Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 1 SC366107 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. Care and accommodation are provided for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and who may also have learning disabilities. The company has its own school and therapy team.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 February 2018

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 25 January 2017

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make exceptional progress in many areas of their development. As a result, every young person thrives physically, emotionally and psychologically.  The registered manager continues to motivate and inspire the staff team to provide the best possible care for young people.  A high level of staff attention to the care of young people means that nothing goes unnoticed.  Managers and staff have developed new initiatives. These include a young person’s independence package. This illustrates excellent progress for each young person and is a model worthy of wider dissemination.  Staff consistently strive to form nurturing and caring relationships for each young person.  Behaviour management is excellent.  Staff practice is informed by the use of research-based practice material and through access to comprehensive training opportunities.  Staff work hard with other professionals so that young people receive the best

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Key findings from this inspection

care and support.  Feedback from young people, professionals and family members is outstanding.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 01/10/2015 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people enjoy a fantastic standard of care from staff. This level of attention to care means that nothing goes unnoticed. Young people are extremely positive about their experiences of living at the home. One young person told the inspector, ‘I would give them 10/10 here. Life is much better now.’ Another young person was equally positive, and said, ‘It has made a difference to me. We are busy all the time and there is always someone to talk to.’ Young people enjoy living in a well-maintained, comfortable and homely environment. Staff have recently redecorated the house, and it reflects the young people’s choice and preferences throughout. Since the last inspection, one young person has left in a planned move to live independently. This move was well organised, and resulted in a smooth transition and successful new placement for him. Young people receive highly individualised packages of care. Managers and staff work

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

closely with each young person and professionals to promote young people’s self-worth and self-confidence. Staff are nurturing and fair and this approach means that young people feel safe, valued and secure. Young people make excellent progress at school and have plans for their future, including attending university and undertaking apprenticeships. Young people embrace the opportunities available to them and look forward to the future. A social worker said to the inspector, ‘His placement has been very positive. He has been able to continue to develop into a mature young man in a really nurturing environment.’ All young people attend school or college and their attendance is excellent. Staff liaise daily with schools. Staff take young people to school and, when necessary, support them throughout the day. One teacher told the inspector, ‘We work really closely with staff. There is brilliant communication both ways. They have made a big difference.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work hard to promote the physical, emotional or psychological health of every young person. All young people attend routine medical appointments, and some have therapeutic support. They enjoy a good-quality day-to-day life. For example, all young people take part in a variety of activities at home and in the community, including sport, clubs and leisure activities. One young person told the inspector, ‘There is always something to do. I don’t get bored!’ All young people are working on a new independence package. Staff help each young person to progress towards adulthood with appropriate skills, including budgeting, cooking and managing their personal time. Young people learn how to plan ahead, develop resilience, and to make the right choices in managing their lives. Managers and staff carefully analyse progress and target additional support when required. Staff also support young people to take measured risks. For example, one young person has more

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

free time in the community as part of his plan to move towards full independence. A social worker told the inspector, ‘He has made great progress in a relatively short space of time. It has been a really positive period for him. He likes it there, and is learning to become independent.’ A family member told the inspector, ‘He has changed so much Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 4 since being there, I am lost for words about the positive changes.’ Staff promote and support family contact by recognising its importance to a young person’s well-being. This includes supporting contact when families live a long distance away. One parent told the inspector, ‘Staff always make me feel welcome when I visit. I am fully included in his life.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

Staff put the welfare and safety of young people at the heart of their practice. Managers and staff understand the risks faced by young people and implement highly effective proactive plans that helps to reduce risks. Young people develop strong relationships with staff and care about staff opinions of them. The young people make good choices about how to spend their free time. Missing from care incidents have reduced, and there has only been one incident since the last inspection. Young people get on with each other extremely well. They spend time with each other, support one another, and each is a role model to the others. In the home, staff promote a strong ethos of respect and valuing others. Young people adopt this approach and their attitude and manner is a credit to each of them. The home has a warm, calm atmosphere where each young person is listened to and respected. Behaviour management is excellent. Staff support young people at times of crisis with a

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: outstanding

calm, consistent approach. This is successful, as staff are well-informed about potential triggers and how to manage them. Since the last inspection, incidents have decreased and there has been a low number of occasions when physical intervention was used by staff to manage a situation. Staff training and research-based practice has helped staff understand risks that young people face from potential radicalisation and sexual exploitation. Young people listen to advice from staff who are knowledgeable and well-informed about these issues. Thorough selection and vetting procedures reinforce young people’s safety and prevent unsuitable adults from working at the home. Health and safety checks are all completed in line with organisational expectations, and this means that young people enjoy a safe environment in which to live.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since 2011. She is appropriately qualified and is an extremely effective and inspirational leader. The registered manager and staff are all focused on providing the best service for young people, and this approach is at the centre of all that they do. Staff go above and beyond in ensuring that the service that they provide meets the needs of young people. Staff told the inspector that they are very well supported by managers. They have regular reflective supervision that enables them to discuss the care of young people as well as their own professional development. Staff have a fantastic range of training opportunities, including essential courses such as safeguarding and first aid. In addition, they undertake a range of courses relevant to specific young people’s needs, including Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 5 autistic spectrum disorder. All staff have training in the organisation’s secure base

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

therapeutic model. Staff clearly demonstrated how they used training and research to inform their practice with young people. This includes implementing the organisation’s therapeutic model, and understanding legal issues about storing images from mobile phones. Half the staff are qualified and have a diploma level 3 in caring for young people. The remaining staff will undertake the course once they have completed their probationary period. Managers continue to ensure that the home achieves its aims as set out in the statement of purpose. The registered manager works closely with the independent visitor, and makes sure that any actions identified are swiftly met. In addition, the registered manager scrutinises all aspects of the service to ensure that it continues to meet young people’s needs. The registered manager understands the strengths and areas for development of the home. Her development plan includes the full engagement of the young people. This has

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

resulted in the development of the garden area, planning team building days with young people’s involvement, and organising holidays. Managers and staff work very closely with other professionals and families. This close partnership working makes sure that young people’s progress continues to move forward. Staff and managers regularly review information held on young people’s files and liaise with professionals if information is missing. Managers and staff maintain young people’s records superbly. Everything is organised and to hand. Managers and staff involve young people in many areas of the home’s running. Young people contribute ideas about the furnishing and decoration of the home. Young people see advocates or other professionals for additional advice and support if they want to talk to someone outside the home. Attention to equality and diversity runs throughout all aspects of the service. Staff treat

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

all young people with dignity and respect. For example, managers adjusted the criteria in the independence package to reflect one young person’s needs. This ensured that he recognised the significant progress he is making. The requirement made at the last inspection is met, and the registered manager ensures that complaints are recorded, with actions and outcomes of any investigation. This ensures that the process is transparent.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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 Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 6 making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

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Information about this inspection

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 children’s home: SC366107 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Reflexion Care Group Ltd, Black Birches, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 3DH

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Inspector

Julia Wright, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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