Children's Home run by Step-A-Side Company Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report children's home: SC030650 1 SC030650 Registered provider: Step-a-Side Company Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home currently provides long-term care and short breaks for a maximum of five children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to an associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours and/or learning disabilities. A private company manages the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since August 2017.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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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: SC030650 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/07/2018 Full Good 10/08/2017 Full Good 01/11/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 02/08/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC030650 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make significant progress with their behaviour, independence and health because of living at this home. For example, two children who previously had poor dental hygiene and did not attend the dentist are now doing so. Children’s health has improved significantly because of the consistent and dedicated approach by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

To provide reassurance, managers ensure that children have consistent guidance and boundaries. Aggressive and self-injurious behaviours reduce because of the high-quality behaviour-support plans and risk assessments that are carried out with the support of psychologists. Children’s welfare is prioritised because of the consistent care provided by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Significant improvements have been made to the home. For example, an interior wall has been knocked through to create an open-plan dining area. The home has been repainted and a new barn-style kitchen door fitted to give a view of the country garden. The home is very clean and welcoming, and children like living at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children have plenty of fun and experience new opportunities. Children enjoy holidays to Minehead, visits to the beach, local water parks, forest walks, fishing and swimming. Staff enable children to spend quality time with those who matter to them. For example, staff took a child and their family on holiday to Trecco Bay in Wales. Consequently, children maintain their relationships with family members.

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

The manager has a thorough knowledge of safeguarding processes and practice and works in partnership with the designated officer to ensure that timely and robust action is taken. Children feel listened to and their concerns are taken seriously. There have been three allegations made against staff since the last inspection that did not meet the designated officer threshold for further investigation. Staff keep children safe at this home and prioritise their welfare. For example, one child raised a concern during a family visit. The manager took effective action and liaised closely with the placing authority to ensure that it was followed up. Staff visited the child at his next family visit to ensure that he was safe and happy. Staff use physical restraint as a last resort, and since the last inspection there have been 22 incidents of low-level restraint. The manager reviews incidents within regulatory

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

timescales and prioritises talking to children after an incident. The manager ensures that staff are spoken to in depth to reflect on and learn from such incidents. There have been no incidents of children being missing from home since the last inspection and no medication errors. Children who require medication have comprehensive health plans in place to provide clear guidance to staff to meet their needs. Records are comprehensively reviewed and monitored by senior staff to Inspection report children's home: SC030650 4 safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides exceptional support and oversight to staff. She is highly dedicated and passionate about her role. She is completely committed to raising the standards of care within the home and to promoting equal opportunity for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive frequent, in-depth and meaningful supervision that contributes to their overall development. The manager tracks training needs and areas for progress and follows up any concerns to a high standard. Supervision is thoroughly recorded, with clear actions for follow up.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager holds regular and highly structured team meetings that are used as a forum for discussion and improvement. Staff are encouraged to share research and theory in team meetings to develop their knowledge and skills. For example, presentations have been delivered on children’s development, adverse childhood experiences and professional practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager advocates strongly for children and escalates her concerns when needed. For example, she made effective challenge to ensure that the education needs of one young person were met. External and internal monitoring systems are robust. The manager’s oversight of staff practice ensures that continuously high levels of care are maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are up to date with mandatory training. Staff receive additional training about autism spectrum disorder, the Mental Capacity Act, deprivation of liberty and epilepsy. The manager has scheduled further training about grief and loss to help staff to support a child at this home. This targeted training enables staff to respond to the individual needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has well-established relationships with placing authorities, based on effective communication and respect. Social workers praise the manager’s active involvement and understanding of the complex needs of the children in her care. Parents describe the staff as being ‘extended family’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has well-established working relationships with commissioners, the host authority and the police. These networks contribute to her assessment of risk within the local area to safeguard children. Inspection report children's home: SC030650 5

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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 difference 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: SC030650 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Step-a-Side Company Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 29 Market Place, Coleford, Gloucestershire GL16 8AA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rachel Carwardine

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC030650 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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