Children's home run by Jamores Limited in Bexley

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care for up to three children. The home’s statement of purpose states that the home provides care for children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this visit

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), Ofsted suspended all routine inspections in March 2020. As part of a phased return to routine inspection, we are undertaking assurance visits to children’s social care services that are inspected under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF).

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Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

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Information about this visit

 children are well cared for  children are safe  leaders and managers are exercising strong leadership.

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Information about this visit

This visit was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000, following the published guidance for assurance visits.

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Information about this visit

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills is leading Ofsted’s work into how England’s social care system has delivered child-centred practice and care within the context of the restrictions placed on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assurance visit report: 1234166 2

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Findings from the visit

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance visit.

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The care of children

Staff know their children well. They understand the needs of the children and have a strong focus on relationship building. This has helped reduce children’s feelings of isolation and levels of anxiety during the lockdown period and continued social distancing.

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The care of children

Staff have made attempts to include parents in all aspects of their children’s care. During lockdown, family time was actively encouraged through the use of technology. Face-to-face contact also took place, and outdoor spaces were used to ensure social distancing.

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The care of children

Children have enjoyed a range of indoor and outdoor activities during recent months, for example Great British Bake-Off competition, board games, chess, movie nights, trips to the beach, bowling and go-karting.

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The care of children

Children’s social, physical, emotional and mental health needs are met well. Children receive excellent support with their complex medical needs. Children have benefited from therapeutic input throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, through virtual methods during lockdown, and face-to-face meetings while social distancing.

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The care of children

Staff hold regular keywork sessions with children. These are specific to the needs of the child, and to what is important to them. Staff also plan and engage children in keywork sessions, in line with emerging risks, behaviours and need.

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The safety of children

Although there is a high level of incidents of children going missing from the home, staff do all they can to keep children safe. There is good evidence of Return Home Interviews being completed, and of staff safeguarding children while in the community and providing support to children around sexual health matters.

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The safety of children

The high levels of incidents of children going missing created an additional risk for staff and children. Managers and staff worked consistently to balance the safeguarding of all children and staff by exercising safety measures related to COVID-19. Children are provided with a ‘keep safe’ pack, which includes wipes, masks and antibacterial hand gel, for any time spent outside the home.

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The safety of children

Staff manage effectively the multiple complex risks that impact on the safety of children. These include life-threatening medical conditions, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, violence and aggression, substance misuse, as well as trauma and anxiety. Assurance visit report: 1234166 3 Staff have ensured that children have regularly been updated on changing rules about keeping safe during the pandemic. Where the suspension of face-to-face family time impacted on children’s mental health, staff encouraged children to make use of virtual methods to see family members. Children were also helped to manage their levels of anxiety safely.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has been in post since July 2019, and the core team has remained stable. The registered manager’s therapeutic skills were particularly beneficial to staff and children during the period of lockdown.

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Leaders and managers

Staff spoke highly of the support that they received from leaders and managers. Managers are invested in keeping children safe. They regularly reassure children that staff are travelling to and from work in a safe way and are adhering to guidance to keep themselves and the children safe.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and manages place the well-being of individual children in the home at the centre of practice. Managers and leaders focus specific attention on promoting good mental health for children. There are positive partnerships with key professionals, such as the police and specialist nurses.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders, managers and staff promote equality and diversity and encourage discussion about COVID-19. Children have benefited from exploration of views and opinions relating to the Black Lives Matter movement. House meetings took place to raise awareness of Black role models who have made positive contributions to the world.

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Leaders and managers

Managers and leaders supported staff to continue to receive online training during lockdown. Training was specific to current issues and to the needs of the children. For example, some of the training included courses on racism, discrimination and intolerance in children’s homes, therapeutic care for children, adverse childhood experiences, and medication. Staff continue to receive regular and reflective supervision.

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and 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) This relates to fully recording the outcomes and learning from complaints, and clearly recording behaviour that leads to the use of restraints. Assurance visit report: 1234166 4 Assurance visit report: 1234166 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Thames Innovation Centre, Studio 52, Veridion Way, Erith DA18 4AL

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Inspector

Jayshree Pillay, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1234166 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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