Children's home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited

Information about this children’s home

The statement of purpose for this home describes it as a crisis and assessment centre. The home provides short-term specialist support and assessment for children with social, emotional and mental health needs, with the aim of enabling them to progress to long-term placements.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There is a manager in post who is not yet registered.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Previous inspection date: 7 October 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. 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. Assurance visit report: 2506232 2

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.

p.2

The care of children

Young people benefit from forming good relationships of trust with staff on arrival at the home. Staff are alongside young people in all the planned daily activities, which enables them to get to know each other quickly and form positive relationships. Young people who have arrived at the home during COVID-19 have been well prepared and supported to settle. Those who were due to leave the home had their departures delayed to ensure that they were safe and prepared prior to moving on. Staff involve young people in all aspects of their care and plans. Therefore, young people’s voices and views are present and well known by all.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support young people to maintain their relationships with family and friends. They work closely with young people, families and others to ensure that this time is a positive and safe experience for all. Young people talk openly with staff about their feelings, worries and anxieties about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which allows staff to support and assist them.

p.2

The care of children

Young people are encouraged to help care for the animals that live at the home. This offers new experiences and opportunities to young people who may not have lived in a semi-rural area before. Young people benefit from spending time outside being more active while taking on some additional responsibilities in caring for the animals. They develop special relationships with the animals while also increasing their knowledge and skills in animal welfare.

p.2

The care of children

Staff encourage all young people to attend and engage in education activities while they live at the home. Some have not previously regularly attended education and are now developing positive routines and enjoying meaningful activities.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support and encourage young people to develop their self-awareness in how to meet their own emotional and physical healthcare needs. Young people live at the home for a limited period and so access local healthcare services as a visitor. Staff refer young people to specialist healthcare services when needed and support young people to maintain established links with healthcare services.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff understand how to manage risk and keep young people safe. They respond in a timely way to concerns when they arise through effective reporting and referral to safeguarding agencies. Young people are aware of risks around them and regularly talk with staff about their worries and anxieties. Young people who have recently left the home maintain contact with staff to get the help and advice they need. Assurance visit report: 2506232 3 Staff respond well to episodes of young people going missing and follow agreed plans. They work well with other specialist services to ensure a collective, considered and agreed approach that best manages risk. The home reviewed and improved its external security system and night time waking responses following a review of episodes of young people going missing from care. There has been a reduction in episodes of young people going missing from the home, especially during the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

p.2

The safety of children

If young people feel distressed, they are well supported by trained staff. Staff have a good understanding about how best to support young people to calm and talk about their feelings and emotions. Records clearly detail events that occur and include how staff support young people and explore everyone’s views following such events. However, records do not all routinely evidence that a manager has reviewed each incident. Managers have now amended the process to ensure that all incidents are reviewed by a manager. Young people’s plans detail individualised responses which staff follow to support young people safely. These plans are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the most current strategies.

p.3

The safety of children

Staff have continued to access a wide variety of training throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including courses relating to deprivation of liberty, behaviour management and safeguarding. This ensures that staff are informed, equipped and prepared to support and care for young people.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The manager has made an application to become the registered manager of the home. The previous manager left the home in October 2020. The responsible individual has been very involved in the home this year, which has ensured a seamless handover between managers. The current staff team is strong, stable and diverse and consists of members who all share the ethos of the home.

p.3

Leaders and managers

The independent visitor has continued to regularly visit and has spoken with staff, young people and stakeholders on each occasion. They provide good oversight and scrutiny and recommendations to the manager for their consideration and action.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Leaders, managers and staff have a good understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses with clear plans in place to develop areas and improve weaknesses. The requirements made at the previous inspection have been swiftly addressed. The home is now well maintained, young people’s plans now reflect the most current strategies and they are supported by appropriately trained and skilled staff. All staff are invested in the home and young people; this is apparent within relationships, the progress that young people make while at the home and how the home is presented.

p.3

Leaders and managers

Staff and young people have been active in their local community during the COVID- 19 pandemic and have kept busy through several different community mini projects, such as selling eggs laid by the home’s chickens. Leaders and managers have formed positive relationships and partnerships with others outside of the home, Assurance visit report: 2506232 4 which has a positive impact on young people’s plans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the home has facilitated and encouraged key people to visit the young people to ensure that they maintained relationships and a good understanding of young people’s needs.

p.3

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. (‘Guide to the children’s home’s regulations including the quality standards’, page 49, 9.59)

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Brewery Court, Theale, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5AJ

p.4

Inspector

Amanda Maxwell, Social Care Inspector Assurance visit report: 2506232 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