Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report children’s home: 1256912 1 SC065517 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: This is the first inspection since the home reopened after some years of not accommodating children.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not judged

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The children who have recently come to live at the home are responding to the Inspection report children’s home: 1256912 2 nurturing, individualised care provided by the staff.

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is committed to providing intensive support to the new staff team.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The focus of the manager and the staff is on building positive, trusting relationships with the children.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 The manager is establishing a culture within the home where the children feel valued and respected through the staff listening to their views and responding to their needs.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Care plans and risk assessments provide the staff with clear direction and guidance to provide appropriate support for the children.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 There are no individual risk assessments in place to show that children’s bedroom door alarms are necessary to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2017 Interim Not judged 07/02/2017 Interim Not judged 28/09/2016 Interim Not judged 17/02/2016 Interim Not judged Inspection report children’s home: 1256912 3

p.2

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24(1)(a)) In particular, the use of monitoring should be individually risk- assessed to show that it is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child. 25/05/2018

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A group of children has recently come to live at the home. In a short period, they are responding to the consistent, nurturing and well-planned care provided by the staff. The staff recognise the distinct needs of each child and tailor their support so that each child has opportunities to develop in their own unique way.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are making positive signs of progress. Children, who have not attended school for a significant time before living at the home, are now attending. Sensitive appreciation of the children’s specific difficulties and close communication with the school staff enable the children to have a positive education and learning experience.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Close monitoring of the children’s physical and emotional health needs ensures that they receive support to maintain good health. The staff encourage and provide opportunities for the children to take part in positive activities and understand the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s views are important to the staff. Through the trusting relationships they are developing with the staff, the children are at ease in expressing their wishes and feelings. They are choosing the colours to decorate their rooms and other parts of the home. The manager is keen to develop key working with the children as they become Inspection report children’s home: 1256912 4 more confident in discussing their opinions with the staff and appreciate that the staff listen and respond.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Supporting the children to maintain positive relationships with their families is important to the staff. Already some of the children are making positive steps in re-establishing relationships which in the past have been difficult.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are comfortable and relaxed living at the home. They are becoming more sociable and self-confident knowing that the staff respond to their needs.

p.4

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

In a short period, the children are settling, starting to engage with the staff and interact with the other children. They are responding to the nurturing care from the staff and to the routines and boundaries within the home.

p.4

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

Care plans and risk assessments are detailed and comprehensive. They give the staff clear information and guidance on how to support the children and meet their specific needs. The manager and the staff understand the risks associated with each child and appropriate measures are in place to reduce the potential of harm.

p.4

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

Sensitive and thoughtful strategies show that the staff are keen to understand the meaning of the children’s behaviour. As they get to know the children, the staff are able to identify possible triggers for difficult behaviour. They are able to use suitable interventions to de-escalate potentially challenging behaviour and keep the children safe.

p.4

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

The staff have undertaken training in managing the children’s behaviour, including the use of physical intervention when necessary. The manager closely monitors incidents involving physical intervention. Excellent follow-up includes a discussion with the child and a thorough de-brief with the staff, resulting in advice on future practice to avoid or minimise the impact of this form of behaviour management.

p.4

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

The staff receive broad training in safeguarding the children. They appreciate the risks that the children face in relation to going missing, sexual exploitation and e-safety. The staff respond effectively when a child leaves the home without permission. They apply agreed procedures to safeguard the child and ensure their safe return. Children with a history of being missing have reduced this behaviour and are safer since living at the home.

p.4

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

The children’s bedroom doors are alarmed to alert the staff when a child leaves their bedroom at night. This practice has not been individually risk-assessed to ensure that it is necessary to safeguard the children and promote their welfare. Inspection report children’s home: 1256912 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has recently re-opened after some years when there have been no children living there. An experienced manager is in post who is applying for registration. He leads a new staff team which has had a thorough induction to its roles and comprehensive training before beginning work with the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aspirational. He is passionate about providing high-quality care to promote positive outcomes for the children. He is committed to giving an intense level of support and direction for the staff through role modelling effective support, constructive supervision and regular team meetings.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

With the correct initial focus on building relationships with the children, the manager and the staff are getting to know the children well. They are able to provide the level of individualised support to gain the children’s trust and help them accept the assistance offered to move forward with their lives.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Appropriate systems for recording are in place. The manager is closely monitoring the progress of the children and the staff’s practice to ensure that the children are receiving the right level of support to keep them safe and advance their development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear focus on establishing the culture and ethos of the home. Involving the children in day-to-day matters through informal discussions, children’s meetings and key-work sessions is fundamental. The aim is to encourage the children to have a sense of belonging in the home and engagement with staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is laying solid foundations to develop the home to provide a safe and stable environment where children can thrive and achieve their potential.

p.5

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 making for the children and young people whom it is trying to help, protect and look after.

p.5

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: 1256912 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

p.6

Inspector

Jan Hunnam, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256912 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7