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

Assurance visit report: SC059717 1 SC059717

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a national private organisation. It provides care and accommodation for six girls with emotional and behavioural difficulties, who require medium- to long-term therapeutic care and intervention.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since November 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 16 October 2019

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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.

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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. Assurance visit report: SC059717 2

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The care of children

Children are well cared for at this home. Staff have developed positive relationships with children. At this visit, the inspector observed staff providing the children with genuine warmth and care.

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The care of children

Some children found the lockdown period difficult and frustrating. However, staff provided children with a wide range of activities in the home and in the local community, while adhering to government guidelines. Through the use of video calls and face-to-face visits, children continued to meet with their family. In addition, all the children enjoyed a caravan holiday at a local seaside resort.

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The care of children

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. At this visit, one child said that they do not want to wear a mask when out shopping and that because of her age she did not have to wear one. This was discussed with the registered manager and was addressed immediately.

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The care of children

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are clearly identified and met. In particular, children receive good support to assist them in managing their feelings and emotions. Children have good access to specialist help and support. A child said that they find these helpful.

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The care of children

Staff provide children with effective support and encouragement to continue to attend school and, where needed, home tuition. Children are doing well at school considering their starting points. Social workers speak highly of the commitment of the staff team to ensure that children attend school.

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The safety of children

Children are kept safe at this home. The children say that they feel safe because the adults make them feel safe. This is echoed by parents and social workers who have not raised any concerns about the children’s safety and well-being.

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The safety of children

Children say that they feel listened to. They say that if they were worried about something they would speak to the adults. However, not all children said that they knew how to make a complaint. When children have made a complaint, good records are kept to clearly record how the child’s complaint is resolved.

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The safety of children

Restraint is used as a last resort to keep children safe. Following a period of some children being unsettled, the use of restraint is gradually reducing. The registered manager ensures that she undertakes a comprehensive review of all incidents of restraint. Following the use of an intervention, detailed discussions are held with Assurance visit report: SC059717 3 children and staff. Staff reflect on their practice to identify if any lessons can be learned in order to improve their performance. The registered manager is committed to reducing the use of restraint in the home. As a result of this, two children’s plans have recently been reviewed and now identify that restraint is no longer to be used.

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The safety of children

Staff have a good awareness and understanding of children’s risks and take effective action to keep them safe. Staff take appropriate action when they consider that children are not getting on well with each other. As a result of this, a child is now much happier living at the home. Social workers say that they are informed and regularly updated about incidents in the home.

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The safety of children

The registered manager ensures that the children’s behaviour support plans and risk assessments are regularly reviewed and updated. It is rare that children go missing from this home. However, if children do go missing, staff take effective action to ensure that children return home safely.

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The safety of children

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that when new staff are appointed that all references are verified.

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Leaders and managers

The home is effectively and efficiently managed by a permanent, experienced and qualified registered manager. She has recently undertaken a comprehensive review of the quality of care and has identified realistic areas of improvement. She responds effectively to recommendations made by the independent visitor.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager and senior managers take effective action to address poor staff performance, and potential safeguarding concerns. They thoroughly investigate these and liaise with safeguarding agencies. This ensures that the children’s safety and well-being needs are met.

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Leaders and managers

In recent months, there have been incidents at the home that have resulted in complaints from neighbours, and on one occasion the police being called to the home. The registered manager has ensured that complaints made by the neighbours have been satisfactorily resolved. Detailed records are kept, demonstrating a good audit trail. In addition, the registered manager and staff have reflected on recent incidents and lessons have been learned.

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Leaders and managers

Staff say that they feel well supported and listened to. The registered manager has recently reviewed the structure of the staff team. Staff say that the changes have been positive and that the continuity and consistency of care to the children has improved.

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Leaders and managers

Parents, social workers and independent reviewing officers speak well of the care and support that the children receive. They say that there is good and effective communication between them and the staff. This demonstrates good partnership working. Assurance visit report: SC059717 4 Leaders and managers have taken effective action to address the requirement that was made at the inspection in October 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

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Requirement Due date

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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all references are verified. 30/09/2020

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Recommendations

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as Assurance visit report: SC059717 5 necessary. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.13).

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Five Rivers Childcare 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: SC059717 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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Inspector

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