Children's Home run by Impact For Change Ltd in Devon

Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a small organisation. The home is registered to care for up to three children.

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Information about this children’s home

This setting was registered with Ofsted in March 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.

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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: 2549629 2

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The care of children

Relationships between the children and staff are respectful, warm and nurturing. The core staff team know the children well because they have the skills to form positive and helpful relationships with them. The children respond well to the staff’s open and honest style of communication.

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The care of children

The manager ensures that prior to agreeing to a new child moving into the home she considers the new child’s needs and assesses their compatibility with the children currently living at the home. Risk assessments are comprehensive.

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The care of children

Children struggled emotionally during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. As a result, behavioural incidents occurred. Some of these incidents resulted in police involvement, staff being assaulted and damage being caused to the property. During this unsettled period, the manager and her team demonstrated resilience and supported the children well while maintaining boundaries and expectations. As a result, relationships have strengthened and behavioural incidents have reduced.

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The care of children

The registered manager and team recognise the importance of children maintaining contact with family and friends. Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown period, staff encouraged the children to use technology to talk to and see individuals who are important to them. Since the restrictions have eased, parents have spent time with their child in person.

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The care of children

A parent who contributed to this assurance visit said, ‘We are very pleased with the home, we are impressed with the manager. The team has managed my son’s needs and behaviour well. We receive weekly reports that are of a good quality.’ A social worker also commented on the development of trusting and meaningful relationships between their child and staff and how this has meant the child feels safe.

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The safety of children

Children are kept safe. When concerns or allegations are raised the manager liaises appropriately with a range of safeguarding agencies. Records relating to the one safeguarding concern reported to the designated officer are well maintained. They detail the concern, the actions taken and the outcome.

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The safety of children

Care plans and individualised risk assessment are comprehensive. These plans provide detailed information and guidance for staff on how to meet the child’s needs and identify, manage and mitigate the risks.

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The safety of children

When children have been reported missing from home, staff follow the missing- from-home protocols effectively. The registered manager ensures independent return home interviews are completed. Information gained from these discussions is used effectively. Assurance visit report: 2549629 3 Children know how to raise a complaint. Appropriate action has been taken to investigate and resolve the one concern raised by a child.

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Leaders and managers

The home is managed by a new registered manager who is an excellent role model. She is forward thinking and child focused. She has high standards for both herself and the staff team. Feedback from professionals and parents is unanimously positive. A social worker said, ‘The registered manager has very strong leadership skills. She manages her team well. She promotes staff reflection and learning to get things right.’

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Leaders and managers

At the peak of the COVID-19 lockdown staff shortages resulted in the use of agency staff to meet the children’s supervision needs. The registered manager ensured safer recruitment checks had been completed. Despite this, the information provided by the agency lacked critical information about the employees’ skills, experience and qualifications. The registered manager has taken appropriate action to rectify this shortfall and the disproportionate gender balance within the team.

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Leaders and managers

The restrictions imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have restricted the staff’s ability to complete and/or refresh their knowledge through basic and specialist training. In response, and as an interim measure, staff are completing online training that will help them to meet the children’s current and changing needs.

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Leaders and managers

The registered manager’s monitoring of behavioural incidents lacks rigour. Discussions held with staff and children following incidents do not always consider what actions could have been taken to reach a different outcome or prevent a reoccurrence. In addition, not all incident reports detail a concise and factual overview of events or include all of the actions taken by staff.

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Leaders and managers

Staff performance is managed well. The registered manager ensures staff receive support and guidance to undertake their role. Good use is made of team meetings and formal supervisions. These meetings provide staff with the opportunity to review children’s progress and share good practice. Where poor performance is identified, the registered manager ensures the home’s policies and procedures are followed.

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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. Assurance visit report: 2549629 4

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(2)(h)) 31/12/2020

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Recommendations

 Whenever possible, staff in day to day contact with children should include staff from the different gender groups. Where the home’s Statement of Purpose makes it explicit that the home uses staff of one sex only, clear guidance will need to be in place and followed as to how children are enabled to maintain relationships with people of a different gender. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.22)  Ensure that all staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact For Change Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Canns Down Press, Beaford, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8LZ

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Hannah Lloyd-Perkins

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Inspector

Assurance visit report: 2549629 5 Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2549629 6 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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