Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicester

Assurance visit report: SC488930 1 SC488930

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Information about this children’s home

This five-bedded home provides care and accommodation for children with emotional, behavioural or educational difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 1 October 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.

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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: SC488930 2

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, this home has had an extensive refurbishment. In addition, leadership and management arrangements have changed. These factors have had a significant positive impact on the quality of care.

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The care of children

The quality of the home environment indicates that young people are valued. It is pristine, with high standards of decoration and furnishings. Young people are taking part in personalising the home to their own tastes.

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The care of children

A strength of this home is a focus on promoting young people’s positive sense of identity. Diversity and difference are understood and celebrated.

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The care of children

Three young people were admitted to the home in the same month. Their compatibility was thoroughly considered. This assessment has led to a harmonious household. Young people have positive relationships with each other. These positive dynamics and companionship have been essential to young people’s well-being through the pandemic.

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The care of children

Transitions to the home were well planned. Pandemic restrictions required staff to devise different methods to introduce young people to the home. These included video calls and telephone calls. This meant young people could get to see the home and choose their bedrooms. They also got to know the staff team and other young people.

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The care of children

All young people have individualised education plans. Young people attend and engage in school or college. Young people who previously refused to attend education now embrace learning. This means that they have improved life chances.

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The care of children

Good healthcare arrangements are central to care practice. The physical, emotional and psychological needs of young people are fully supported.

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The safety of children

Staff have a clear understanding of the vulnerabilities of the young people. From the point of admission to the home, risks are understood. Risks are reviewed and strategies to protect young people adapted as required. Over time, young people’s risk-taking behaviours reduce.

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The safety of children

The staff are vigilant. They increase monitoring where they believe a young person may be at risk of leaving the home without permission. Staff respond appropriately when young people are missing from the home. Staff encourage young people to reflect on the reasons why they have run away and to develop safer behaviours.

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The safety of children

There have been no physical interventions since the last inspection. This shows that staff are effective in understanding young people’s needs and managing their behaviour. Assurance visit report: SC488930 3 The registered manager has good links with safeguarding agencies, social care professionals and the local police service. This means that the multi-agency team acts on concerns about the safety or welfare of young people in a timely manner.

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Leaders and managers

The home has a new management team. The responsible individual, registered manager and deputy manager have a clear vision for this home. They are ambitious for young people to reach their full potential.

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Leaders and managers

Supervision and training arrangements have been satisfactory during the pandemic. Due to the restrictions, most training has been undertaken through online learning. The manager plans to deliver face-to-face learning when restrictions ease.

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Leaders and managers

External quality assurance provides a detailed analysis of care provision. This means that leaders and managers have a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses.

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Leaders and managers

Partnership work is positive. Collaboration with stakeholders enables care plans to be progressed smoothly. This leads to positive outcomes for young people.

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Leaders and managers

The requirements from the previous inspection were not reviewed during this visit. They will be reviewed at a later inspection. This visit did not identify any shortfalls.

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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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b)) 16/12/2019 Assurance visit report: SC488930 4 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(e)) 16/12/2019

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Drinsey Nook, Lincoln LN1 2JJ

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC488930 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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Inspector

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