Children's home run by Enabling Futures Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: SC426751 1 SC426751 Registered provider: Enabling Futures 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

The home is run by a private organisation and provides care and accommodation for six children who may have learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 December 2018

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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: 14 December 2017

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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: SC426751 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/12/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 19/07/2016 Full Good 09/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC426751 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(h)). In particular, that management continually review the measures of physical intervention and consider alternative measures of control. 04/02/2019

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Recommendations

 Staff should have the skills and confidence to communicate easily and understand the importance of listening to, involving and responding to the children they care for (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.10). In particular, staff would benefit from training to improve their skills and understanding in relation to the needs of children with communication difficulties.  For some children who have experienced severe trauma, have mental health difficulties or have been excluded or out of education for significant periods, it may be necessary to address and work through their past experiences and present needs before they can positively participate in learning activities and formal education. Staff in children’s homes will play a key role in supporting these children in line with their personal education plan or EHC (education, health and care) plan and recommendations from education and health professionals.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 26, paragraph 5.3)  The registered person must have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and Inspection report children’s home: SC426751 4 experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from good-quality care that enables them to make steady and sustained progress from their starting points. Since the last inspection there has been a high turnover of staff. However, the staff work consistently in their care of children and individual needs continue to be met. A parent said, ‘She is happier there now, they are managing her well and have a good understanding of her needs.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children to contribute their views and opinions, dependent on each child’s communication style and ability. For example, some children have a pictorial exchange system (PECS) that they use in school, ‘now and next boards’ or objects of reference to help them communicate. However, staff would benefit from training to improve their skills and understanding in relation to the needs of children with communication difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers recognise the importance of transitional work to help children understand why change is happening and ensure that they are well prepared for moving on from, or into, the home. During the inspection, a child went for an introductory visit to their new home and there are plans for further visits before they move. This helps to develop trusting relationships between the child and their new carers, and enhances the likelihood of a smooth transition.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children’s attendance and engagement in education. There is daily contact between the home and all the schools to ensure that the children’s learning needs are fully supported. However, there are times when a child’s past experiences and present needs can impact on their positive participation and engagement. For example, a young person is struggling with the move from high school to college and this is impacting on their attendance levels. Staff are working closely with educational professionals to help the young person re-engage with their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s health needs are supported effectively. Staff work well with parents and health professionals to ensure improvements in the children’s overall health and well- being. For example, they have arranged for a home visit from a child’s dentist, to help the child to cope with future visits to the dentist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities and experiences, considering their age and abilities. Examples include cadets, pony patch, trampolining, basketball and football. Staff work positively with family members to promote safe and meaningful contact. Staff drive children to their home areas to spend time with their families. Parents are also welcomed into the home to spend time with their children. A parent said, ‘It’s quite Inspection report children’s home: SC426751 5 amazing, I ring every night and get an update… I still feel very part of his life, we are made very welcome at the home.’

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to safeguard vulnerable children. Detailed risk assessments provide clear direction for staff on how to support children to live safely in the home and to spend time in the community.

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

There have been no safeguarding concerns or complaints about staff since the last inspection. Good staffing ratios ensure that the children do not go missing from the home.

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

Staff do not use sanctions to modify the children’s behaviour. Staff use a range of suitable behaviour management strategies with children, such as change of face and distraction. These strategies are clearly set out within the children’s individual plans and reviewed on a regular basis. There is a high level of physical intervention recorded. Records show that the majority of these are non-restrictive guides to ensure that children remain safe. However, as part of the home’s ongoing development, the management should continually review the measures of physical intervention against alternative measures. This will help staff to improve their own practice and increase the children’s ability to regulate their own behaviour.

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

All staff are checked and vetted as part of the provider’s recruitment procedures. Staff ensure that visitors provide identification before entering the home. This ensures that children are protected from unsuitable people who may pose a risk to them. The manager notifies the relevant agencies when she has concerns about the welfare and safety of children; currently there are no concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a qualified and experienced registered manager. The manager is well supported by a qualified and experienced assistant manager. Together they are committed to delivering good-quality care to children who have highly complex needs. Good monitoring of the children’s progress ensures improved outcomes for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well resourced and is achieving its aims and objectives as set out in the statement of purpose. The home’s capacity to improve is good and all the requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Individual staff said that they are well supported by the management team. Regular senior meetings and team meetings help to drive improvements within the home. However, there has been a lapse in the regularity of supervision for some staff. This is important as it provides them with the opportunity to reflect on their performance and Inspection report children’s home: SC426751 6 practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are up to date with their mandatory training. Input from a specialist service is helping the staff to manage the children’s behaviour effectively. Parents and professionals confirmed that there is good communication between them and the home. The manager can clearly demonstrate the positive impact that living at the home is having on the lives of children.

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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: SC426751 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Enabling Futures Limited

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Inspector

Michelle Bacon: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC426751 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 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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