Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

Inspection report children’s home: SC385631 1 SC385631

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Registered provider: Channels and Choices Kent LLP Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children aged between eight and 17. It is operated by a private organisation. Therapeutic and educational services are available. According to the statement of purpose, the home caters for children who have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been without a registered manager since May 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 22 October 2019

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC385631 2

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The recommendations made at the previous inspection are met. The home’s statement of purpose now clearly sets out the ‘stepping stone’ pathway towards providing shorter-term, outcome-focused placements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The transition of children into and on from the home is, wherever possible, planned at the child’s pace. Adults carefully plan for, and stage, the children’s introductions to foster carers. This helps to ensure that the best possible foundations are built for the desired outcome of securing permanence for the children. Adults maintain contact with the children who move on and they work in partnership with new carers effectively to promote successful moves.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides plenty of space and resources for the children. The culture is in keeping with a family home. The children’s bedrooms are highly personalised to their preferences and tastes. Adults help the children to learn how to live with others. Children feel safe to act out their anxieties and to process their history in a safe environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has led a significant shift in focus on helping the children to make sense of their family history and their life outside the care system. Life-story work is now integral to the children’s care plans. Creative direct work, such as family tree activities, are helping to fill some gaps in the information known to the children about their family history and identity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Adults celebrate and promote the children’s cultural identity. Children are encouraged to get involved in activities that bring them into contact with their culture. One child has been provided with a tutor who shares his heritage. He has learned new words, nursery rhymes and interesting facts about the country that he was born in. As a result, the children are equipped to develop and define their sense of self.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Child-centred plans and assessments reflect the children’s individual needs. Staff update plans following changes in the children’s behaviour or circumstances. This helps to ensure that staff practice is current and responsive to the changing needs of the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children’s positive handling plans are linked to their risk assessments. These assessments take into account the children’s health needs and relevant past experiences. The inspector found that some handwritten records relating to incidents of physical intervention were difficult to read. This reduced the inspector’s Inspection report children’s home: SC385631 3 ability to understand and scrutinise the actions taken by the staff to ensure safe practice.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children are all making good progress. There have been no safeguarding incidents or children going missing from the home since the last inspection. The children attend full-time education and participate in clubs and activities according to their interests. Adults demonstrate good partnership working with the children’s schools to maximise their educational engagement and progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been no registered manager at the home since May 2018. This has led to a significant period without an accountable person in day-to-day charge of the running of the home. The current manager in post has submitted his application to register with Ofsted.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2019 Full Good 21/03/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2017 Full Good 10/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC385631 4

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and should understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that handwritten records are legible.

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Information about this inspection

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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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, 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: SC385631 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Channels and Choices Kent LLP

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 44 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN

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Inspector

Anne-Marie Davies, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC385631 6 to 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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