Children's home run by Quantum Care UK Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 1 SC417371 Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered for up to five young people aged eight to 18 who have complex needs which may include autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The manager has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager for the home.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 30 January 2018

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2018 Full Good 20/02/2017 Full Outstanding 29/06/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 3

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises and any limitations placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises— (i) is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; (ii) is necessary and proportionate; (iii) is kept under review, and if necessary, revised; and (iv) allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the practice of routinely locking some of the home’s internal doors is reviewed and scrutinised more effectively. 31/07/2018

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all employees have access to their supervision records and appraisals within reasonable time scales. 31/07/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress while living at this home. Members of staff understand the children’s needs and they nurture and support the children well. Consequently, the children feel listened to and valued. One child said that their keyworker ‘treats me like her own’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide the children with encouragement and opportunities to voice their views and feelings. This approach means that any issues are discussed and resolved in a low key way and, as a result, there have been no formal complaints.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff fully understand the benefit of education and work very hard to support the children in their educational placements. Attendance at school is very good, particularly taking into account the children’s starting points. Good attendance has enabled the children to take exams and to plan for their academic future by seeking college placements. This represents a significant improvement for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Support given to children regarding healthcare is carefully and sensitively delivered. The children are supported to attend appointments and staff ensure that they understand how to manage any long-term conditions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support has helped children to develop their resilience and confidence. They have also learned key life skills such as conflict resolution and negotiation. This means that volatile incidents have lessened and that the children are very settled. One child said: ‘I don’t get cocky and angry like before. My keyworker has taught me about the positive stuff in life.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The stability that the staff have provided to the children has enabled them to reflect on their experiences and relationships. This has been particularly effective in renewing and strengthening the children’s relationships with their carers and families. As a result, some of the children spend more time with their parents and are now able to stay with them overnight. This meaningful progress is a direct result of the skilled staff insight and strong commitment and support given to the children and their families.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

To ensure that a positive culture has been established and maintained, the manager carefully considers and oversees admissions to the home. This means that children have an opportunity to benefit from each other’s company, cultures and backgrounds and to have a positive influence on how the home is run.

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

Staff prioritise the safety of the children. They are aware of each child’s abilities and vulnerabilities. Staff offer sound support and advice to the children and this educates and equips them to understand potential risks and how to minimise these. For example, the children are aware of which parts of the local area may pose a risk due to anti-social Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 5 behaviour and incidents of crime and they have learned how to keep safe while using the internet.

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

Incidents of children going missing are rare. If children do go missing, the support that staff provide to ensure that they return safely is diligent and well-thought through. Staff have been trained in subjects such as child protection and in recognising the signs of child sexual exploitation. Staff know what to do and who to inform if they have any concerns.

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

Any concerns and incidents are shared promptly with relevant agencies and this means that action can be taken to promote the children’s well-being.

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

Members of staff develop positive relationships with the children as a means of ensuring that there is mutual respect and tolerance in the home. This leads to a relaxed atmosphere where the children turn to staff for support and enjoy their company.

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

Boundaries are made clear to the children and this assists them in developing positive behaviour and in reflecting on how their actions can impact on others. If sanctions are used, they are appropriate and the children say that they think that the rules are fair. Restraint is rarely used and when it is used, the incident is suitably scrutinised by the manager. Additionally, everyone who was involved is given the opportunity to reflect on and think about how to resolve the incident.

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

All necessary checks are carried out on the premises to ensure that they are safe. Fire drills are carried out and young people know what to do in the event of an emergency. The premises are well maintained and a programme of refurbishment is ongoing. Staff are successful in their ongoing efforts to make the house comfortable and homely and a place where the children can relax.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager provides strong leadership and ensures that members of staff are child- centred in their approach. She has applied to Ofsted to become the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager monitors the progress that children make and ensures that they continue to benefit from living at this home. She is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the service and implements plans to continue to improve the quality of care. Staff are ambitious for the children and strongly advocate for them when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been an ongoing recruitment drive for new members of staff and the manager has made sure that there have been no new admissions to the home until she is confident that there are enough experienced staff to meet all of the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager values good, ongoing support from senior managers. However, evidence to support this, for example formal records of supervision sessions, is not available. Additionally, the manager has not received a copy of her annual appraisal which took place over three months ago. These shortfalls mean that the manager has no formal Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 6 record of how she is performing or how any issues are being addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

A requirement made at the last inspection has not been fully addressed by the manager. The locking of some internal doors has continued at night-time and this practice has not been sufficiently scrutinised or reviewed to ensure that it is appropriate or justified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is very good at liaising with external agencies such as social workers, schools and police officers. Her conscientious approach ensures that all professionals are kept up to date with important information and that advice and support for the children is put in place promptly and effectively when this is needed.

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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: SC417371 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fifth Floor, 80 Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UD

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Inspector

Paul Taylor: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC417371 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 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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