Children's Home run by The Place Young People’s Company in Leicestershire

Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 1 Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children or young people who present with emotional, mental health and/or behavioural issues. There is an acting manager in post who is not yet 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: 23 January 2019

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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: 1250039 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2019 Full Good 20/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 28/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 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 procedure to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular—

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Requirement Due date

provide for records to be kept of an allegation of abuse or neglect, and the action taken in response. (Regulation 34 (2)(d)) 24/02/2020

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 24/02/2020

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good care from staff who understand their complex needs. They make progress in all areas of their lives. They learn to better manage their own concerning or risky behaviours. They get to keep in touch with people who matter to them. They enjoy a wide range of social activities and holidays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work to not only support children but work closely and proactively with professionals, parents and carers. Parents and carers feel involved in the care provided and report receiving regular updates and communication. One placing social worker commented: ‘This is the longest placement my child has had. Staff know exactly what they are doing and set realistic expectations. They work at the child’s pace.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive excellent emotional and psychological support. A team of therapists and counsellors provide support for them and the staff team. Regular team around the child meetings take place. This ensures that all involved professionals consider and review the needs of children. It provides for consistency of care and support to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Educational provision is in place for all children. Their attendance and engagement are good. Staff support with transport to and from school where appropriate. They work Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 4 closely with teaching staff. This provides children with clear boundaries and expectations of the value of education and learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have highly personalised bedrooms. Care is taken to ensure that they have access to a wide range of social and learning activities and opportunities. They attend social events in the local community. They go on holidays with the staff team. They are encouraged to learn new skills and to socialise with peers. This promotes a positive sense of belonging and involvement in their community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prepare children well for their eventual move on from this home. They encourage older children to learn independence skills. They encourage them to use public transport and to develop confidence when out in the community. They support children to visit and keep in contact with family members and others who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has only been one complaint made by a child since the last inspection. Work was carried out to support the child, but records do not provide a detailed or sufficient account of how the manager responded to the complaint.

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

Risks relating to actual or potential harm to children are well known and well recorded. Children become more secure and settled because of the clear and consistent boundaries. Regular team around the child meetings take place. These provide an opportunity for everyone involved to consider and review risk assessments and plans.

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

There have been no reported missing from care incidents since the last inspection. Staff supervision and support are good. Staff carry out direct work with children, to consider and discuss any specific harm factors. They work to educate and support children to learn how their actions might place them at risk of harm.

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

Staff and therapists work very closely to consider the complex behavioural needs of the children. They devise plans and regularly review each child’s progress. They consider any deterioration in behaviours and devise strategies to support children. There is a consistent approach used by all staff. This is informed by their training in attachment and developmental psychotherapy.

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

Staff present as confident and competent in relation to safeguarding. They understand their roles and responsibilities. Records relating to one allegation made by a child about a member of staff were not sufficiently detailed. The manager had referred the matter to the designated officer, but records did not reflect the plans for the staff member involved. Suitable action was taken, and children were not placed at any risk of harm as a result of this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager has been in post since 2019. He has been a registered manager for another children’s home within the same organisation. He presents as competent and Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 5 very knowledgeable about the children in his care. He is viewed as a supportive manager by the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been several changes to the staff team since the last inspection. There is one current vacancy for a deputy manager, which is being advertised for. The manager and staff have high expectations for the children and work closely to secure progress for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of therapeutic assessment tools are used to monitor and track the progress made by children. The team around the child meetings include the team therapist, who has an integral part in supporting staff to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home development plan is clear, detailed and regularly reviewed. It is a live document and enables the manager to monitor improvements and areas of need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and annual appraisals. They have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities. Training has a focus on therapeutic approaches and it is evident that staff use their learning in their work to support children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s wishes, views and feelings play an important part in how the home is run. Regular meetings take place to elicit their views. Senior managers attend those meetings. This reflects a home and an organisation that place children at the centre of their practice. It is also positive that the responsible individual and director have daily contact and input with both staff and children. They know and understand the needs of children and form positive relationships with them over time.

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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: 1250039 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Place Young People’s Company

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Belvoir Farm, Woolsthorpe Road, Redmile, Nottingham, Leicestershire NG13 0GN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Alexander Astill

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Inspector

Tracy Murty: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1250039 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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