Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2543081 1 Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services 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

A private provider operates this home. It provides care and accommodation for up to three children who have experienced childhood instability, resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2019. She is suitably qualified.

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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: The home was first registered in August 2019.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2543081 2

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Recommendations

 As children will spend significant periods of time away from the home, for example in education or training, at appointments with the YOT or for engagement in leisure activities, any assessed risks should be shared with the education provider or service the child is attending if appropriate, so that the service is clear on the action they must take if the child puts themselves at risk while using their service. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection since the home was registered in August 2019. There have been three children who have moved into the home. Two of the children are siblings. Some children have experienced significant trauma in their early lives, and this is their first experience of stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Individualised care is at the heart of the service. Children benefit from good-quality care and support. They make progress from their initial starting points and have a range of positive experiences. Children build trusting relationships with staff who know them well and promote their welfare. Children respond well to the structure, clear boundaries and routines of the home. As a result of this, children’s relationships with each other improve significantly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Thorough care planning and multi-disciplinary working ensure that children make good progress. This joined-up working has enabled one child to spend increased periods of time with her family. The commitment of staff and their ability to work with other professionals have helped the child to rebuild her relationships with her family and to address concerns around substance misuse.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to engage in education. Those who previously found school challenging are now attending and are making progress. For one child, the registered manager has been tenacious in her challenge to ensure that the right school was identified to meet his complex needs. Staff understand how important education is to children’s development. When a child started at a new school, staff attended school with him each day to help him to settle. Teaching staff welcomed this commitment. A teacher Inspection report children’s home: 2543081 3 said, ‘They [staff] have really helped him transition into school and been very supportive.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children experience a setback, staff respond with nurture and are empathetic. Staff see beyond the child’s behaviours and support children to manage the impact of complex trauma.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are very positive about the quality of care that children receive. One parent told the inspector, ‘I am really happy with the care. When we visit the home, we are welcomed and able to spend time in a relaxed and friendly environment.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is a happy home, children and staff laugh, they have fun and feel relaxed.

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

Managers ensure that risk assessments include all known risks associated with children’s behaviour. These documents include the measures that will be taken by managers and staff to reduce and manage risks effectively on a day-to-day basis. Managers and staff ensure that they review significant incidents in a timely way. On one occasion, information about a child was not shared with education staff. This was a newly identified risk and the manager took appropriate action during the inspection to ensure that this information was shared. As a result of her swift action, there has not been any impact on the child or other children attending the school.

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

There has been one occasion of a child being missing from the home. Prior to her arrival at this home, this child was regularly missing and was spending time with risky adults. Staff are clear about the actions necessary to reduce this risk and how to respond should a child go missing. As a result of clear plans and positive relationships with staff, children’s safety improves.

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

There has been a significant decline in the number of physical interventions that are required. Staff have clear expectations and set clear boundaries. This approach improves children’s behaviours. Staff focus on de-escalation and redirection means that children are supported to understand how to regulate their emotions and the impact of their behaviour.

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

Children’s behaviours are sometimes extremely complex and challenging. Staff make sure that behaviour plans provide a balance of incentives and rewards. Staff promote restorative approaches and encourage children to make amends for their behaviours. Staff have been creative and have involved children in the development of a reward system. Children can earn stars which they can use as ‘currency’ towards a range of activities and treats. Children identify their own targets, and this motivates them.

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

The organisation has a clear and effective system for checking the suitability of staff prior to them commencing work with children. Inspection report children’s home: 2543081 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is inspirational and innovative. She has high expectations for children. She is creative and drives continuous improvement in the home. For example, she is constantly developing the staff’s therapeutic practice to sustain and improve the quality of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has a consistent and qualified staff team that receives a wide range of training, specific to the needs of the children. Staff feel supported and learning is embedded into staff practice. For example, staff benefit from workshops facilitated by the managers. This opportunity allows staff to reflect on children’s behaviours and their own practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a strong advocate for the children and children believe that she will make things right for them. She is confident to challenge and make complaints when she believes that professionals are not fulfilling their responsibilities to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that children live in a lovely, warm and welcoming environment. There has been extensive damage to the home. However, managers and staff have ensured that repairs are undertaken swiftly and that children continue to live in a well-maintained and safe environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have strong relationships with stakeholders, family members and, most importantly, with children. Parents said that staff keep in touch with them well. One parent said, ‘I can’t thank them enough, their support has been the turning point for our family.’

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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: 2543081 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Annemarie Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2543081 6 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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