Children's Home run by Worcestershire Children First in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2557361 1

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Worcestershire Children First

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority previously managed this home. It was re-registered in October 2019, when the local authority decided the home should be operated by a trust which the local authority is the holding company for. It is registered to provide short breaks to children who have physical disabilities and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager re-registered with Ofsted in October 2019. She is a qualified social worker and holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She is an experienced registered manager.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring visit took place as this setting has not been visited since it was re- registered in October 2019.

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This monitoring visit

The inspector conducted the monitoring visit remotely, in line with national COVID- 19 (coronavirus) guidance to reduce the risk of virus transmission.

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This monitoring visit

This service has remained open throughout the pandemic. However, some parents and carers have made the decision to keep their children at home and not send them for short breaks. When this has happened, staff have provided support to the families by staying in regular telephone contact with them. To manage potential risks to children associated with COVID-19, the registered manager reduced the number of nights the service opened for. As restrictions have eased and children have started to access the service, staff have worked flexibly to increase the number of nights children can stay, while ensuring that the compatibility, safety and individual needs of children are met. This has ensured that the assessed needs of children continue to be met, and parents and carers feel listened to and supported.

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This monitoring visit

New children continue to be introduced to the service. Prior to any child with a specific health need receiving care, the registered manager works in close Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2557361 2 partnership with the community health team to safely provide any required face-to- face training for staff, for example in percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding. This ensures that staff acquire the required skills to expertly support new children to settle quickly into the service and stay overnight.

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This monitoring visit

During the pandemic, the registered manager and staff team supported a child to access the service in an emergency. The child lived at the service for a couple of months. He settled quickly and enjoyed his stay. Staff built positive relationships with him. Due to these relationships and the skills of staff, they were able to manage his behaviours and avoid the need for physical interventions. The child has successfully moved to a permanent new home.

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This monitoring visit

Since being re-registered, this service has increased the number of placements that can be offered to children from four to six. Although the registered manager has run several recruitment campaigns, she has not yet recruited enough staff to enable six children to stay overnight. Having an additional two bedrooms has, however, enabled a new child who requires a specialist bed and night-waking arrangements to stay overnight.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are successful at meeting the needs of children and making them feel safe. Staff reassure children and support them to learn new communication skills and alternative ways to express their emotions. This has increased children’s ability to cope with situations and live alongside others. In addition, staff have helped children to understand and live with the risks associated with COVID-19.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and staff team promote children’s safety and well-being. Staff use assessments of risk to ensure that the right mix of children stay together overnight. There have been no safeguarding referrals, physical interventions, complaints or incidents of children going missing from care.

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This monitoring visit

Staff support children to achieve their aspirations. They have a good understanding of children’s abilities and strive to help them to make continuous progress. Children make new friends, participate in new activities and learn new skills. This increases their independence and future life opportunities as they move towards college and adult placements.

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This monitoring visit

Staff are positive about the level of support and oversight provided by the registered manager. They receive regular, good-quality supervision, training and team meetings, which focus on the needs of children. This supports staff to reflect on and develop their practice. The registered manager has purchased additional online training to ensure that during lockdown staff can continue to develop their knowledge and expertise. For example, staff spoke positively about training on signs of safety, equality and mental health.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and staff are child-focused and passionate about the service. The quality of relationships between managers, staff, parents and professionals is a strength of this service. Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2557361 3 The registered manager and the line manager have a clear vision for the future development of the service; for example, recruiting to the staff team to enable six children to stay overnight, decorating the home throughout to create a more child- friendly and homely environment and increasing the home’s vehicles to enable six children to have access to the local community.

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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.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall Campus, Spetchley Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 2NP

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Inspector

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home – monitoring visit: 2557361 4 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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Inspector

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