Children's home run by Holistic Approach Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1244460 1 Registered provider: Holistic Approach 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 privately owned and run. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

A registered manager has been in place since 2016.

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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 good

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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: 12 September 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: 1244460 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1244460 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience (Regulation 33 (4)(b)). In particular, supervision must be carried out within the company’s expected timescales. 31/08/2018

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Recommendations

 Staff must support children with home study by encouraging them to learn independent study skills and helping them to practise those skills. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18) In particular, ensure that school-time activities for those not accessing full- time education are linked to educational goals and targets.

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) In particular, ensure that the staff sleep-in room is redecorated and repaired and young people’s bedroom doors are improved to be less institutional in their appearance.

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Recommendations

 Homes that care for children who have, or are likely, to sexually offend should establish the extent to which friendships can be supported, in line with the child’s relevant plans and subject to the safety of all concerned. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 38, paragraph 8.8)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people experience care that gives them unfailing emotional support, high levels of warmth and a sense of belonging. The quality of relationships that is offered by staff enables young people to make sustained individual progress that significantly effects their life chances and outcomes. One social worker commented: ‘The difference is that he feels wanted and feels loved.’ Inspection report children’s home: 1244460 4 The methods that staff and managers bring to working with young people are informed and enriched by research-based approaches. From previous life experiences of trauma, disappointment and feelings of rejection, young people grow in confidence, emotional resilience and self-worth. The highly complex and challenging needs that some young people present are met with patience and continuous positive regard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide very strong and consistent role models that young people actively learn from and trust. Young people flourish as their sense of belonging and security grows, which in turn results in positive and sustained changes in behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff work extremely well with other professionals to continuously improve the high- quality care that is offered. In addition, the insight and depth of knowledge that staff develop of young people are recognised by other professionals. For example, therapeutic services have sought ongoing input and guidance from staff on how to improve the delivery of their services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people’s identities are nurtured and enhanced through well-supported contact arrangements. In addition, they are supported to develop as individuals and make positive contributions to society, such as obtaining and sustaining part-time jobs and extended work placements. Young people grow in their potential, feel secure and develop aspirations for their futures because of the excellent care that staff provide.

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

Young people are safer and are protected from harm through living at the home. For some young people, there has been positive and exceptional change in their behaviours that once posed a risk to their welfare and safety. Young people rarely go missing from home and, since the last inspection, there have not been any incidents or risks of child sexual exploitation and no drug or alcohol misuse by young people.

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

Staff work extremely hard to effectively manage young people’s feelings that might result in conflict or discord. Staff quickly establish rapport with young people new to the home and work tirelessly in establishing routines, boundaries and a sense of safety. As a result, incidents that in previous placements led to placement breakdown are now reduced in number, duration and frequency.

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

Young people learn to identify how they feel and manage negative feelings in more acceptable ways. Staff and managers actively evaluate their practice to ensure that de- escalation techniques are fully individualised and young people continue to learn better ways of expressing their emotions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She has been registered to manage the home since 2016. She was not present for this inspection; however, assistance was offered by the deputy manager and quality assurance manager. Inspection report children’s home: 1244460 5 The managers lead an enthusiastic and committed staff team. Staff are well supported by managers and they work as a team in the delivery of care. There is a clear sense of shared ownership and collaboration in their aspirations and ambitions for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a strong managerial presence within the home and young people and staff alike benefit from this day-to-day oversight. However, staff supervision does not always occur within the company’s timescales and expectations. As a result, opportunities are missed by managers to ensure that staff benefit from individual reflective time and goal setting.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Careful consideration is given to any young person joining the home. This ensures that placements do not come to an end in an unplanned way and that young people continue to feel secure. Decisions in this respect are focused solely upon the needs and continuing stability of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work hard to ensure that young people benefit as much as possible from their care plans. When young people are not able to access full-time education, staff provide structured time and activities. However, opportunities to focus some activities on educational goals and targets are missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from a wide range of training that enhances their skill base and understanding of young people’s needs. However, restrictions and safety measures for some young people have not benefited from focused managerial review. As a result, evaluation of the continuing suitability of some arrangements has been missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home environment overall is reasonably well maintained. However, areas of the home would benefit from repair and decorative improvement.

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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: 1244460 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holistic Approach Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8, Meadow Court, Amos Road, Sheffield S9 1BX

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Inspector

Pauline Yates, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1244460 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 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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