Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for up to three children or young people.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 18 February 2020

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Sustained effectiveness

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:  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.

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. Assurance visit report: 2491059 2

p.1

The care of children

Young people have trusted and secure relationships with staff.

p.2

The care of children

Staff know the young people well and engage them with humour, creativity and a thorough understanding of their life stories.

p.2

The care of children

Young people say that the home feels like a family and that it is calming and safe. They understand the boundaries that are in place and why.

p.2

The care of children

Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period, young people remained in contact with their families on a regular basis. Staff successfully negotiated additional activities for young people whose mental health suffered through isolation. The therapist in the staff team provided consistency for young people when specialist services were withdrawn because of the pandemic.

p.2

The care of children

Young people’s views are routinely considered. In particular, they were central to the recent redecoration of the home and increasing the number of rooms available for young people to relax in.

p.2

The care of children

The senior leaders kept up education for young people in the early stages of the COVID-19 lockdown period. Young people were also kept physically active through creative use of the local countryside. Some of the young people have not returned to full-time education this term and progress to remedy this has been slow. However, staff are providing additional opportunities through virtual learning.

p.2

The safety of children

The whole staff team, including managers and therapists, identifies, understands and manages risk effectively. Behaviour support plans have really clear guidance on how staff should respond to each young person when they are in distress or at risk. Consequently, physical interventions and restraint are low and decreasing.

p.2

The safety of children

When young people go missing, the staff are curious about where they are and what they are doing. Trusting relationships result in young people being given time to make the right choices while not being left at risk unnecessarily. Managers do not have a full understanding of local exploitation hotspots but are beginning to expand their knowledge.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff manage challenging situations well because planning and strategies are well understood. Young people feel safe and welcome the security of consistent boundaries.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff adapt risk assessments through holistic reviews following incidents, including when young people go missing. This strengthens their awareness of abuse and neglect, including the effects of trauma on young people’s behaviour. Assurance visit report: 2491059 3

p.2

Leaders and managers

The manager has been in post for several months and has stabilised the staff team in challenging circumstances.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Ofsted has yet to receive a complete application to register the manager. Swift action is required to address this as the home has been without a registered manager for 12 months.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The well-being of the young people, based on consistent and trusting relationships, is at the centre of practice in the home. This is consistent irrespective of the challenges they present.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Day-to-day planning supports positive behaviours and increased independence for young people. However, longer-term plans are confused and lack clarity on what needs to be achieved by when. Consequently, holding partner agencies to account has been a problem.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The increasingly stable staff team has prioritised the welfare of the young people throughout government restrictions due to COVID-19. Managers have supported staff with flexibility and compassion, recognising the demands on them and their families. Training and supervision have remained consistent and regular.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The interim manager and the responsible individual learn from independent monitoring, including swift adaptions to keeping staff and young people safe through lockdown.

p.3

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard

p.3

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.3

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; 30/01/2021 Assurance visit report: 2491059 4 use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard requires the registered person to ensure that staff provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background.

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that each child’s plan has only the most recent targets/actions clearly recorded, with a timescale for completion.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: H & H Accountants Ltd, Old Bank Buildings, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AJ

p.4

Inspector

Steve Lowe, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2491059 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