Children's Home run by 5ab Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2590405 1

p.1

5ab Care Ltd

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home opened in July 2020. It is registered to care for up to three children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

This monitoring visit

This is the home’s first visit since registration. This visit was carried out to enable the regulator to make an initial assessment of the children’s lived experiences at the home.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Ofsted did not carry out a physical visit to the home. The inspector gathered evidence in several different ways, including talking to the children, the manager, the staff, the home’s therapist and children’s social workers. Electronic documents were sent to the inspector for review.

p.1

This monitoring visit

There are three children currently living in the home. From the point when children move into the home, they begin to make steady progress. As children become settled, there is a reduction in the number of times children go missing from the home. There is also a reduction in the number of incidents that require staff to use physical restraint.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Children told the inspector that they like living at the home and enjoy being around the staff.

p.1

This monitoring visit

As the visit was remote, one child proudly gave the inspector a virtual tour of the home. Children told the inspector that they can personalise their bedrooms and have chosen their own colour schemes. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2590405 2 Children’s social workers told the inspector that children are well cared for, and that the staff are ‘child-focused’. Children’s social workers also commented that the registered manager communicates well with them and provides regular updates on children’s progress.

p.1

This monitoring visit

Staff feel well supported and receive regular supervision.

p.2

This monitoring visit

The registered manager takes prompt action to deal with any allegations raised. This includes sharing information promptly with the relevant professionals.

p.2

This monitoring visit

Staff ensure that clear risk assessments and behaviour management plans are in place for all children. These documents help staff to keep children safe. However, staff have not received training to help them understand how to care for children with a history of self-harm. This gap in knowledge has the potential to limit the staff’s ability to respond to children’s needs.

p.2

This monitoring visit

On one occasion, a child was able to remove a large knife from an unlocked kitchen cupboard and take it to their bedroom unchallenged. Following this incident, the manager brought in a new procedure to prevent this happening again. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2590405 3

p.2

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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.3

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

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

p.3

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.3

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

p.3

Requirement Due date

This relates to staff receiving training in how to care for children who are at risk of self-harm. 31 March 2021

p.3

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

p.3

Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2590405 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Jones Hunt Ltd, 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0TY

p.4

Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: 2590405 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 . 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