Children's home run by Albrighton Care Ltd

Information about this children’s home

A private company owns the home. It is registered to provide care and accomodation for up to three children and young people with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager holds a level 5 diploma in leadership for health and social care and children and young people’s services.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 21 November 2019

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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. 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: 2519084 2

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The care of children

There are currently no children living at the home. One child, who had lived at the home for over 12 months, has recently moved out. Staff took appropriate steps to prepare and support the child with their move to their next placement.

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The care of children

Staff manage children’s behaviour well. The use of rewards charts and praise helps children to make positive behaviour choices. For example, children learn to ask staff for support rather than to become aggressive.

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The care of children

Children make progress because of the help they receive from staff. One child, who initially had limited communication skills, was supported to understand and use Makaton. This enabled the child to express how they are feeling and make requests to staff for things they needed. Furthermore, the child learned to say two words. This was significant progress for this child.

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The care of children

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have continued to prioritise children being able to see and speak to their families. When direct contact was not possible, video calls were used as a substitute. This ensured that children were able to stay in touch with those people who are most important to them.

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The care of children

Staff promote children’s health through encouraging exercise and healthy food choices. One child achieved a weight target because of the activities that staff encouraged and supported him to access. Furthermore, activities such as sensory play, colouring and cooking have helped to improve one child’s social skills, self- esteem and confidence. Because of the efforts of staff, this child was able to maintain an active and interesting life throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The care of children

Staff are successful at identifying boundaries to children’s access to education. For example, to support one child, staff implemented a process to manage the changeover of staff from home to school. This helped to manage the child’s anxieties. As a result his school attendance improved.

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The care of children

Linked to this, one child was offered an insufficient education following the changes brought about by COVID-19. The registered manager challenged the school about this and she was able to secure additional education provision. This demonstrates that the registered manager is an effective advocate for children.

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The safety of children

Staff work closely with parents and partner agencies to plan how best to keep children safe. Because of this, risk assessments and behaviour management plans are up to date and well informed. This means that staff have clear guidance on how to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Staff work hard to manage children’s behaviour and avoid the use of physical intervention. When physical intervention is required for those children with limited Assurance visit report: 2519084 3 verbal communication, staff use tailored visual aids to discuss the incident. For one child, this resulted in him developing his strategies to manage his emotions and therefore reduced incidents which required staff to physically intervene.

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The safety of children

Children are looked after by staff who are consistent in their approach. Staff work together to implement routines and boundaries for children. This helps children to feel safe and secure and understand what is expected of them.

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The safety of children

In one instance, there was a delay in the action of a staff member in response to a safeguarding incident. The manager identified this concern and took remedial action. Subsequently the manager has used training and supervisions to ensure that staff understand and are following safeguarding procedures.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager is enthusiastic, and child focused in their approach. This is mirrored by the staff, who put children at the centre of everything they do. The registered manager and staff take every opportunity to reflect on the care that they provide children and consider how they can improve this further.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager has a good oversight of the home. When she identifies shortfalls, she takes swift action to address them. This means that children experience a consistent quality of care.

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Leaders and managers

The staff feel well supported by the registered manager. This is because they receive regular reflective supervisions and they are provided with the training required to meet the needs of any child placed at the home.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager ensures that statutory documentation and other records are kept up to date. Because of this, staff have access to the information they need to meet the needs of children. However, some records, including behaviour management plans, contain technical terminology. The impact of this is limited, as staff understand what this terminology means. However, children, parents, new staff and other external professionals may not understand the plans that are in place to promote children’s welfare and safety.

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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) Assurance visit report: 2519084 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Albrighton Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Albrighton Care Limited, Rumer Hill Road, Cannock, Staffordshire WS11 0ET

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Inspectors

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2519084 5 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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