Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report children’s home: SC023745 1 SC023745 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company that operates several other children’s homes in the area. The company also provides educational services to support children and, if necessary, can provide therapeutic services for children. The home’s statement of purpose says that the home provides a nurturing and safe environment for children with autistic spectrum disorder and/or with severe to moderate learning difficulties or global learning delay, as well as having mild to severe emotional, behavioural and communication difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted on 28 September 2016.

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Inspection date: 26 February 2020

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC023745 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. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager was able to demonstrate significant progress in all areas since the last inspection. Children have been supported to achieve some huge life changes. Staff have achieved this through the development of excellent partnerships with mental and physical health services and education settings. These partnerships have enabled the home to meet all of the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children with autism spectrum disorder have been supported to overcome intense anxiety around attending essential appointments. This has been skilfully managed through the use of play to help children work through their emotional blocks to accessing health support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Significant progress has been made in supporting children to improve their emotional well-being. This has led to a reduction in incidents of challenging behaviour. Staff have been given access to helpful training in understanding problematic sexualised behaviours and working with children with complex sensory needs. This has improved their understanding of the children in their care and has made communication more effective. Children have also been able to explore aspects of their identity and sexuality in a non-judgemental and supportive environment.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff really appreciate their enhanced training offer. They spoke positively about the clinical support that they get on-site. They were also positive about the support that they receive from their manager. They feel that the team morale has significantly improved. One staff member said that the team was much better supported to deal with the emotional impact of working with highly complex children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have also done excellent work supporting improved contact with birth parents. In one case, this is allowing a child to work towards overnight stays with his family. This is a huge step forward for him.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

With careful planning and supervision from staff, a child who faces some risks in the community has been enabled to safely engage in activities outside of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well maintained. A new play area is now available to children. This can be used for recreation but has also enhanced the opportunities for clinical staff to undertake direct work with children. This has had positive benefits for children. In one example, a child had used the toys in the playroom to disclose his concerns about bullying at school. This enabled staff to communicate with the school and resolve the issue quickly. Inspection report children’s home: SC023745 3 Children are generally settled at the home and there are minimal negative incidents at the home. Staff record these incidents well when they happen. The registered manager does not record how learning from these incidents is used to improve staff practice and minimise the risk of recurrence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager completes regular reviews of the quality of the service. These tend towards being descriptive in nature and, as such, are limited in their potential to be used for the continuous improvement of the service. Inspection report children’s home: SC023745 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/05/2019 Full Good 16/01/2019 Full Inadequate 03/10/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC023745 5

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day to day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that risk assessments use learning from incidents effectively to reduce the risk of recurrence.  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

In particular, ensure that internal monitoring reports are used as a tool for continuous improvement.

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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: SC023745 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspector

Peter Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC023745 7 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 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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