Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC372661 1 SC372661 Registered provider: Bryn Melyn Care

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The service is owned by a private company. The home is registered to accommodate one child. Children come to live at the home as a result of family or placement breakdowns, which might occur in birth and adoptive families, foster placements and other residential placements. Some children have particular difficulties that make their situation very difficult, or they choose not to live in a family setting at this time. Some children have experienced abuse.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of this home has been in post since 01 January 2018. Her application to register as manager is currently with Ofsted. She is nearing her completion of the level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care, and children and young people’s services residential management pathway.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC372661 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Good 11/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC372661 3

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with the child. As she is becoming more confident, and developing her self-esteem, they are increasingly encouraging her to make progress. For example, staff have successfully supported her to return to full-time education. Her attendance is now good and she is progressing well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff continue to help the child to develop the skills that she will need to be independent in adulthood. She is confident around the house, washing, cleaning and cooking for herself. Staff are now focusing on developing her social skills out in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote positive contact between the child and her peers. As a result, the child is increasingly able to enjoy the time she spends with friends and is experiencing a wide range of activities.

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

The positive relationships between the staff and the child, and effective management of risks, result in the child feeling ‘settled’ and ‘safe’. High-risk incidents are rare, and missing-from-care incidents have reduced significantly.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident when the child went missing. Staff managed this proactively, working in partnership with the police. The police care home coordinator stated, ‘From the outset staff were organised… The manager and her team have been excellent at communicating, and this has assisted police throughout the investigation.’ As a result, actions have been taken to ensure the long-term safety of the child.

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

Staff work closely with other professionals to help the child learn the skills that she requires to keep herself safe. For example, the police community support officer has delivered internet safety training. This educating approach has supported the child to Inspection report children’s home: SC372661 4 reduce high-risk behaviours by making better-informed decisions.

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

Since the last inspection, the house has begun to be refurbished and personalised to make it more homely and welcoming. The ongoing work has involved the child, focusing on her hobbies and interests. For example, a new shed has been erected in the garden to house her guinea pigs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, the new manager has continued to work hard to drive positive change. As a result, all of the requirements from the last inspection are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are knowledgeable and are well supported by the manager and deputy. Staff receive regular supervision and are appropriately qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff work closely with external professionals such as teachers and social workers. Professionals state, ‘The manager and deputy are always available’ and, ‘We are kept well informed of significant events in the child’s life.’ However, some feedback received from external professionals to improve practice and outcomes is not always quickly acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation, managers and staff listen to the child. This makes her feel valued. For example, the manager talks to her before choosing which staff will work in the home. This ensures that the child feels confident and comfortable with all staff working in the home.

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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 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: SC372661 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Edward James House, Hadley, Telford TF1 6QJ

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Inspector

Dawn Bennett, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC372661 6 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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