Children's Home run by Worcestershire Children First in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2549726 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 became a holding company. The home is registered to provide short breaks for children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager re-registered with Ofsted in October 2019. She holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 23 and 24 February 2021

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This monitoring visit

This is the home’s first visit since registration in October 2019. This visit was carried out to enable the regulator to obtain an initial assessment of children’s short-break experiences at the home. The inspectors also followed up on comments made by stakeholders in Ofsted’s point-in-time survey, for example, in relation to staff consistency and parents being able to access their short breaks.

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This monitoring visit

Due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Ofsted did not carry out a physical visit to the home. Inspectors gathered evidence in several different ways, including talking to managers, staff, professionals and parents in video calls. In addition, managers were asked to provide electronic documents for the inspectors to review.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has needed to make the decision to temporarily close the short-break provision on three occasions due to the impact of COVID-19. These closures have been for short periods. Some parents felt they had lost out on their short break. However, other parents and carers have made the decision to keep their children at home. Staff have been responsive to parents and carers who have chosen not to use the service, by offering remote support through regular telephone calls.

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This monitoring visit

To manage potential COVID-19 risks to children, the registered manager has reduced the number of nights the service is open. Staff have worked flexibly to ensure that the compatibility, safety and individual needs of children are met. This Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2549726 2 has ensured that the assessed needs of children continue to be met, and that parents and carers feel their children are safe.

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This monitoring visit

New children continue to be introduced to the service. Prior to any child receiving care, the registered manager and staff work in close partnership with parents and carers. This ensures that staff acquire the knowledge they need to support new children to settle quickly into the service and stay overnight.

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This monitoring visit

Individualised care is at the heart of the service. Children have a range of abilities and disabilities, which are well understood by the staff. Social workers and parents are very positive about the quality of care. Parents feel that staff understand their child’s communication needs and help them to enjoy activities and build friendships. Careful assessment and planning mean that staff understand children’s risks and can keep them safe.

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This monitoring visit

One parent told the inspectors that the staff do a fantastic job in making sure that their child’s needs are fully met.

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This monitoring visit

All new staff go through a well-established induction. This means that staff only get signed off from their initial probation period after they have demonstrated that they have reached the right level of competence.

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This monitoring visit

Managers ensure that staff supervision takes place regularly. However, not enough has been done by the management team to pick up on concerns that staff do not always work cohesively and consistently as a team. For example, some members of staff feel that there is a lack of consistent leadership across the three shift teams and this creates a division between members of staff. Without this being addressed, there is the potential that this atmosphere can start to impact on children’s short- break experiences.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2549726 3

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)) 30 April 2021

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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. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2549726 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Worcestershire Children First

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Inspector Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2549726 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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