Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Assurance visit report: SC396721 1 SC396721

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and is registered for one young person. The home provides care for a young person who has experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2012, and has extensive knowledge and experience.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 10 December 2019

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Outstanding

p.1

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).

p.1

Information about this visit

At these visits, inspectors evaluate the extent to which:

p.1

Information about this visit

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

p.1

Information about this visit

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

p.1

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: SC396721 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

Since the last monitoring visit, in June 2020, one child has moved out of the home and a new child has moved in. Despite these moves occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, managers and staff have worked closely with children’s social workers to ensure that children’s moves have been well planned. As a result, children have experienced successful moves. The new child has quickly developed a trusting relationship with the staff and is beginning to make good progress.

p.2

The care of children

Staff encourage the child to try new activities and to maintain existing interests. The child regularly goes horse riding and is raising funds for charity by taking part in a ‘bake-off’. This has had a positive impact on her physical health and her emotional well-being.

p.2

The care of children

The manager and staff work closely with the organisation’s clinical team. As a result of this partnership, staff are able to seek advice from the clinical team and use this help to respond appropriately to the child’s complex needs. Staff encourage the child to reflect and develop strategies to manage her feelings safely. Therefore, the child’s emotional health and mental health are well supported.

p.2

The care of children

Staff work alongside the child’s teachers to support her learning. Staff will regularly take up opportunities to support the child’s reading. This extra support is helping to build up the child’s confidence in her own abilities. The child told the inspector that staff talk with her about what she can achieve, and that for the first time she is thinking about being able to have a job and to buy a house and a car.

p.2

The care of children

Overall, the home is a homely environment for the child to live in. However, the back garden looks neglected. An ornamental brick structure is covered in weeds and the garden chairs are tired looking and worn. The garden is not an inviting place for the child to spend time in.

p.2

The safety of children

Detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans give staff very clear guidance on how to keep the child safe. This includes strategies to manage and de- escalate the child’s complex and challenging behaviours, and to manage risks in the environment including risks from COVID-19.

p.2

The safety of children

On the one occasion that the child attempted to go missing from the home, staff followed the child’s missing-from-home protocol. They kept close to the child to tell her that they care about her and want her to be safe. Staff then used their extremely positive relationships with the child to educate her about alternative ways Assurance visit report: SC396721 3 of handling difficult emotions. Because of the staff’s responsive approach to providing care , the risks to the child from going missing are greatly reduced.

p.2

The safety of children

All staff have completed mandatory training to keep young people safe. This includes receiving training in first aid, child sexual exploitation and ‘Prevent’ duty.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff have worked closely with the child’s social worker to ensure that the child can stay in touch with her family.

p.3

Leaders and managers

On 12 June 2020, a monitoring visit was carried out in response to information received by Ofsted about the home. The registered manager has worked hard to address the shortfalls identified at the monitoring visit. The inspector found that the requirements made at the monitoring visit have all been met.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Feedback from professionals was positive. They said that the manager and staff work with the child therapeutically and embed rules and boundaries so that the child experiences a stable and settled home environment.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager’s understanding of the home’s strengths and areas for development is greatly enhanced by the quality and detail of audits undertaken by the independent visitor. This has contributed to the manager’s timely completion of the six-monthly quality of care review. In completing the review, the manager has utilised feedback from children and placing authorities. The manager has then set ambitious targets to improve the quality of care for the child.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staff receive good-quality monthly supervision and an annual appraisal. Staff feel well supported by the manager and are passionate about their work with children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staff have not been able to receive face-to-face training since restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these restrictions, the manager has ensured that staff have been able to complete relevant online training to help them to meet the child’s needs.

p.3

Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance visit report: SC396721 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Reflexion Care Group Ltd, Black Birches, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 3DH

p.4

Inspector

Karen Gillingwater, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC396721 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.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5