Children's Home run by Surrey County Council in Surrey

Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 1 SC040638 Registered provider: Surrey County Council Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a local authority. It provides care and accommodation for up to six children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2019.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team responded swiftly to the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. Managers have been diligent in doing all that they can to improve the service for children. The home now feels much more relaxed, as the team is no longer fractured into cliques and staff are united in focusing on children’s needs and outcomes. The home genuinely feels like it is the children’s home, not a workplace where children live.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are making good progress through supportive care and attention from the now strong and committed staff team. There have been many changes to the staff team since the last inspection. The registered manager has challenged the culture within the team and has not shied away from some very difficult discussions. The registered manager and responsible individual have supported staff to review their position in the Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 2 home and their reasons for working here. This has resulted in some staff moving onto other, more senior, roles within the organisation or to pursue their career elsewhere.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The management team has been strengthened by agreement for the home to have two deputy managers. The recent appointment of a deputy with therapeutic care experience in addition to promotion of a strong senior member of staff has resulted in renewed energy within the staff team. They provide a nurturing environment where children can flourish in terms of their physical health and emotional well-being.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, one new child has moved into the home. This move was well planned, and was prompted by the registered manager’s concern that the child was placed inappropriately out of county. The child comments that this home is much better than where he used to live, as there are more people around and more things to do. This child arrived at the home using institutionalised language, and the team is now supporting him to recognise that he is an individual, and not a ‘YP’ '(young person’).

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two children remain in placement and continue to make good progress. Staff support them through recurring periods of low mood, and this reduces the likelihood that these feelings may trigger the children to take risks. Excellent joint working and, when necessary, effective challenge of partner agencies further support children. A child who has missed a significant amount of education has recently secured a college placement through their own research, and now has dedicated support from the virtual school.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A child who moved from the home under distressing circumstances was supported diligently by the staff team. The child was at significant risk in the local community through exploitation. Staff linked well with local police and community members to do all that they could to keep him safe. Staff actively discouraged him from leaving the house and searched for him whenever they did not know his whereabouts. In addition, local pubs, shops and takeaways would report any sightings of him and discourage him from begging, as this was leading to his exploitation. The local authority struggled to find a suitable placement for the child and, on reflection, it is recognised that the home did all that it could in the meantime to keep him safe in very challenging circumstances.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/05/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/10/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 15/05/2018 Full Good 24/01/2018 Full Inadequate

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 3 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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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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’.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC040638 4 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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