Children's home run by Holistic Approach Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2509838 1 Registered provider: Holistic Approach Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers on 17 March 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2509838 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2509838 3

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outstanding

Children who have experienced significant childhood trauma and disruption quickly find stability and a sense of belonging. This is because they are cared for by staff who are skilled at developing strong, parent-like attachments in a nurturing environment. The effectiveness of this approach is evident in the sustained and significant progress that all children have made on their journey to foster care or family living.

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outstanding

The children are exceptionally positive about their experiences of living at this home and are settled. They regard this as their home and the staff as part of their family. One child spoke about missing hugs from a staff member, due to COVID-19, while proudly showing the teddy bear that they had been bought by the member of staff for virtual hugs.

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outstanding

The children have a strong voice in this home. Staff are interested in what children have to say and take every opportunity to engage them in meaningful conversations about their current and past life experiences. Over time, this has helped children to become more resilient and better able to plan for their future. An independent reviewing officer said: ‘They listen to [name of child] and do not pressure her. They know how to get the best out of her, and she has done exceptionally well. It is a godsend that she has got somebody that understands her well.’

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outstanding

One child has successfully transitioned to a foster family since the home was last inspected in March 2020. Targeted work was completed by staff to help the child to overcome her anxieties and prepare for a family living environment. Staff have continued to keep in touch with the child and are supporting the friendship that she has with a child who currently lives at the home.

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outstanding

It is important for staff that children have positive memories of their time in care. A monthly newsletter is published which celebrates what children have achieved and done over the month. These experiences are captured in scrapbooks that children can take with them when they leave the home. One staff member said, ‘I like to think that the children will look at these fondly and realise how well they have done.’

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outstanding

Staff are continuously looking for ways to reinforce the values of family living. One positive example has been the introduction of pets as a means of helping the children to relax and reduce their anxieties. As well as hamsters and an adopted stray cat, staff will bring in their pets, often in their own time, and take the children dog walking. A social worker, who is responsible for all three children, said: ‘What is outstanding is the parenting approach taken by all staff. [Name of child] is a good example of how children can benefit from the right residential placement. The staff have done well with her, but they are in tune with all of the children.’ Inspection report children's home: 2509838 4 The importance of education is recognised and consistently promoted by staff. All children are engaging in their studies. They have high levels of attendance and are achieving their individual targets. Staff maintain strong links with education

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outstanding

providers and have used these effectively to overcome potential barriers to participation. A teacher said, ‘We work closely with the home to think of ways to help [name of child] overcome her barriers, to help her academic achievement.’

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outstanding

Children are very well supported to maintain a healthy lifestyle through good diet and exercise. Staff work closely with the child and adolescent mental health services to ensure that each child gets the therapeutic input they need. Shared information and positive relationships are used effectively to support children to successfully manage their emotions and feelings. As a result, children’s mental and emotional well-being is consistently promoted and their holistic health needs are met.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children say that they feel safe. They express confidence in staff, who they say they can talk to about anything. The manager and staff fully understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and implement these effectively.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Keeping children safe is a priority for staff and is integral to daily practice. Staff know the children well and take a good-parent approach to helping them understand and manage their behaviour, risks and vulnerabilities. Consequently, children are making the right choices and do not engage in risk-taking behaviours, such as going missing from care.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff talk to the children about their individual needs. They provide learning opportunities in relation to issues such as child sexual exploitation and e-safety. The social worker said: ‘[Name of child] has had a very traumatic past. Staff talk openly to her about her trauma and have done a lot of work around relationships and keeping safe. [Name of child] has positive attachments with staff and this has helped to significantly reduce behaviours such as self-harm.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are positive role models for the children, who are very respectful of the rules of the home, staff and each other. Reinforcing pro-social behaviour is a key element of the home’s approach to behaviour management. During the inspection, children were keen to tell staff about their day. They enjoyed the praise and affirmation they received in response. At the end of each day, staff record a positive comment in each child’s positive recognition book and read it back to them at bedtime. This is a good way of reinforcing positive behaviour and goes a long way towards building self-esteem.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

The general ethos of care is underpinned by a trauma-informed approach. Good use is made of the expertise of mental health practitioners and current research to inform behaviour management approaches. Care plans are detailed and consistently followed by staff, who have a good insight into each child’s behavioural needs. Inspection report children's home: 2509838 5 Taking a trauma-informed approach, staff have supported children to reduce worrying behaviours, such as self-harm.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Detailed debriefs are completed following every restraint. These have been highly effective in helping one child to develop new ways of managing her emotions. The child said: ‘I like it here because staff know how to talk to me when I need help. The staff have helped me quite a lot. I am proud of the fact that I haven’t had to be held for ages. I am being looked after by the best people possible.’

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Children are protected by a range of health and safety risk assessments and routine checks. However, the practice of propping open fire doors has the potential to compromise children’s safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is run by a very experienced and suitably qualified manager. She is registered for another home in the organisation and successfully splits her management time between the two. She is supported well by an extremely competent deputy manager, who will soon be applying to register for this home. They share a passionate ambition for their work and take great pride in how they have significantly influenced and enhanced the lives of the children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Highly effective leadership promotes a strong ethos and culture of high aspiration and positivity. The team demonstrates a can-do attitude that consistently supports children to fulfil their potential. Staff are extremely positive about their work and talk with immense pride and affection about the children and their achievements. One member of staff wrote to the inspector saying, ‘The home is more like a family than work, and to see the children blossom under our love and care is why I am lucky to work at this home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they are supported well by managers. All staff benefit from purposeful supervision that is focused on professional development and maintaining the highest standards of care. Although limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, staff have continued to complete mandatory and bespoke needs-led training. This ensures that their skills and knowledge are up to date and relevant to consistently meet the diverse needs of the highly traumatised children in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All but one member of permanent staff are qualified to level 3, with the sixth member on track to complete the qualification within statutory timescales. However, there are no formal arrangements in place to ensure that the two full-time bank staff can acquire the relevant qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Links with partner agencies are exceedingly strong. Professionals speak with confidence and positivity about consistently high standards of care that have enabled the children to overcome barriers and make significant and sustained progress. Inspection report children's home: 2509838 6 The manager maintains close oversight through the effective use of a range of quality assurance processes. There is a detailed focus on using written information and data to identify trends and patterns and points of learning. For example, analysis of incidents for one child resulted in changes to practice that reduced the number and severity of incidents of physical restraint.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monthly scrutiny by the independent visitor further strengthens monitoring activity. The manager uses these visits as a means of identifying and addressing shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Several areas of the home have been redecorated as part of an ongoing improvement plan. Children have contributed to this process, making communal areas pleasant and homely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are comprehensively detailed and provide a detailed insight into each child’s needs, experiences and progress. Some minor shortfalls were identified during the inspection. Swift action was taken to address these shortfalls, neither of which have had a direct impact on the care of children. Inspection report children's home: 2509838 7

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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, the 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that staff do not prop open any designated fire door. 4 June 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should plan for bank staff to complete the level 3 diploma or an equivalent qualification. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people, using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. Inspection report children's home: 2509838 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holistic Approach Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 99 Parkway Avenue, Sheffield, Sheffield S9 4WG

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Inspector

Paul Scott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2509838 9 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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