Children's Home run by Children and Family Services Limited in Luton

Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 1 SC028599 Registered provider: Children and Family Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to seven children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2020.

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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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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2019 Full Good 29/11/2018 Full Good 18/12/2017 Full Good 24/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children continue to make good progress. Both parents and social workers said that they have seen a positive change in children’s behaviours, including improved independence and social interactions. One parent said: ‘[Child] is always doing some sort of activity and this has really helped to develop her social skills; she is so happy there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide a routine and a daily structure that help the children to feel safe and secure. The children have built positive relationships with the staff team. The staff are dedicated to the children and provide nurturing support. The staff use practical and fun activities to help children learn about other countries and cultures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage positive behaviour and use praise to help the children recognise when they have done something well. The staff use a reward box incentive scheme to recognise the children’s achievements. These rewards reinforce children’s positive behaviour.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work closely with schools to ensure that the children have good attendance. Children’s journeys between the home and the school are managed well. The staff share children’s positive behaviour support plans with their schools. This provides the children with a consistent approach from the adults that look after them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s placement plans are comprehensive and individualised. These plans inform the staff how to look after the children in all aspects of their daily lives. There are also child-friendly plans that the staff share with the children and this helps the children to understand their care routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children attend monthly house meetings. During these meetings, the children discuss activities, menus and new purchases for the home. The staff prepare the house meetings in advance. They provide pictorial cards to ensure that children can express their wishes and feelings at these meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

During lockdowns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic the staff used house meetings to ensure that children understood the restrictions. The staff supported the children to stay in touch with their families using a range of devices. These enabled the children to see and speak to the people that are important to them. During this time, two of the children completed a presentation to the staff about the impact of the pandemic. This helped children to have a better understanding of the pandemic, and this knowledge reduced their anxieties. Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 4

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

Children are safe at the home. Parents and social workers feel confident and assured about the levels of adult supervision and the children’s safety.

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

The staff understand the children’s individual risks and their vulnerabilities. The children have individual, comprehensive risk assessments. Risk assessments are reviewed and updated regularly, and these support the staff to work consistently to keep the children safe.

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

The staff challenge difficult behaviours appropriately. They consider the level of each child’s understanding and ability to communicate. A member of staff was observed asking a child not to grab them for attention. The member of staff indicated this by showing the child how to tap the member of staff. This was done in a calm and sensitive way. The child smiled and put his thumb up to indicate that he understood.

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

Children said that they can talk to staff if they are worried or upset. The staff support children to raise any concerns. There have been two complaints made by children since September 2020. These were appropriately investigated, and the children were kept informed and made aware of the outcome.

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

The staff have all undertaken training in safeguarding. They have a good understanding of the safeguarding procedures and who to report concerns to. This further safeguards the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and is working towards a level 5 qualification in health and social care. She is supported by the service manager, who is based at the home. This provides a good management structure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers confidently raise issues with other professionals if any actions or proposed actions are not in the best interests of the child. As a result, children receive the care and the services that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses monitoring systems to identify trends and patterns in children’s behavioural incidents. These systems are used to analyse and review incidents. Identifying patterns and triggers prior to any incidents enables the manager and the staff to look at ways to reduce these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular supervision meetings. These are of good quality. Regular supervision supports the staff to work with the children effectively. This provides formal opportunities for the staff to discuss their personal and professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been two safeguarding incidents since September 2020. Both were investigated appropriately by the responsible individual and the service manager. Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 5 However, one of these incidents was not notified to Ofsted. This means it is difficult for Ofsted to monitor the safeguarding concerns at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager uses the recommendations from the independent visitor’s report to develop the service and improve the quality of care. The manager has met the three requirements from the last inspection.

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff complete epilepsy training. 1 July 2021

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 1 July 2021 Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 6

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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: SC028599 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children and Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Prospero House, 46–48 Rothesay Road, Luton LU1 1QZ

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC028599 8 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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