Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report children’s home: SC473699 1 SC473699 Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a small, privately owned organisation. It provides care for up to four children who have complex emotional needs. The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 16 October 2018

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC473699 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/10/2018 Full Outstanding 12/12/2017 Full Outstanding 20/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 26/04/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC473699 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive very good-quality, individualised care and support from a highly dedicated staff team. Children form extremely close and positive relationships with staff. They feel respected and listened to, and that their wishes, views and feelings really matter. Feedback from involved agencies and parents included:  ‘He has come on in leaps and bounds since moving to this home. The staff are amazing, awesome and outstanding in what they do.’  ‘This is absolutely the right place for him. I am amazed at the positive changes in him since moving here. He is a different child to the one who moved in.’  ‘The staff really care and know the children well. They work at their pace to ensure that they consistently make progress in all areas of their lives.’ Children appreciate how well the staff work with other agencies and family members. Staff advocate strongly for each child. They challenge any actual or perceived failure to

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

provide necessary services and support. Children are supported to keep in touch with family and significant others. Staff place huge value on including family members and others in the child’s life. This promotes a real and positive sense of identity, value and belonging. Staff have done some inspirational work to locate extended family members for one child. Children receive excellent support in relation to their education and training needs. Staff work at the children’s pace to support their reintegration. For many children, education has been a concern in the past. With staff support, they begin to see the value of learning and now have aspirations for their futures. Their physical and emotional health needs are extremely well met. They attend routine health appointments and have access to specialist mental health services. Staff understand the impact of abuse and neglect and present as hugely skilled in responding to such needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children feel part of a family in this home. They socialise together and with staff, and they go on holiday with each other and staff. They take part in a wide range of social activities locally and within the wider community. This promotes their sense of belonging, and enables them to feel part of the community in which they live. They have a strong and meaningful influence on how the home is run. They ‘gel’ as a group, through the careful matching considerations for new placements. Children learn to respect themselves and each other. With staff support, they work to resolve conflicts and issues. Children feel well supported in relation to learning new skills. Staff prepare them very well for their eventual move to other settings or adult services. This is done at the children’s pace. They learn new independence skills, such as cooking, budgeting and using public transport unaided. They leave this home much more confident and

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

competent than when they arrive. Children appreciate the care and consideration staff show in relation to their past experiences. Some excellent work has been done to help children understand their complex histories. They have been able to experience positive contacts with significant others. They feel safe to do so, due to the excellent staff support. Inspection report children’s home: SC473699 4

p.3

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

Staff fully understand the risks posed to and from children. They formulate extremely detailed risk assessments and plans for each child, which they review and update regularly. Staff are not risk-averse. They encourage children to take personal responsibility for their actions and behaviours. Meaningful use of key-work sessions with children leads to them feeling and becoming increasingly safe. There have been no incidents of children going missing from care from this home since the last inspection. This reflects the sense of security felt by children. They develop strategies to better manage any concerning or risky behaviours. Staff know the children so well that they can diffuse potentially unsafe situations extremely well. Staff also ensure that children receive the support and services they may require in relation to other forms of abuse or risk. They work closely with local safeguarding agencies and

p.4

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

police. Excellent recording systems ensure a prompt and proactive response to any issues of bullying or exploitation. Children become increasingly safe in this home. They learn and develop healthy coping mechanisms and strategies to reduce risk. Children understand the expectations, rules and boundaries in place. Staff fully involve them in devising and implementing behaviour support plans, and children can see and feel their own progress in reducing concerning or risky behaviours. They take great pride in reflecting on the positive journey they have made. They present as feeling hugely secure and well cared for. The manager has reviewed and amended the use of sanctions within the home. There is a clear and commendable focus on encouraging children to undertake restorative work for any damage caused or concerning behaviours. Financial sanctions are rarely used. Staff also regularly reward children for any positive behaviours. The recommendation set

p.4

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

at the last inspection has been met. The home presents as welcoming and well decorated and furnished. Internal areas of the home have been redecorated since the last inspection. The recommendation set at the last inspection in relation to maintenance of the home environment has been met.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has the necessary skills, qualifications and experience for the role. He is highly ambitious for both children and staff. He constantly strives to ensure that children have the best possible chances and experiences. He leads by example and is held in very high regard by his staff, involved agencies, children and family members. He is supported by an equally dedicated and inspirational deputy manager. Managers fully understand both the history and the progress of each child. They speak with passion and pride about the achievements of children. They act as excellent and inspirational corporate parents for the children in their care. Children clearly thrive thanks to such supportive and caring managers and staff. Staff feel highly valued in their roles. They receive regular supervision, support and training opportunities. They feel empowered in their roles. The staff work as a team

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

around the child. They all aspire to support children to reach their full potential. They use research-informed practice to support children. There is a detailed and robust induction programme in place for new staff. They feel extremely well supported and able Inspection report children’s home: SC473699 5 to develop their skills and interests safely. The recommendation set at the last inspection around supervision recording has been met. The home has a clear and concise development plan in place. Managers have excellent systems in place to monitor and oversee all aspects of how the home is run. There is no complacency from managers. They constantly strive to improve the quality of care and support provided to children. They take quick and decisive action if any shortfalls or weaknesses are identified. They learn from situations and involve staff in that learning. Managers always strive to only take planned placements. They appreciate the value of

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

careful consideration of existing children’s needs alongside those of any new placements. They involve staff and children when considering new placements. Managers visit children prior to moving into the home. They provide them with information about the home and what to expect. This undoubtedly contributes to the excellent placement stability. Feedback from involved agencies is consistently positive. Professionals feel well informed and updated about children’s progress. They speak of the transformation of children’s lives, due to the care and support they receive. The home is seen as a place where children can and do fulfil their potential. Managers act as extremely positive and strong advocates for children. They regularly challenge any actual or perceived failure by other agencies to provide necessary services. They follow their own internal escalation policy to ensure that agencies and professionals respond to identified needs.

p.5

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.

p.5

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: SC473699 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: White House Business Centre, The White House, Greenalls Avenue, Warrington WA4 6HL

p.6

Inspector

Tracy Murty, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC473699 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7