Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by private provider and provides care for up to three children. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in July 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.

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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: 2592531 2

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The care of children

Children live in a home that is well maintained, warm and welcoming. Children say that they like living at the home and were observed to be relaxed and comfortable in their environment.

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The care of children

Children have confidence and trust in the adults who care for them. The registered manager’s child-centred approach and her ability to develop kind and meaningful relationships with the children are shared by her staff team.

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The care of children

Care plans and individualised risk assessments include the placing authoritie’s aims and targets. These comprehensive documents provide extensive information about the children’s past behaviours and needs. However, despite being regularly reviewed, these plans do not detail how to recognise and respond to the children’s current daily living needs. As a result, temporary staff who work at the home do not have easy access to the essential and current information they require to help them meet all of the children’s needs.

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The care of children

Children’s educational needs are met and promoted well. Both children enjoy learning and their attendance is good. The registered manager and her team work closely with education services. They maintain daily communication, attend meetings and share any concerns that may impact on the children’s engagement.

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The care of children

Children are supported to maintain their relationships with family members and friends. Children make good use of electronic devices that have helped them to maintain contact. When appropriate, staff support the children to see their family and friends in person.

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The safety of children

Children are mainly safeguarded from harm. The registered manager works collaboratively with a range of safeguarding agencies. When concerns or allegations are raised, the registered manager takes appropriate action. Records are well maintained and detail the concern, the actions taken and the outcome. Despite this good work, the manager has not shared important information obtained from a child with the police as necessary. This information concerns a third party and relates to potential fraud and online exploitation.

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The safety of children

The registered manager ensures that prior to agreeing to a new child moving into the home she considers the new child’s needs and associated risks. The registered manager assesses the new child’s compatibility with the children currently living at the home. Children’s introduction to the home is carefully planned. As a result, both children are settled and meeting their targets.

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The safety of children

Children’s behaviour is managed well. There have been two reported incidents that have required staff to hold a child. Records confirm that the actions taken by staff prevented a potential life-threatening incident. Following incidents, the registered manager provides staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and explore Assurance visit report: 2592531 3 what alternative actions they may have considered. Similarly, the manager ensures that children’s views, thoughts and feelings are considered. Children are provided with effective support to help them understand their frustrations and emotions.

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The safety of children

A professional who contributed to this visit is very positive about the care children receive and said, [the child] has made further disclosures; this is because he now feels safe and has confidence in the staff who care for him.’

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Leaders and managers

The home is managed by a new registered manager who has the experience to undertake her role. The registered manager strongly advocates for the children in her care and confidently challenges agencies to ensure statutory responsibilities are met.

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Leaders and managers

All staff benefit from receiving regular formal supervision and having their performance appraised. These sessions provide the staff with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and to review the progress the children are making.

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Leaders and managers

Monitoring of the home takes place routinely and external audits are of a good quality. The registered manager shares the information and recommendations made by the independent visitor with her team. This helps them all to improve the quality of care and services they provide for children in their care.

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Leaders and managers

Feedback from professionals and parents is unanimously positive. A social worker said, ‘The quality of the communication received from the registered manager and residential staff has been exceptional. Information shared both oral and written is informative and of a good quality.’

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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

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

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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 (d)) 29 January 2021 Assurance visit report: 2592531 4 The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children's home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(g))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that care plans and behaviour management plans are clear, concise and relevant, to ensure that all staff are provided with clear instructions on how to meet the young people's current needs. 29 January 2021

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Children's home details

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

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Inspector

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2592531 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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