Children's Home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Cheshire East

Information about this children’s home

A private company owns this home. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children or young people who may be experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by an experienced manager, who was registered in January 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: Not previously inspected

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Not previously inspected

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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:  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: 2561970 2

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The care of children

The home is delightful and decorated to a very high standard. Young people and staff take pride in their living environment. Young people enjoy a comfortable and spacious home. They speak openly about the high level of care and good relationships with staff. They are comforted by having honest and trusting relationships with staff.

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The care of children

The home is situated in a pleasant residential area and is not easily identifiable as a children’s home. The home’s manager, together with the young people, has worked hard to build positive relationships with their neighbours. The manager has invited neighbours to a coffee and cake morning. This social occasion has helped neighbours to have a better understanding of the home and its importance. This was also an excellent opportunity for young people to increase their understanding of mutual respect and consideration for their community. Staff are keen to encourage young people to have compassion and thought for others. One young person, who is a keen baker, baked cakes and raised money for charity through a cake sale.

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The care of children

It has been a challenging time during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic and accompanying restrictions have caused some young people to have raised anxieties and consequently display challenging behaviour. One young person found it difficult to understand the restrictions of being in lockdown and struggled to adhere to the social rules. Another young person, who has complex emotional needs, struggled to understand that his favourite fast-food chain was not open and consequently became distressed.

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The care of children

Young people are encouraged to take part in a range of social and recreational activities, for example, sitting together at mealtimes, or enjoying horse riding. For some young people, it is the first time that they have had such positive experiences.

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The care of children

Education is promoted in the home. During lockdown, there have been some challenges to progress education plans for young people. The home’s manager has robustly challenged placing authorities to ensure that young people can continue with their education. Young people have access to laptops or PCs to continue with online tutoring in the home.

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The care of children

Young people have their physical health needs met and all are registered with primary health services. Staff recognise the importance of emotional and psychological support for young people.

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The care of children

Staff promote and facilitate family contact time. This ensures that young people have positive time with their families. Moreover, staff have encouraged one young person to have her best friend come and spend the day with her at the home. Staff recognise that social interaction with peers is important for this young person as she is currently isolated geographically from her home. Assurance visit report: 2561970 3

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The safety of children

All young people have clear risk assessments in place. One of the challenges for the home has been the frequency of episodes of going missing from the home, particularly for one young person. There was good evidence to show that the home exercised good practice to engage the young person in activities in the home. Her social worker said that staff tried hard to build positive relationships and encourage her to be part of the home.

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The safety of children

Missing-from-care protocols are followed and there is good communication between the placing authority, police and young people to ensure that everyone is kept up to date. The manager attends local authority safeguarding meetings to discuss risks and concerns.

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The safety of children

The emotional and mental well-being of young people is paramount. Young people engage in therapeutic support. Some young people require in-depth psychological assessments. The manager has ensured that young people access the right support for their complex emotional needs.

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The safety of children

There have been some challenging dynamics between young people. One older young person was able to influence a younger person to take illegal substances. Careful consideration is vital in appropriate matching of young people based on their age and personal history.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager of this home is experienced. She exercises strong leadership and robustly challenges on behalf of young people. The manager is child focused and puts the fundamental needs of young people at the centre of the staff’s practice.

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Leaders and managers

Some staff members have worked together previously; other staff members are new to the team. One staff member acknowledged that it takes time to get the balance right as the staff get to know one another.

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Leaders and managers

Staff take their time to understand young people. Despite some difficult episodes, young people have formed trusting relationships with the manager and her team. Staff are dedicated and nurturing towards young people. One staff member said, ‘I have been doing this job for 20 years. You won’t change everyone, but you can make a small difference and that is what’s important.’

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Leaders and managers

Physical restraints are recorded. However, senior management oversight has identified and then addressed some shortfalls in staff recording of one incident. To ensure consistency of practice, the team would benefit from additional training. Physical restraint should be proportionate to the age and understanding of the young person. Assurance visit report: 2561970 4 The manager is required to submit a notification following a serious incident. Due to the seriousness of one incident, the inspector felt that this should have been reported to HMCI.

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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, the 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 31/12/2020

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that staff— 31/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 2561970 5 encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c)(2)(a)(iii)(vii)(b))

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Recommendations

 Children should be given a choice about how their personal space is decorated in accordance with regulation 7(2)(a)(i). (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19)

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Recommendations

 In a restraint situation, staff should use their professional judgement, supported by their knowledge of each child’s risk assessment, an understanding of the needs of the child (as set out in their relevant plans) and an understanding of the risks the child faces. Professional judgements may need to be taken quickly, and staff training, and supervision of practice should support this. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 48, paragraph 9.53)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unity Residential Care Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Belvoir Farmhouse, Woolsthorpe Road, Redmile, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire NG13 0GN

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Inspector

Kamal Bhamra, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2561970 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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