Children's home run by Happy Group (UK) Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 1 Registered provider: Happy Group (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home. The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children or young people whose plan is to live in a medium- to long-term home. The manager is suitably qualified and has over 16 years’ experience in residential childcare. She became the registered manager of this home when it opened in March 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 11 to 12 February 2020

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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 outstanding

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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: 26 February 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 3

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Recommendations

 Regulation 40(4) requires the registered person to notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)–(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10) Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home provides a supportive and nurturing environment, giving the children and young people a sense of stability and belonging. The manager and the staff provide well- defined and individualised care that has helped the children and young people to feel secure in their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The close-knit staff team has established meaningful relationships with the children and young people. The staff listen to the children and young people and support them in all aspects of their care. This helps the children and young people to better understand and to manage their feelings and emotions in a more constructive way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children and young people to maintain contact with key people in their lives. Time spent with family and friends is encouraged and supported safely. Much emphasis is placed on rebuilding fractured relationships, and contact is facilitated in accordance with the children and young people’s care plans. This has resulted in one child successfully returning to the care of his mother.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people clearly have a voice in their day-to-day care. Their opinions are important, and this embeds a culture of responsibility in an age-appropriate way. For example, one young person takes the lead in setting the agenda and taking the minutes of the residents’ meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people are very much involved and have autonomy in decision- making in matters such as menu planning, food shopping and choosing activities. Staff adopt a parenting role. Every week, they watch one child play for his local football team. Staff attend parents’ evenings and transport the children and young people to and from school. The children and young people say that they are happy living at this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and young people’s health needs are clearly known and understood. Specialist advice and support is on hand to better equip staff in meeting the physical and emotional needs of the children and young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and carers have confidence in the quality of care provided by the manager and staff. Transitions in and out of the home are well planned and undertaken sensitively. Parents are reassured and feel included in the care-planning process.

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

The children and young people currently living in this home have made good progress relative to their starting points and time in placement. In particular, their risk-taking behaviour has reduced. This is because staff are vigilant and proactive in their safeguarding role. Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 5 The staff are attuned to each child and young person’s specific emotional needs and triggers. This means that any form of physical intervention is a rare occurrence. This is because staff have a good understanding of the children and young people’s histories and how these impact on their current behaviours. Staff utilise their positive relationships with the children and young people to successfully de-escalate and diffuse challenging behaviour.

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

From the point of referral and admission, the manager identifies and assesses the risks and vulnerabilities associated with the children and young people. These are clearly set out in their risk management and behaviour support plans. This means that strategies are in place to better protect the children and young people.

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

Children and young people rarely go missing from the home. Staff know how to implement and follow the missing-from-home procedures and protocols. When the children and young people have gone missing, staff take prompt action to locate them quickly and to promote their safe return to the home.

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

Regulatory requirements have not always been met when there has been a significant incident involving police intervention. The inspector is of the opinion that some of these incidents required notification under Regulation 40. The manager has acknowledged this and a recommendation has been made to ensure best practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a wealth of experience and knowledge, and has managed the home since registration. She knows the children, young people, their families and the staff team exceptionally well. She remains highly motivated in what she describes as an ever- changing and evolving service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are exposed to a range of training opportunities that consolidate their learning and underpin their ability to meet the differing needs of the children and young people. The manager is highly proactive to ensure, prior to any admissions to the home, that the staff are appropriately trained and can meet the needs of the children and young people. This includes training in the use of an EpiPen.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The ethos of the home is very much based on family values. The children and young people are included in and consulted on all aspects of their lives and decisions about their home. They have effectively grown up in the care of the same staff team, adding to their sense of belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is well established, stable and experienced. Retention of staff is excellent, allowing the children and young people consistency of care and the opportunity to form safe attachments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager creates a culture of learning and has high, yet realistic, expectations of her staff team. This is based on a sound knowledge of their individual strengths and areas for development. Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 6 Good-quality recording and monitoring systems are in place, and this underpins the high quality of care that the children and young people receive. Close partnership working has ensured that the children and young people achieve to their fullest potential. Professional feedback has described the home as ‘ambitious for the children and young people’ and ‘brilliant in meeting the ever-changing needs of the children’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervisions are reflective, consistent and enabling. Records of supervisions and personal development appraisals are of high quality and the staff report excellent support and guidance. Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 7

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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 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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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: 1270393 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Happy Group (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Walk House, 99 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7LF

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Inspector

Cath Sikakana: social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 9 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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