Children's home run by Moonreach LTD in Dover

Inspection report children‟s home: SC460671 1 SC460671 Registered provider: Moonreach Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children. In its statement of purpose, the provider states that it provides care for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 14 to 15 November 2019

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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: 20 September 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: SC460671 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/09/2018 Full Good 19/07/2017 Full Good 13/12/2016 Full Good 04/05/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children‟s home: SC460671 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

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)— has signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(ii)) 30/12/2019

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and show genuine care regarding their needs. Staff treat children with dignity and respect. Children and staff have developed strong relationships built on trust and mutual respect. This contributes to children feeling settled within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a wide range of community-based activities, including horse riding, trampolining, attending skate parks and swimming. Home-based activities, such as Inspection report children‟s home: SC460671 4 baking, are also regularly available. These activities support individual hobbies and interests and help children to improve their self-esteem and develop their confidence. Children are able to form friendships within the local community and form a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is homely and modelled on a family setting. Decorative work was being completed at the time of the inspection to further improve the appearance of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children experience difficulties in attending education, staff liaise closely with teachers to support children’s learning and attendance. For example, this has led to positive outcomes for children, which include being recognised as the pupil of the week.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend routine health appointments. Key-work sessions also focus on the benefits of leading healthy lifestyles and looking after health needs. For one child, this has led to immunisations being received where this has not previously been possible due to a fear of needles.

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

The registered manager has followed appropriate safeguarding practice in response to any concerns regarding the children in placement. Other professionals report that the staff communicate any concerns effectively and in a timely manner.

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

There has been a decrease in the frequency of children going missing from the home. Strong relationships have been built with the local police, who are aware of the plans in place for the children if they are reported as missing. When children go missing, the staff follow appropriate procedures and manage well the episodes of going missing. However, children are not always given access to an independent return interview. This is a missed opportunity to explore with the child why they are choosing to go missing from the home.

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

Staff are recruited in line with safe recruitment practice to ensure that only suitable adults are allowed to work in the home. Recruitment records clearly evidence that the required checks have been completed.

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

Physical intervention is used appropriately and only where necessary. However, the registered manager has not signed the physical intervention records. This means that it is not clear if the manager is in agreement with the actions of staff. Behaviour consequences and rewards are used appropriately and recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the responsible individual have high expectations for the service that they offer to children. They are able to talk at length about the individual children within the home and are tenacious in ensuring that the required support is accessed to meet individual needs. They are clear on the home’s strengths and weaknesses and how these can be addressed and improved upon. This had led to Inspection report children‟s home: SC460671 5 continued improvement in the quality of care provided. The response to the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection has been effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has challenged decisions on behalf of children when she feels that a response from other professionals has not been appropriate. Examples of this have included following up with the police for them to visit a child. Another example is the manager challenging the decision not to issue an education, health and care plan for a child, which led to the decision being changed. This led to a more appropriate education placement being found.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the support they receive from leaders and managers. Staff receive high-quality, frequent supervision and feel comfortable raising any issues or concerns. There is a positive safeguarding culture within the home and this is promoted through the supervision process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a comprehensive training programme. However, some training relevant to the specific needs of the children is not yet prioritised to ensure that staff have a fuller understanding about relevant issues. For example, additional training on children who go missing is available but has not been prioritised in the training schedule. Immediate action was taken during the inspection to address this. It is noted that all staff do cover this in their safeguarding training. However, more advanced training is available and would further equip the staff with enhanced safeguarding skills.

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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: SC460671 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Dane John Works, Gordon Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3PP

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Inspector

Daniel Healy: social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC460671 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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