Children's home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Wiltshire

Assurance visit report: SC411208 1 SC411208

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a national private organisation. Care and accommodation are provided for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

The post of registered manager has been vacant since March 2020. However, a manager was in post at the time of this visit.

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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: SC411208 2

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Findings from the visit

We identified no 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

Children are well cared for and are happy at this home. Staff have developed trusted relationships with the children. Children speak fondly of the staff. They say that the staff are kind to them and that they care about them. A child gave ‘10/10’ for living at the home and another child gave ‘8/10’. Parents speak highly of the care provided to their children. Staff have continued to help children to spend time with their family members. This includes video calls and face-to-face meetings.

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The care of children

Children said that, at times, the lockdown period was difficult, and, on occasions, they got bored and frustrated. However, staff provided and encouraged children to take part in a wide range of activities in the home and local community. In addition, the children enjoyed a caravan holiday at a seaside resort. Staff have captured these positive experiences in the form of photographs and by displaying the children’s art and craft work.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that the children’s health needs are clearly identified and met. During the lockdown period, a child attended a doctor’s appointment via a telephone call and another child made a visit to the opticians. Children have a good awareness and understanding of matters relating to COVID-19 and the importance of handwashing, social distancing and the wearing of masks. In addition, a child has continued to receive support from a healthcare professional in order for them to understand their feelings and emotions.

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The care of children

Staff provide children with effective support and encouragement to continue to attend school and, where needed, for home tuition. Children are doing well at school considering their starting points.

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The safety of children

Children are safe, and children say that staff make them feel safe. This is echoed by the children’s parents, who say that they do not have any concerns in relation to their child’s safety and well-being.

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The safety of children

Comprehensive behaviour support plans and risk assessments guide staff in how to respond when children become upset. These are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff have a good awareness and understanding of the known risks and how these are to be managed. Staff are well prepared and supported to assist children to manage their emotions and feelings effectively. Assurance visit report: SC411208 3 Staff use restraint as a last resort to keep children safe. The vast majority of restraints are low-level holds. The manager thoroughly reviews and evaluates the use of restraint to consider the appropriateness of the measure used. Comprehensive discussions are held with children to seek their views of the measure used. The manager ensures that detailed discussions are held with staff to identify any lessons learned in order to improve their practice.

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The safety of children

Children have not been missing from the home and there has not been any referrals made to the designated officer or children’s services. The manager has recently reviewed a previously agreed allegations protocol. However, the updated protocol has not been shared with the designated officer or the child’s placing authority.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that, when new staff are appointed, a full employment history is always obtained and that all references are verified. However, leaders and managers took effective action to address this shortfall at the time of the visit.

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Leaders and managers

At the time of this assurance visit, the registered manager post was vacant. Despite this, the home is effectively and efficiently managed. The acting manager has worked at the home for several years, and was previously the deputy manager. However, the acting manager will be leaving their post in September 2020. The responsible individual has taken effective action to address the vacant registered manager post, and a new manager has been appointed.

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Leaders and managers

A period of stability is now required following recent changes in the staff team. The responsible individual has a thorough awareness of the needs of the home and makes regular visits to the home. In addition, the responsible individual reviews and responds to comments made in the independent visitor’s reports.

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Leaders and managers

The manager responds effectively to recommendations made by the independent visitor. In addition, she has recently undertaken a detailed review of the quality of care provided and has identified realistic goals for further improvement.

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Leaders and managers

Staff are provided with detailed support plans that give clear guidance on how the children’s needs are to be met. These are regularly reviewed and updated. Staff have a good understanding of the children’s needs.

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Leaders and managers

Staff say that they receive good support. A member of staff said that, despite recent changes to the staff team, they consider that staff have continued to provide continuity and consistency for the children.

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Leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have taken effective action to address the shortfalls that were identified at the full inspection that took place in May 2019.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b)(3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that a full employment history is obtained and all references are verified. 30/09/2020

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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). In particular, review the allegations protocol for the current child living in the home in conjunction with the placing authority and designated officer to ensure that it is up to date and current.

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Children’s home details

Assurance visit report: SC411208 5 Unique reference number: SC411208

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Safehaven Residential and Respite Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Five Rivers Childcare, 47 Bedwin Street, SALISBURY SP1 3UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Newman

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Inspector

David Kidner, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC411208 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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