Children's Home run by 3 Dimensions Care Limited in Devon

Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 1 SC407753 Registered provider: 3 Dimensions Care 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 one of a small group of services which are operated by a private company. The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties, and/or learning disabilities. The home is managed as two separate self-contained flats within one house.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since April 2010.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2019 Full Good 24/08/2017 Full Good 01/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/07/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 3

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, all staff should receive training in gender identity and sexual orientation. 29/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it.

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for ensuring that each child’s day to day health and well-being needs are met (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 33, paragraph 7.3). In particular, a child’s placement plan should include the good work being undertaken in relation to supporting him through his teenage years. Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children continue to receive good-quality care and support and make good emotional and social progress. This is because the relationships between the staff and children are positive and caring. Children have been living at this home for a number of years and consider this to be their home. A child said, ‘It’s fun here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children exceptionally well and show them genuine warmth and affection. The atmosphere in the home is that of a family-type home. Children said that they feel well cared for and that they would speak to staff in they are upset or worried. As a result, children are thriving because they feel safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength of the home is the support that is provided to children who are experiencing personal difficulties and the challenges of becoming teenagers. The registered manager works in partnership with external agencies and professionals. She ensures that children receive effective support and guidance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, a child has left the home and moved to foster care. Leaders and managers ensured that the child experienced a very supportive and sensitive move. Staff have received very positive comments from the child’s social worker in relation to how well the child’s move was managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children enjoy a wide range of leisure and social activities. These include visits to the cinema, crazy golf, bike rides and rides on steam trains. In the summer holidays, children went on a camping holiday to France and really enjoyed themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child attends the school run by the provider; another child attends a mainstream school. An older child is attending college. Their attendance is good, and from their starting points children are doing well. A teacher said that there is good partnership working between the school and the staff. As a result of this, children receive continuity and consistency in support between school and home.

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

The arrangements to safeguard children are good. Staff receive regular safeguarding training and demonstrate a good awareness of safeguarding processes. Since the previous inspection, referrals to the designated officer or children’s services have not been required. In addition, leaders and managers ensure that there is an effective recruitment and selection process that safeguards children.

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

Children’s behaviour is managed well, and boundaries and expectations are maintained. Since the previous inspection, restraint and sanctions have not been used. Children have not been missing, and there are no concerns in relation to bullying. Staff support Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 5 children extremely well when they experience difficult situations and emotional challenges. Staff ensure that comprehensive and well-recorded discussions are regularly held with children following such incidents. Discussions clearly reflect the children’s views about what happened and how they felt. Leaders and managers thoroughly evaluate these incidents, and staff reflect on their practice.

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

Staff ensure that children are involved in the development of their behaviour support plans. The plans are presented in a child-friendly format. Along with comprehensive risk assessments, these plans guide staff in how to support the children to manage their emotions and feelings. A child said that staff follow his plan when he becomes upset. In addition, a social worker said, ‘The team [members] work together, continuously re- assessing and adapting, and have behaviour support strategies that develop and evolve in line with his development.’

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

Children live in a safe and well-maintained home. A comprehensive location assessment includes the impact of the local amenities on the home and the children it provides for and the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced, well-trained and qualified manager competently manages this home. Staff have high aspirations for the children and place the children’s needs at the centre of their practice. External professionals spoke highly of the care and support that the children receive. An external professional said, ‘Staff always put the child’s interests first and accommodate their individual needs.’ This was echoed by a social worker who said, ‘He receives care from a small team of carers, … providing consistent support from individuals with whom he has formed trusting relationships.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has undertaken a detailed review of the quality of care provided. She has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has identified realistic targets for improvement. However, the most recent review does not include the views of the children. The registered manager responds effectively to recommendations made by the independent visitor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s placement plans are detailed and identify how their individual needs are to be met. These are regularly reviewed and updated. However, one child’s plan does not include the positive support and approaches that are being used in relation to personal support for him through his teenage years. However, this information and guidance are recorded in detail in other documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they feel well supported and spoke well of the registered manager. They receive a wide range of training, including both mandatory training and specific training to equip them to support the children well. However, not all staff have received training in relation to gender identity and sexual orientation. Staff said that this training would be helpful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children live in a home that is personalised, well maintained, warm and homely. The Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 6 home is divided into two individual houses. Since the previous inspection, there have been considerable improvements made to the home. These include new carpets, new flooring, refurbishment to bathrooms and re-decoration to a large part of the home. In addition, there are many photographs of the children around the home.

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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: SC407753 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: 3 Dimensions Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chardleigh House, Chardleigh Green, Wadeford, Chard, Somerset TA20 3AJ

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Inspector

David Kidner, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC407753 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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