Children's home run by Happy Group (UK) Limited

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It was registered in June 2020 to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted for this home since June 2020 and has been in post since August 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:

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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. Assurance visit report: 2589537 2

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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.

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The care of children

Since living in this home, children have continued to make good progress. This is because staff are adaptive in their approach and support each child to overcome the challenges they face in their lives.

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The care of children

Children move to the home in a carefully planned way. Staff help children to settle into the home with a warm and friendly welcome. This helps the children to feel at ease.

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The care of children

Children benefit from the positive relationships they have established with the staff. Children can speak with the staff about any issues or concerns they have. One child said, ‘I can talk with staff; they spend time with me and listen.’

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The care of children

The staff team understands the individual needs of the children. Good routines and boundaries provide children with daily support and structure.

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The care of children

The manager and staff have worked effectively with the virtual school to advocate and identify an appropriate educational placement for the children. However, in the absence of a school placement, children have benefited from the learning opportunities and activities provided by the staff team. These have helped to ensure that children have continued to learn during the pandemic.

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The care of children

Children’s family time is promoted by the staff where appropriate. The staff proactively work to build positive and effective relationships with parents and extended family members. These mean that as restrictions eased, the children have resumed face-to-face family time in line with their individual plans.

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The safety of children

Staff understand the children’s individual vulnerabilities and risks. Good behaviour management and risk assessments identify strategies for staff to follow. These help staff to manage and reduce children’s risky behaviours.

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The safety of children

The staff team has regular conversations with children to help them understand the impact of COVID-19 and how to keep themselves safe. One child said, ‘COVID-19 we know a lot about it; we talk about it every day.’

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The safety of children

Incidents of children going missing from the home have reduced. However, when children have gone missing, staff have responded effectively to ensure the children’s safe return to the home. Assurance visit report: 2589537 3 Staff promote positive behaviour with children by using incentives that children have responded well too. Negative behaviour is challenged appropriately and discussed in key-work sessions to help children have time to reflect. As behaviours are proactively managed by staff, physical intervention has not been used.

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Leaders and managers

The manager is relatively new in the post. She has a good understanding of the individual needs of the children and is committed to supporting them to develop positive outcomes in all areas of their lives.

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Leaders and managers

The manager has monitoring and quality assurance systems in place to ensure children receive good-quality care and opportunities. She has a good oversight of the day-to-day functions of the home. However, the statement of purpose did not reflect the changes in the staff team.

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Leaders and managers

Staff speak positively of the supervisions and support they receive from the manager. However, there was limited recorded evidence of supervisions taking place for the staff team. As a result, the manager is not able to demonstrate how she reviews and challenges staff practice.

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Leaders and managers

Good communication with professionals has developed to build positive working relationships. The manager and staff advocate for the children to establish a joint multi-agency approach to support the individual needs of children.

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Leaders and managers

There has been a small turnover of staff since the home opened. However, this has not had a negative impact on the children as there has been a consistent and core staff team to support the children.

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Leaders and managers

Recruitment processes are good. These mean that as much as possible is done to ensure that staff are vetted and deemed safe to work with children.

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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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. 04/12/2020 Assurance visit report: 2589537 4 (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Happy Group (uk) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Walk House, 99 Princess Road East, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 7LF

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Inspector

Sue Hatton, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2589537 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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Inspector

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

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