Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 1 SC366107 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group 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 operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to three young people who have social and emotional difficulties and who may also have a learning disability. The company has its own school and a therapeutic team. The manager has been registered since 2011 and is suitably qualified.

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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 outstanding

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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: 20 February 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/02/2018 Full Outstanding 25/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/09/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people continue to make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives. They enjoy living in a well-maintained, comfortable and homely environment, where staff work endlessly to create an atmosphere that is full of warmth, respect and individualised care. Staff quickly form trusting relationships with young people. This helps young people to start to trust adults and to invest in their placement. Consequently, young people thrive physically, emotionally and socially. Staff use creative approaches, including pie charts and graphs, to help young people to review their progress and to agree new goals. One social worker told the inspector, ‘The team have gone out of their way to make sure that they know how to support and encourage young people on an individualised basis.’ Staff work closely with education and therapy colleagues to ensure that young people’s needs are fully understood. This coordinated support means that young people’s

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

achievements, school attendance and behaviour all improve. For example, two young people are now making exceptional progress in their learning and have high aspirations for their future. The registered manager has advocated for another young person to ensure that the right education provision has been secured. One parent told the inspector, ‘My son has gone from a non-school attender to being in full-time education in a matter of months.’ Staff promote good health and recognise the importance of ensuring that young people’s emotional and physical well-being is met. Staff actively encourage young people to take part in activities to keep them occupied and to enhance their experiences. As a result, they have positive free time and do not get bored.

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

All staff have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities and are vigilant about how to safeguard young people from harm. The registered manager and staff understand the risks young people face and keep themselves well informed about risks associated with social media, child exploitation and county lines. Staff work creatively to ensure that they maintain a climate where mutual trust, respect and confidence are embedded into their care practice. This support helps young people to begin to make sensible choices, for example about how to spend their free time. As a result, young people do not go missing from the home. Good-quality risk assessments are in place. These are detailed records that reflect changes in young people’s behaviour and vulnerabilities. Staff use these records to ensure that they maintain an excellent understanding of young people’s individual needs and risks. The registered manager responds robustly to any safeguarding incidents, offering

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

support to young people and staff. Staff approach challenging behaviours with understanding and compassion. Staff look past the behaviour being displayed and instead try to understand the young person’s Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 4 feelings and what they are trying to communicate. This helps young people to develop the skills to self-regulate their feelings and to control their emotions. Thorough selection and vetting procedures ensure that staff are recruited safely and so risks to young people are well managed and minimised. Health and safety checks are all completed in line with organisational expectations. This means that the young people enjoy and live in a safe environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post since 2011. She is suitably qualified and experienced and provides excellent leadership. The registered manager continues to motivate and inspire the staff to provide the best possible care to young people. One social worker told the inspector, ‘I have been very impressed with the professionalism of the manager and the whole staff team at [Name of the home]. As a professional, it has made my role easier knowing that they are so good at what they do. I would recommend this provision to other professionals.’ The registered manager understands both the strengths and the areas for further development in the home. She continues to ensure that the home achieves its aims as set out in the statement of purpose. The registered manager scrutinises all aspects of the service to ensure that it continues to meet young people’s needs. Over half of the staff are suitably qualified and have a level 3 diploma in caring for

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

young people, or the equivalent qualification. The remaining staff are enrolled on the award and are working towards completing the qualification. Staff report that the manager is incredibly supportive. They have regular supervision and reflective practice sessions that enable them to discuss the care of young people, as well as their own practice. Staff have a comprehensive and relevant range of training opportunities, including essential courses such as safeguarding and first aid. In addition, they undertake a range of training courses that are specific to individual young people’s needs. These include awareness training relating to young people who may have autistic spectrum disorder. The therapy team offers clinical support sessions to staff to develop their understanding of young people’s behaviours and presenting difficulties. As a result, young people are helped and protected by staff who are skilled in keeping young people safe. The

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

registered manager has used research-based practice to help staff to understand risks that young people face from childhood abuse and the importance of building safe relationships. This help has played an important part in young people’s overall achievements.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 5 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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Reflexion Care Group Ltd, Black Birches, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 3DH

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC366107 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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