Children's home run by Ashwood Children’s Care Home Ltd

Inspection report children’s home: 1259184 1 Registered provider: Ashwood Children’s Care Home 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 privately owned children’s home is able to care for up to four children. Its statement of purpose states that the home’s policy is to consider children, irrespective of gender and aged between eight and 17, who are having trouble in their lives and who would benefit from the placement. The home has a suitably qualified registered manager in place.

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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 good

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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: 12 December 2018

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1259184 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/12/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness 31/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 1259184 3

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outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress as a result of high-quality, consistent, nurturing care and support that is underpinned by a well- researched therapeutic model of care. Children have developed in confidence, they are managing to self-regulate their emotions, they are attending school regularly and their health and well- being have improved significantly. Adults who have known these children over a long period of time provide powerful testimony of the significant changes that they have seen, some of which will be life-changing. Medical diagnoses have been challenged successfully, children who have not been to school for three years are now attending regularly, and children who were shy and compliant are now able to have a voice and be confident. An independent reviewing officer said of a child: ‘The progress is second to none.’ A headteacher, commenting about another child, said: ‘She has blossomed. It is wonderful to see.’ Three children from one local authority all

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outstanding

received an outstanding achievement award in recognition of the enormous progress they have made. The relationships between staff and children are incredibly warm. Children run to members of staff for a hug when staff arrive at the home, or when children are picked up from school. It is evident that staff know the children very well and have an in-depth understanding of their needs. They are proud of the children’s achievements and celebrate them with enthusiasm. For example, a member of staff brought back a Spanish football team’s replica kit from a holiday in Spain as a reward for a child who loves football. His delight in this was clear for all to see and he was wearing it with pride during the inspection. Children have a lot of very positive experiences that provide them with lasting memories of their time in care. They utilise local resources such as youth clubs and sports clubs, which helps them to meet local children and

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outstanding

feel part of the community. They also go further afield to theme parks and other places of interest. The home has recently purchased an enormous tent, currently erected in the garden for children to experience camping out before they do it for real. This provided a great source of excitement. The home has its own in-house psychotherapist who works at least 25 hours a week in the home. She works with children on an individual basis and she also provides invaluable consultation for the staff team. This research-based approach has been instrumental in staff providing nurturing care and understanding each child’s developmental needs. One stakeholder said: ‘Staff have done their utmost to make the child feel special, welcome and loved.’ Inspection report children’s home: 1259184 4

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

Children are safe and feel safe in this home. None of the children are engaged in any risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing from the home. The ethos of the home is one of openness and transparency. Staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and feel confident about raising any concerns with managers and senior managers. This ensures that poor practice is known about and addressed. Behaviour is well managed. Some children who in the past have been extremely challenging and subject to a significant level of physical intervention, are now able to manage their behaviour in a way that no longer results in physical intervention. When physical intervention is required, it is used appropriately, recorded and evaluated by managers. Thorough written risk assessments ensure that staff know and understand how to minimise the risk of children coming to harm. These are reviewed regularly so that they provide staff with up-to-date information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed by an exceptionally committed and child- focused manager who leads by example and creates an environment where everyone wants the very best for the children. He is a tremendous advocate for the children and there are numerous examples of situations when he has challenged partner agencies in the best interests of the children. For example, he has challenged school exclusions when this course of action would be detrimental. He is also proactive in promoting the best interests of children and will query and challenge accepted information. This has had a significant impact for one child’s health and well-being. He goes above and beyond to support children in any way that is required. For example, the home is staffed in such a way that children are taken some distance to different schools because that is the best for them. He also allocates staff to stay in school with one child in order to support the school staff in

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

maintaining the educational placement. Partnership working is excellent, and this contributes to the very positive outcomes that children achieve. A headteacher commented that the staff at this home are ‘hugely supportive’. All stakeholders commented that communication is excellent and that key information is shared promptly. It is testament to the esteem in which the home is held that two stakeholders who were on holiday at the time of the inspection willingly gave their views about the high quality of care. Staff are very well supported. They have access to appropriate training that meets their developmental needs as well as the needs of the children. Staff receive regular, reflective supervision and they have regular team meetings to ensure that communication is good and effective. There are thorough and effective monitoring systems, both internal and external. The independent visitor provides very detailed reports that are

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Inspection report children’s home: 1259184 5 always well received, and all recommendations are acted upon. The manager is very keen to learn and develop his expertise and he uses any learning opportunity in a very positive way. The electronic recording system ensures that there is thorough managerial oversight of all records so that the manager and his deputy know what is going on. Consequently, they both know the children and the staff very well and they use the information to drive 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: 1259184 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ashwood Children’s Care Home Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 43a Repton House, Bretby Business Park, Ashby Road, Burton-On-Trent DE15 0YZ

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Inspector:

Ros Chapman, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1259184 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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