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 home provides care for up to seven children, aged eight to 17 on admission, who have learning disabilities and/or sensory impairment.

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Information about this children’s home

The experienced manager has been registered since 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to thrive and flourish at this home. Since the last inspection, Ofsted has agreed a minor variation, which enables the provider to offer a small number of additional placements. One carefully planned new admission since the full inspection demonstrates that the registered manager scrutinises suitability effectively. This approach maximises continuity for all of the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two of the quality standards from the last inspection are met. The statement of purpose has been amended to more accurately reflect the service offered. Two quality standards are repeated. This is because the manager could not demonstrate that the internal system for tracking staff progress during probation is used to full effect. In addition, while some improvement has been made to the content of children’s files, information is not yet organised in ways that are helpful to children or their parents. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 2 The manager thoroughly investigates any concerns raised about staff performance. Working with the responsible individual and the quality assurance manager, the manager takes decisive action to ensure that children are safe. However, on one occasion, the designated officer was not promptly informed of an allegation. This was appropriately addressed during this inspection and has no direct impact on the children.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Sampling of records shows that managers’ oversight of and commentary about staff actions following incidents are not sufficiently consistent. This does not demonstrate that the manager routinely scrutinises significant incidents that take place, for example when she is not present at the home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children do not go missing from this home. Some of the children can behave aggressively towards the staff, but the staff do a good job to manage challenging behaviour patiently and sensitively. Incidents at the home are reducing and the frequency of physical intervention, which is limited to only some of the children, is also reducing significantly.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff know the children well and build meaningful relationships with them. The children are safe and settled. The staff proactively and creatively encourage the children to develop their own interests and personalities. New relationships with providers in the local community mean that those children who want to have the opportunity to attend a local youth club. This is fun and inclusive.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2018 Full Good 07/03/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/07/2017 Full Inadequate

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the local authority designated officer is informed promptly of all allegations that come to the manager’s attention. For further information, including about the role of the local authority designated officer see Working together to safeguard children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.18)  Ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. (‘Guide to the children’s homes Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 3 regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) In particular, ensure that managers’ commentary about staff members’ actions is consistently recorded.  Ensure that the internal system for tracking progress during staff members’ probationary periods is followed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Ensure that information about the child is recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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

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’. Interim inspection report children’s home: 1248979 4

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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

Rosie Davie: 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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