible for the residential accommodation. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Since our last inspection in 2013, there have been two safeguarding concerns raised. One in relation to a person who received respite support at the college, and another in relation to a student who previously lived at the college. Prior to these incidents the college had started an external review of its policies and procedures to ensure the safety of students and people who received respite care. As a consequence of investigations by the local authority, the college extended the remit of the review to learn lessons from these.

Staff understood their responsibility to safeguard students from harm. Staff were available at the times students needed them and had received training so that students care and support needs were met. Where risks associated with people’s health and wellbeing had been identified, there were plans to manage those risks.

Staff understood the importance of supporting student's independence and providing choice. They understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act, and management were aware of Deprivation of Liberty safeguards. At the time of our visit, no student living on site was considered to lack capacity to make their own decisions. Students told us they were supported to be independent, and were able to engage in hobbies and activities that interested them.

Students were supported to menu plan and encouraged to cook their own meals where possible. Students ate in their own flats and also used college facilities for meals. Since our last visit, the college has worked to improve the understanding of both staff and students in relation to healthy eating.

Students were referred to external healthcare professionals to ensure their health and wellbeing was maintained, as well as being referred to healthcare staff based on campus. These included a nursing team, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists. Medicines were managed so that people received their medication as prescribed.

There were processes to monitor the quality and safety of the service provided and to understand the experiences of students who lived on site. Arrangements were in place so that actions were taken following concerns raised, for the benefit of students who lived in the accommodation.

We looked at the care and support provided to residential students at Hereward College. They told us,

"I'm really enjoying it - it's a good college. The support from the staff is brilliant."

"The accommodation is really good. It gives you a sense of independence and having your own space...nothing is too much for anyone."

"The staff are absolutely fab - you can have a laugh but at the same time they know there is a job to do."

We looked at the nutrition provided to students. We were satisfied students received nutrition and hydration to meet their needs. Students were also given good support to develop independent cooking skills.

We looked at the equipment used to support the care and well being of students in their stay at Hereward College. We saw there were good systems in place to ensure equipment was safe and well maintained.

We talked with staff about the support they received from the college to help them work effectively with student care. Staff told us they felt well supported to undertake their roles.

We looked at cleanliness and infection prevention measures. We saw the accommodation was clean and tidy. There were good systems in place to prevent the spread of infection.

We looked at the complaints procedure. We saw the complaints procedure was accessible. The college had taken the small number of complaints it had received seriously. Students told us they felt able to inform staff if they had concerns.

Hereward College fully involved students in expressing their views as to what was important to them in relation to their care needs. One student told us “the college is good at recognising people’s individual needs; they accept everyone, the students and everyone else”

We observed students being treated with dignity and respect. We were told by one student “the staff ask us for our opinions…yes I think they do listen to what I say”.

We saw good care planning and assessment records to ensure the safety and well being of students.

We noted staff had received training to help them identify and understand what to do if they were concerned a student was being abused (safeguarding adults). Students told us they felt safe at the college.

We saw sufficient staff on duty to meet the care and nursing needs of students. Staff had been well trained to understand the individual needs of students. One student told us “we have consistent staff, they have different titles, some are care support, some are mentors, and there are also nurses…staff work in the same flats so we get to know them pretty well”.

We saw records which demonstrated good recruitment practices ensuring people who worked in the college were safe to work with students.

The college had good systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of residential provision and care support provided to students living on campus.