Children's Home run by Unique Care Homes Support Limited in Norfolk

Information about this children’s home

This home, which is managed by a private organisation, provides long-term placements for six children who have social, emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and may be considered vulnerable. The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 19 November 2019

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:

p.1

Information about this visit

 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: 1027158 2

p.1

The care of children

Six children live at this home. No children have moved in or out of the home since 1 April 2020.

p.2

The care of children

The manager’s and staff’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic are effective. The staff are creative in their use of time and space to ensure that children are suitably occupied. Some of the children continued with formal education during the COVID- 19 national lockdown period in 2020. On occasion, the children had to self-isolate. This interrupted their education. However, the staff provided a variety of activities to promote the children’s educational engagement. The staff managed self-isolation periods safely, and no children tested positive for COVID-19. A robust protocol is in place to ensure that the staff and the children take appropriate measures to reduce the likelihood of transmission of the infection.

p.2

The care of children

Positive relationships are a strength of the home. The children spoke about being loved and feeling part of a family. The staff and children display verbal and physical affection towards one another and there is great warmth in these interactions.

p.2

The care of children

Children benefit from participating in a variety of activities such as karate and motocross, and volunteering at a farm. Some of the children have enjoyed holidays in Scotland and Skegness. The staff encourage the children’s participation in activities that are personalised to their specific preferences. This helps children to develop their confidence and build on their networks outside the home.

p.2

The care of children

External professionals were complimentary about the care that the staff provide for the children. External professionals recognise the progress that the children make because they live at the home. The children recognise their own progress and spoke about these improvements with pride.

p.2

The safety of children

Following a child’s significant self-harm incident, the manager worked collaboratively with external professionals to ensure that the child’s return to the home from hospital was safe. Effective responsive measures were implemented to ensure the child’s safety. These measures consisted of increased staffing, the installation of anti-ligature fixtures and additional training for the staff. The measures led to the child’s behaviours stabilising, and reduced the risk of harm.

p.2

The safety of children

The staff use key-working sessions to address the children’s risk-taking behaviours. These sessions increase the children’s awareness of dangers such as online gaming, alcohol misuse and substance misuse, and help to deter further occurrences.

p.2

The safety of children

Overall, the risk assessments outline the children’s risks and the strategies for reducing these. However, not all the children’s risks are recorded. This gap in recording creates the opportunity for error. The impact of this shortfall is reduced because the staff know how to manage the children’s risk-taking behaviours. Assurance visit report: 1027158 3 Restraint is used proportionately and only after de-escalation strategies have been exhausted. Sanctions are used creatively to educate the children and increase their understanding of negative behaviours they have displayed.

p.2

Leaders and managers

The manager is well respected by the staff team. The staff said that she is approachable, supportive and has the children’s welfare at the heart of her practice.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Internal monitoring is good. The reports evaluate and review the quality of care in a detailed manner. The reports identify strengths and areas for improvement.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The independent visitor’s reports detail the experiences and progress of the children. The reports are comprehensive, concise and evaluative. These evaluations help drive improvements at the home. On one occasion, the independent visitor’s report was not submitted to Ofsted. This prevented Ofsted from having oversight of the home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staff team meetings take place regularly. These meetings provide an opportunity for the manager to discuss operational aspects of the home and to address staff practice concerns as they arise. The blend of mentoring and guidance provided by the manager improves the quality of care that the staff provide for the children.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager ensures that the staff receive regular supervision. The staff said that their supervision enables them to successfully develop in their roles. The staff’s training is up to date and responsive to the children’s needs.

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if 31 December Assurance visit report: 1027158 4 necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risk assessments accurately reflect children’s risks and reduction strategies.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

p.4

Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)(a)) 31 December

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Homes Support Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen, Worcestershire B63 4AH

p.4

Inspector

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 1027158 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