Children's home run by Shyne Together Limited in Rushcliffe

Assurance visit report: SC441865 1 SC441865

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is described by the provider as a therapeutic home. The home is registered to care for up to three children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since January 2019 and is appropriately qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 28 February 2020

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Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection judgement: Improved effectiveness

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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: SC441865 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

Young people make progress, especially in building confidence and self-esteem and managing their emotional well-being. They can identify the progress they make and say they like living here. Strong and trusting relationships enable young people to feel confident in discussing their needs and care with staff. The manager and staff speak with enormous pride about the young people in their care.

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The care of children

Young people get on well with each other. The manager applies robust processes to ensure young people are suitably matched.

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The care of children

Staff support young people to attend and contribute to their placement reviews, building their confidence and helping them to share their views about their care. They also share their views through house meetings and key-work sessions. These processes help to ensure that young people’s views inform how they are cared for and how the home operates.

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The care of children

Staff know how to care for the young people, following detailed and well-integrated care, therapy and safety plans.

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The care of children

Young people continue to make progress in their education, attending college and school. Staff work well with education providers to ensure the right package of learning is in place for each young person. One young person has enjoyed volunteering at a local city farm.

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The care of children

Young people continue to keep in touch with their families. Staff have enabled families and friends to communicate during times of COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing. Staff facilitate meetings and overnight stays where appropriate.

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The safety of children

Staff understand how to manage risk to keep young people as safe as possible. They work with young people to help them understand how to keep themselves safe. Young people say they feel safe because they can talk to staff about any issues.

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The safety of children

In recent months, there has been a significant decrease in young people’s risk-taking behaviours, such as drug and alcohol use, going missing from the home, and in the number of incidents of self-harm. Staff respond swiftly and appropriately to any incidents. Assurance visit report: SC441865 3 Staff supervision of young people in the home and community is supportive without being obtrusive.

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The safety of children

External training for staff in physical intervention has been difficult to source during COVID-19 restrictions. In the meantime, the manager has utilised skills within the experienced staff team to support new staff to understand how to appropriately manage situations. There has been no use of physical intervention for a significant period of time.

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Leaders and managers

The leadership of the home is moving from strength to strength. The appointment of deputy managers and senior staff allows the manager more time to have management oversight of the home and the care provided.

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Leaders and managers

There has been a significant turnover in staff. The manager recognises the impact this has on young people, particularly when they have formed strong relationships with the staff who have left.

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Leaders and managers

New staff have brought a range of skills and experience from various childcare settings that complement the existing staff team. The range of skills and knowledge base of the staff team is a significant strength of the home.

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Leaders and managers

Staff training continues to be a strength in this home. The manager uses a range of methods to help staff learn. This includes essential reading, looking at emerging research and key themes for improving practice.

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Leaders and managers

Monitoring is regular and effective. Weekly reviews of care plans enable the manager to have an overview of the progress young people make and what work still needs to be done.

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Leaders and managers

The manager and staff work well with some agencies, such as the rapid response team, who have helped deliver training. Partnership work with other organisations is not always as effective. Communication with partner agencies is inconsistent. Specifically, the communication and partnership working with the placing authority concerning transport to and from school has not been effective. A requirement has been made to address this shortfall. However, despite communication issues, this has not adversely affected the child’s attendance at school.

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Leaders and managers

No requirements or recommendations were made at the last inspection. One requirement is made following this visit.

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Statutory requirements

Assurance visit report: SC441865 4 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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring good and consistent communication with other agencies and organisations, particularly the placing authority. 31/12/2020

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Shyne Together Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Chancel House, East Street, Bingham, Nottinghamshire, NOTTINGHAM NG13 8DS

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Charlotte Proctor

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Inspectors

Judith Longden, Social Care Inspector Philip Cass, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: SC441865 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

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