Children's Home run by Little Acorns London Beach Farm Limited in Kent

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children make significant progress in overcoming their previous experiences of trauma and abusive and neglectful relationships with adults. Supported by consultant psychotherapists, staff provide consistent and predictable care for children allowing them to build trusting relationships and a more positive view of themselves.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Managers are innovative in implementing research-led therapies to promote positive outcomes for children.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Children enjoy living at the home. Staff actively engage with them in play and meaningful activities so they have positive childhood experiences and memories.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Warm, caring relationships between children and staff allow children to feel safe. Children’s well-being is at the centre of all practice within the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Care planning is detailed and comprehensive resulting in children’s specific needs being identified. Staff regularly review strategies to meet children’s needs, minimise any risk of harm and promote positive outcomes.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home works proactively with external professionals to plan appropriate interventions to promote positive outcomes for children.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Shortfalls identified relate to irregular staff supervision, appraisal and therapeutic training for staff

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that staff receive good quality, regular supervision which allows them sufficient time to reflect on their practice and discuss matters relating to the children assigned to their care (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.2)  Ensure that staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. (the guide to the Quality Standards, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  Ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training need, particularly in relation to qualifications in therapeutic child care. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to eight children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation that provides an independent school for children at the home on the same site. The home specialises in the care and accommodation of children with disorganised attachment disorder, autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, global development delay, cognitive delay and speech and language difficulties. The home offers a 24 hour therapeutic curriculum to support specialist therapies.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

good

Through consistent and predictable care, children develop trusting relationships and a more positive view of themselves. A parent commented that the home has ‘always shown love, care and support. All areas of my child’s life have been made better’. Staff speak warmly of the children, acknowledging their progress and continually looking for strategies to support children to achieve positive outcomes. Staff closely supervise children, engaging them in meaningful dialogue and activities, protecting them and promoting their welfare. Staff place the well-being of children at the centre of their practice.

p.6

good

Children have a strong voice within the home. Daily community meetings provide a forum for them to express their views on day-to-day matters. More formal, individual consultation takes place prior to their looked after children reviews and as part of the Registered Manager’s review of the quality of care. Children also have regular key work sessions. Children feel listened to and valued. There have been no complaints from children since the previous inspection.

p.6

good

All children engage in education and are making progress. Effective links between staff and the on-site school foster partnership working to ensure children’s individual needs are met and they receive a consistency of approach. Children are confident and enjoy their educational experience. The end-of-year school concert demonstrated their full participation and delight in entertaining their guests. Children attend mainstream school when appropriate with a continuation of this partnership working. Children attending mainstream school have full attendance, have successfully integrated and are making exceptional progress.

p.6

good

Children access a wide range of recreational and social activities within the home and in the wider community according to their individual interests. Children report positively on playing with the other children, ‘going out on trips’, holidays and having fun. They attend clubs in the community such as gymnastics and dance, participate in Scouts and individual activities such as horse-riding according to their particular interests. This fosters their sense of belonging in the local community.

p.6

good

Children learn new skills at a pace appropriate to their age and ability. Older children are developing independence and daily living skills confidently in preparation for adult life. Through therapeutic interventions, children are learning coping skills to manage their emotions and keep themselves safe.

p.6

good

Detailed health plans ensure children receive health services according to their individual needs. Staff work in partnership with the home’s consultant psychotherapists and external health professionals to improve children’s physical and psychological well-being. Psychotherapists employed by the home are suitably qualified and supervised. Children with previous experiences of trauma and neglect are benefitting from this specialist psychological and emotional support and demonstrating reduced levels of anxiety. They are making attachments and developing skills to regulate their emotions and behaviour.

p.7

good

Staff work proactively with parents and carers to enable children to maintain positive and meaningful relationships. A parent commented that staff ’always involve me and I am very much part of decisions and a very active part of my child’s life’. Staff promote children’s relationships with friends outside the home, thus supporting their personal and social development.

p.7

good

The home provides a safe environment for children who have experienced unpredictable and unsafe situations in their past. Through close supervision from thoughtful and consistent staff, children develop a sense of safety, protection and trust in the adults who care for them. A child reported ‘I love the adults. This is a nice home cos it’s safe. Everyone cares about me’. A parent commented that the home has offered their child ‘a safe, stable and loving place to live’.

p.7

good

Staff identify and understand any risks associated with each child and have appropriate measures in place to protect them from harm. Individualised risk assessments are current. Positive behaviour support plans are comprehensive, identifying triggers and warning signs with guidelines and strategies to support children presenting challenging behaviour. Children receive effective support to manage their feelings safely, including therapeutic support to reduce their levels of anxiety. The staff team, therapists and managers regularly review such support through treatment planning meetings and child focus meetings to ensure children are receiving effective responses to their difficulties. Staff manage outbursts of physical aggression, resulting from children’s emotional difficulties, effectively. Physical restraint is used only when necessary to reduce the risk of harm to themselves and others or serious damage to property. The

p.7

good

Registered Manager has correctly focussed on closely monitoring incidents resulting in physical intervention and providing staff with support and training to reduce the incidence and necessity for physical intervention. Consequently, such incidents have significantly reduced since the last inspection. Incidents are properly recorded, including the views of the child and the staff involved. De-briefs with staff allow reflection on the incident to improve supportive strategies and ensure safe practice.

p.8

good

There have been no incidents of children leaving the home without permission but procedures are in place to ensure staff take appropriate action to protect the child and ensure their safe return if such an event occurs. Staff are aware of the risks of child sexual exploitation. Children do not have unsupervised access to the internet. Risks associated with using social media are addressed with children at an appropriate age to develop their understanding of keeping themselves safe.

p.8

good

Robust recruitment processes are now in place to safeguard children from unsuitable adults working with them. All checks on prospective employees are undertaken before they commence work at the home. All staff receive child protection and safeguarding training and have up to date knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures.

p.8

good

Health and safety checks are up to date. Appropriate fire safety measures are routinely applied.

p.8

good

The Registered Manager has been in post since 2013 and is currently working towards a level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People’s Services. With the support of a highly qualified deputy manager, he has undertaken a strategic, research-led review of the home’s therapeutic approach. He is introducing a more structured and integrated approach based on children’s detailed individual assessments that inform the treatment planning. This ensures children receive effective and measurable interventions to reduce their anxieties and promote positive outcomes.

p.8

good

Consultant psychotherapists provide direct therapy for children but also training and support for staff with the aim of embedding therapy into the day-to-day care. Appropriate staffing levels are in place to meet the needs of children living at the home, ensuring children are closely supervised, protected and supported to manage their emotional difficulties.

p.9

good

Staff undertake comprehensive training, including specialist therapeutic training from the deputy manager. On-going staff development to extend their knowledge and understanding of therapeutic approaches takes place in child focus meetings led by psychotherapists. However, staff do not undertake a formal therapeutic qualification. New staff undertake a thorough induction programme to prepare them for their role. Managers promote a reflective approach through team meetings, end of shift discussions and individual supervision. Supervision for staff is, however, inconsistent and not in line with the home’s policy. Not all staff have received an annual appraisal. This does not demonstrate effective and consistent performance management of staff to maintain safe practices within the home.

p.9

good

Staff report that ‘management and leadership are strong’ and staff use managers’ guidance, support and training to provide safe, consistent care and foster trusting relationships and positive outcomes.

p.9

good

Monitoring of the home has improved. The Registered Manager actively reviews the quality of care on an on-going basis. Monitoring reports by an independent person lead to action to address shortfalls and advance improvement. The independent person consults with children, staff and external professionals during their visits to obtain feedback and form an opinion on practice within the home. The Registered Manager is using these reports as part of the quality assurance process to identify and address shortfalls in practice.

p.9

good

Children’s’ views influence decisions about their care. Older children write their care plan. Children’s feedback results in changes to their support strategies thus improving their experience living at the home. Key working strategies have been adapted to take account of children’s developing maturity and their wish to have a much less formalised approach to their support.

p.9

good

Staff regularly review detailed care plans. In addition, separate treatment plans inform the care planning process. These plans provide in-depth identification of children’s needs and guidance for staff within a therapeutic framework. Children’s records are comprehensive and clearly document their progress and achievements. Proactive work with other agencies and professionals enhances the support provided by the home. Specialist assessment services provided by Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Maudsley Hospital supplies valuable information to plan effective interventions and approaches to individual children’s care. Close liaison with education staff allows strategies to be consistent between care staff and the on-site school. A social worker reported positively on their relationship with staff at the home stating ‘communication is excellent’ and the ‘child has made huge progress’ at the home.

p.9

good

The statement of purpose sets out the ethos of the home and the approach to care. On-going refurbishment of the home is taking place both internally and externally. Additional outside play resources are being installed for younger children. A social worker commented that the home has ‘a family feel’ and this is clearly evident.

p.10

good

Mangers carefully consider admissions to the home to ensure the child’s needs can be fully met and are compatible with the existing group. Transition planning, both for new residents and for children leaving the home, is well-managed to promote stability within the home and ensure children experience positive placement moves.

p.10

good

Significant events are appropriately referred to the relevant authorities ensuring action is taken to protect their safety and welfare. There has been one historical disclosure by a child. This has been appropriately referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer for consideration.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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