Children's home run by Plus One South West Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 1 SC477040 Registered provider: Plus One (South West) Limited 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 based in the south-west of England. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home may take emergency and respite care placements subject to satisfactory risk assessment. The registered manager retired on 31 July 2019. The deputy manager has applied to Ofsted to be registered.

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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 November 2018

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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: SC477040 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2018 Full Good 16/08/2017 Full Good 06/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/05/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 3

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary, work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health and well-being such as, but not limited to, nutrition, healthy diet and exercise. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, page 35, paragraph 7.18) In particular, ensure that children are given healthy food choices to provide them with sufficient nutrients to support their growth and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people in this home receive very good-quality care. The dedicated staff take time to have frequent, important conversations with the residents on a wide range of topics. This forges strong working relationships with the children and young people and gives them plenty of opportunities to talk about any concerns they may have. As a result, the relationships between the children, young people and staff are warm and respectful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people have responded well to the high quality of care. They have gained in confidence, resilience and security. Consequently, they have made substantial progress since their arrival in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The acting manager and her predecessor have worked assertively to resolve a long- standing problem with obtaining educational places for out-of-county children and young people. As a result, the older young person has obtained a college place. He is also undertaking a performing arts course to help him develop the skills that he needs for his chosen career.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The younger child has, with support, returned to mainstream school full time. He achieves very good marks and has started to work towards his GCSEs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people enjoy a range of exciting and healthy activities. These include Tae Kwon Do and visiting places of interest, such as the Tank Museum and music events. They have tried paddle boarding and kick-boxing. One child has learned to ride and is showing a keen interest in arts and crafts. He has painted a stone for the manager, describing her as ‘the best’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff take one young person, who is converting to Judaism, to a synagogue. This involves a long weekly drive, which shows the staff’s commitment. The staff are learning Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 4 about the dietary and cultural traditions of the Jewish faith to support the young person in their developing beliefs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides a friendly, relaxing and spacious environment. There is a large, attractive garden. The manager plans to build an assault course for the children and young people to enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people’s healthcare needs are generally well met in this home. They have access to specialist help with the company’s qualified, experienced cognitive behaviour therapist. This helps them to reflect on any past traumas and to develop constructive coping strategies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The older young person is actively preparing for independence. There is a small annexe joined to the main house which can be used to help young people build confidence and self-care skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people can prepare some meals by themselves. One resident has a very healthy diet and takes appropriate exercise. The other resident does not receive a healthy diet. Many of the dishes that he chooses to eat have very high levels of saturated fat. The deputy manager, who is working on a project about improving children’s diets, has a plan to support the staff to set clearer boundaries around food, but this has not yet been fully implemented. A recommendation has been made.

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

The children and young people in this home feel safe and secure. They get along well together and respect each other. Risks to the children and young people are well documented and regularly updated to ensure that the staff have the most recent information available to help them in their work.

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

Neither of the children and young people have shown any major behavioural incidents since arrival. There have been no safeguarding concerns, but the manager and staff understand what to do if a child or young person makes a disclosure.

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

There has been one isolated incident requiring notification to Ofsted. This incident took place seven months ago, when a former resident was missing while on a visit to his home area. Since then, the home has provided a calm environment for the children and young people.

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

There have been no restraints in the home for over two years. Every aspect of health and safety is good. The home has a safe system of staff recruitment, which is managed through the head office.

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

Staff recruitment files were examined during the inspection of another home in the group. They are maintained to a very high standard.

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

Some children and young people say that they are being bullied at school. The manager Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 5 has responded assertively to these concerns. She is working with school staff to investigate and take appropriate action.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s former registered manager was on sickness absence for several months between September 2018 and February 2019. He returned to work for five months but retired on 31 July 2019. The registered manager’s post has been vacant for 10 weeks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy manager, who is a graduate in health and social care, has been in day-to-day control of the home in the registered manager’s absence. This is her first management role within social care, but the responsible individual supports her well. The manager has now submitted an application to Ofsted to be registered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the home well. She is exceptionally good at maintaining thorough, up-to-date records. This means that care planning documents provide children and young people with an accurate record of their time in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s practice is also scrutinised through monthly independent visits. Leaders and managers are aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. For example, they have identified the need to recruit more permanent male staff to redress the present gender imbalance in the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported through good-quality training and individual supervision. Regular team meetings help the staff to work together to put the young people at the centre of their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There was one requirement and one recommendation at the previous inspection, both concerning Regulation 40 notifications. They are both met.

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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: SC477040 6 Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Plus One (South West) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Mount, 21 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8QT

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Inspector

Heather Chaplin: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC477040 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 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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