Children's home run by G&S caring for children and young people ltd

Inspection report children's home: 2599037 1 Registered provider: G&S Caring for Children and Young People Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection. It was registered in August 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: Not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2599037 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make significant progress from their starting points. For example, children are now starting to attend school after a prolonged period of absence. They are confident about their mock exams. Children who regularly went missing from care, are no longer going missing. This significantly reduces the risks to children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living at this home. They are happy. They like the adults who look after them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to express their wishes and feelings. A child said that she is listened to and her views are taken seriously. For example, she asked if she could have a cat. After much thought and discussion, the child was able to buy a kitten. The kitten is much loved by the child and is teaching her about responsibility, which she is managing well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to participate in the writing of their care plans. Their views are recorded clearly throughout these care plans. Children know how to complain. Complaints are acted on promptly and demonstrate further that children’s views are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have planned and unplanned discussions with children on a range of topics, such as the child’s understanding of sexual exploitation, positive relationships, smoking, religion and school rules. These discussions have helped children to have a better understanding of the world around them and to make sense of their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have been creative during the pandemic and enduring lockdown restrictions. Children have still enjoyed a wide range of activities inside and outside the home. For example, children have enjoyed art and playing board games. Artwork has been framed and hung on the walls. This demonstrates how proud staff are of the children’s work. Children have also enjoyed walks, trips out and cycling. Currently neither staff nor children wear cycle helmets. Cycle helmets help to prevent serious injury.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independent living skills. For example, children learn to cook meals and take responsibility for cleaning their own rooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

‘Be kind’ books are written by staff for children. Staff write about how well they believe the child has done that day. For example: ‘It is lovely that you help your sister with her homework.’ Memory books are also created. These books help children to feel self-worth as well as provide positive memories of the home and staff. Inspection report children's home: 2599037 3 Staff prepared sensitively for a new admission. They checked with the social worker about the child’s likes and dislikes. They made sure they have her favourite meal on the menu. They furnished her room according to her tastes and they rostered extra staff. This will all help the child to feel welcome and to settle in.

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

Staff know how to keep children safe. Children feel safe and secure living in this home.

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

Risks of children being harmed have reduced significantly. This is because:  staff have shared information promptly with the police and social care agencies  there are clear risk management plans that are known and understood  staff have shown curiosity and been vigilant and committed to keeping children safe.

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

A police officer said that staff have exceeded her expectations. She said that they are available day and night and have been proactive in preventing harm.

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

Children who have been exploited are enabled to go out by themselves, with clear safety plans which are known and understood by both the child and the staff. The risks of children going missing from this home have significantly reduced. However, when they have gone missing, they have experienced a well-coordinated and robust response from staff.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Staff follow good strategies to de- escalate children’s behaviour. For example, a drive in the car might help to calm children. Behaviour management plans are effective. There have been very few incidents in the home and staff have not used physical restraint.

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

Health and safety procedures are generally well managed. However, an outside socket does not close properly and, therefore, water could get into it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and qualified. She ensures that staff provide child-centred, safe care. She delivers good leadership and, consequently, staff feel very well supported, valued, and have access to a good training programme. A member of staff said: ‘The registered manager and responsible individual are a breath of fresh air, fully appreciating their staff team and encouraging personal development within the home.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager continually monitors the quality of care within the home. She addresses any shortfalls and, together with the responsible individual, looks at Inspection report children's home: 2599037 4 ways to improve policy and practice further. For example, care planning has improved greatly and now children help to write the first section of the plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are mostly qualified and experienced. They are a settled team and know the children very well. There is a child-focused approach. They are passionate about providing children with a warm and supportive home. They build trusting relationships with children. They are ambitious for children and strongly advocate on their behalf.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff work proactively with external professionals. They communicate effectively with them, ensuring they have up-to-date information about children. Parents and other family members are also provided with up-to-date information about their child. One child’s grandmother said: ‘I can’t praise them [the staff] enough.’ Inspection report children's home: 2599037 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home complies with relevant health and safety legislation, such as ensuring that outdoor sockets are weatherproof. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff support children to be aware of and manage their own safety when cycling. This includes encouraging children to wear a cycle helmet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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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: 2599037 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: G&S Caring for Children and Young People Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Foxglove Close, East Goscote, Leicester LE7 3QS

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Inspector

Joanne Vyas, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2599037 7 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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