Children's home run by Little Belsteads Care Home Limited

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 1 Registered provider: Little Belsteads Care Home Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned service provides care for up to four children who have learning disabilities.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the monitoring visit on 9 August 2017 the home was judged to be requires improvement to be good.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have started to make good progress since moving into the home. There has been a decrease in challenging behaviours as the children have settled and staff have gained a good understanding of their individual needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have comprehensive placement plans in place, which are regularly reviewed and updated. This supports the staff in understanding and working effectively with the children and supports them in helping the children to progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff understand the importance of the children being able to learn independence skills in line with their age, ability and understanding. One child has recently begun to Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 2 shower himself and clean his teeth, while another child can help himself to breakfast cereal and help staff clear away. The staff want children to have the skills to be able to do things independently, which will give them confidence and support them as they get older.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children receive appropriate consequences to help regulate their behaviours. The manager has devised an individual sanction book for each child, which has a picture exchange communication system on the front to support the children in being able to communicate to staff on how they were feeling prior to the sanction being given and their views on the sanction. The staff have thought about how children’s wishes and feelings can be obtained.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no incidents of children going missing. Each child has an individual missing from care protocol and risk assessment in place should this happen. There is appropriate security within the home to prevent children from leaving without the staff’s knowledge.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have a good understanding of safeguarding. All staff complete safeguarding training within the first three days of beginning work in the home. Safeguarding is discussed during staff meetings and supervision. The staff have the opportunity to discuss and keep up to date regarding safeguarding concerns in the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There are clear, comprehensive individual risk assessments in place, which are regularly reviewed and amended when necessary. These support the staff in understanding the children’s risks, which further safeguards them.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one complaint since the last inspection. This was regarding the storage of medication and was anonymously sent to Ofsted. The responsible individual responded appropriately and medication was checked during the inspection. Medication is stored and recorded appropriately. All staff undertake medication training and the manager completes monthly audits.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are up to date with their mandatory training. There is a vigorous induction programme in place, which supports new staff in understanding their roles and responsibilities. All staff have or are in the process of completing their national vocational award level 3.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been 29 physical interventions since the last inspection. The majority of these pertain to a child who can severally self-harm himself and are used appropriately. All holds are recorded and evaluated by the manager. The staff support the children in communicating their feelings regarding the hold. The staff complete detailed incident forms following a hold, which are evaluated by the manager. This enables the staff to look at trends and patterns of behaviours which can then be incorporated into the care plan and risk assessments.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The house is decorated to a good standard. The children’s bedrooms are personalised. Each child also has a personalised picture exchange communication system in their Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 3 room, which explains their morning routine. The children have had input into other areas of the home and there are photos of children around the house. There are picture exchange communication systems around the home to support children in understanding what to do in the event of a fire and how to complain. The kitchen has signs so the children know what is in each cupboard. There are large, well-maintained grounds surrounding the home. The home has a pig and horses and is looking at getting some more animals.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager began working in the home in August 2017. She is registered with Ofsted and has the relevant experience and qualifications to manage the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a very clear vision to drive the home forward and in a short space of time she has identified areas in the home that need improving and developing. She has begun to look at recording systems and placement plans, which will support the staff in working with the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The five requirements made at the last inspection have been met:  Risk assessments are in place, which support the staff in keeping the children safe.  Placement plans are detailed and comprehensive and support the staff in working with the children.  All staff are having regular supervision.  Staff are recording any physical interventions within 24 hours and complete a detailed incident form.  The manager has completed a detailed workforce plan to support the development of the home.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Full Monitoring visit Requires improvement to be good

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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 Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 4 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 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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Little Belsteads Care Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Little Belsteads, Back Lane, Little Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 3PP

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 5 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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