Children's home run by Country Care Children’s Homes Ltd

Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2590408 1

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Country Care Children’s Homes Limited

Monitoring visit Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately run home provides care for up to three children who have experienced trauma which has left them with emotional difficulties and associated challenging behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by a registered manager who is suitably qualified and experienced.

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This monitoring visit

The home was registered in August 2020. The home has not had a full inspection, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic when Ofsted suspended all routine inspections.

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This monitoring visit

This monitoring inspection was conducted in response to an increase in safeguarding notifications received by Ofsted about children going missing from the home and self-harming.

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This monitoring visit

When children go missing from home, the registered manager and staff respond to this with urgency. Staff follow missing-from-care protocols and keep detailed records of such incidents. When children return, they are offered the opportunity to talk to someone independent. Staff work closely with children and partner agencies to understand why children go missing from home and put in place additional measures to try and reduce such incidents.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and the registered manager consistently update children’s risk assessments and behaviour plans. Incidents are analysed effectively and additional measures are put in place to safeguard children. For example, when children have self-harmed, staff ensure that additional supervision and support is provided to them. Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2590408 2 The registered manager and staff have worked hard to provide a nurturing and positive response to children’s behaviours. Staff put in place clear and consistent boundaries, and children are rewarded for positive behaviour. In addition, staff help children to celebrate their achievements and special events. This helps children to feel valued, promotes their self-esteem and enables them to better manage their emotions and behaviours over time.

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This monitoring visit

Children told the inspectors that they feel happy living in the home and can identify staff who they can talk to and share their worries. Children have developed positive relationships with staff and inspectors observed a relaxed atmosphere during the visit. The home has been decorated to a high standard and provides a homely feel. Children have lots of space in the home to enjoy group activities and to have private time. In addition, their bedrooms are personalised to their own taste. This helps children to invest in their home.

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This monitoring visit

Staff and the registered manager advocate on behalf of children to ensure that children are offered suitable education provision. The children currently attend school and benefit from the stability and structure this offers. Staff support children to work towards their aspirations. For example, one child has been supported to complete college applications and interviews. During the inspection, this child received a college offer and was really pleased.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager and staff have good working relationships with professionals and work collaboratively to meet children’s needs. For example, staff work closely with a therapist and put in place agreed strategies to support children with their emotional well-being. Professionals told inspectors that communication from staff is excellent and that staff manage incidents well.

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This monitoring visit

Staff spoken with during the visit feel valued and supported by the registered manager and senior leaders. Staff have completed mandatory training. Although the registered manager has identified additional training for staff that is tailored to children’s specific needs, not all staff have competed this. For example, only four staff members have completed ligature training. While self-harm incidents have been managed well to date, without the relevant training, there is the potential for some staff not to be able to deal with such an incident safely and effectively.

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This monitoring visit

The registered manager ensures that children are offered opportunities to be consulted and give feedback with regards to how they feel and what improvements can be made to the quality of their care. However, this good practice is hindered because the registered manager does not always provide written feedback to the children to acknowledge their views and feelings and show how she will address their concerns. This can leave children feeling that their views are not listened to and acted upon.

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This monitoring visit

An independent visitor has undertaken remote visits to the home since its registration because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The visitor has continued to undertake remote visits despite the easing of restrictions at times. The registered Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2590408 3 manager has not considered the visitor undertaking visits to the home in person with relevant safety measures in place. Furthermore, during the remote visits, the children have not wanted to speak with the visitor. Alternative ways to gain children’s views and feedback have not been considered. This narrows the scope and effectiveness of the independent scrutiny applied to the quality of care at the home.

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This monitoring visit

Following the monitoring inspection, one requirement and two recommendations have been made.

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2590408 4

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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 have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 31 March 2021

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children should be able to see how their views are listened to and acted upon. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.11)  The registered person should ensure that the independent person undertakes visits to the home in line with government guidelines, seeks children’s views and gains their feedback. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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: 2590408 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Country Care Children’s Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Meadows, Beech Lane, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 8DJ

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Inspectors

Shazana Jamal, Social Care Inspector Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home - monitoring visit: 2590408 6 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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