Children's home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report children's home: SC366104 1 SC366104 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide residential care for up to three children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The current manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2017. The manager has the level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), at the request of the Secretary of State, Ofsted 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 outstanding

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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

Date of last inspection: 4 November 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: SC366104 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/11/2019 Full Outstanding 02/10/2018 Full Outstanding 27/11/2017 Full Good 10/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children's home: SC366104 3

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outstanding

Since the last inspection, two children have left the home and one child has moved in. At the time of this inspection, three children lived in the home.

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outstanding

Children are extremely positive about the care that they receive. Children told inspectors that they feel confident to talk to any of the staff about anything. One child informed the inspector that he is helped to take parts in lots of groups and that he has never felt safer. Another child said, ‘I don’t see this as a home, this is my home.’

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outstanding

Children make exceptional, sustained progress in key areas of their life. This is because of the close relationships they have with the staff and the consistent, individualised support that they receive from them. Staff help children to catch up on milestones that they have missed in their early lives. For example, one child arrived at the home who could not swim and did not know how to tie his shoelaces. Due to staff’s patient and proactive approach, he can now tie his own laces and he has learned to swim.

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outstanding

Professionals also talk extremely positively about the excellent relationships between staff and children. A social worker said, ‘Every staff member knows [name of child] inside and out, they are able to spot signs of anxieties with him before he even realises it himself. They empower him, they make him want to better himself.’ These excellent relationships help children to have a sense of belonging and enjoy positive experiences in all aspects of life.

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outstanding

Staff help children’s self-esteem and confidence to improve significantly. Staff encourage children to attend social groups such as youth clubs. One child is now a mentor to other children at the youth club he attends. Children make excellent progress socially and emotionally and have high aspirations for their future.

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outstanding

Training in therapeutic approaches and an understanding of attachment theory underpin staff practice. Regular consultations with a clinical psychologist are used well and are effective in improving staff practice. One social worker said, ‘Their therapeutic approach really is practice informed. I see that they use the knowledge that they are taught in their relationships with [name of child].’ This allows staff to understand the reasons behind some behaviours and provide an excellent nurturing environment for the children.

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outstanding

Children make great progress with their education. Staff and managers are ambitious for children and are not afraid to make a change when they feel this is needed to ensure that individual needs are met. For example, one child was not making progress with his education and emotional well-being when attending school. The registered manager consulted with professionals and chose to change Inspection report children's home: SC366104 4 the school provision. Since then, the child has flourished, completing exams and achieving a Duke of Edinburgh award. The child will remain at his new school for Year 12, with plans to one day attend college.

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outstanding

Staff sensitively support children with their health and well-being. Staff demonstrated an ability to seek specialist help when this has been necessary and have undertaken research to meet the specific needs of the children they care for. The multi-team approach means that children’s needs are promoted effectively.

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outstanding

The home is decorated and kept to a good standard. Photos of the children are transferred onto canvases and placed around the home, showing the difference from when they arrived several years ago to now. Books and games are easily accessible, which help create a homely environment. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their own individual taste. This allows children to take a sense of pride in their home.

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outstanding

Children are safe and said that they are safe. As a result of the close and nurturing relationships that children have with staff, they feel able to share their worries and concerns. Risk management plans are completed with the individual child in mind, giving staff a real feel for the child’s own understanding of each risk. Staff implement the guidance set out in these plans. Consequently, children are well supported and are protected.

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outstanding

Direct work is undertaken with children to address their individual needs. As a result, children make excellent progress. For example, one child has learned to express their feelings to staff and, consequently, has not self-harmed for over 12 months. One social worker said about a child, ‘When [child] first moved in, he had real issues with his mental health. The boy you see today is so far removed from that child, it is unbelievable.’

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outstanding

Staff de-escalate incidents exceptionally well, which means the need to physically intervene to keep children and others safe has reduced significantly. Staff and children work together through reflective discussions to develop strategies to help children to keep safe. Children make better choices and risks reduce in all aspects of their lives. Because of this, children are safer.

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outstanding

Staff are safely recruited. Since the last inspection, four new staff members have joined the home. Children are protected by the organisation’s safer recruitment practice. For example, when a former employer of one staff member refused to provide reference information, they were challenged and complaints were made until information was provided. These robust procedures help to ensure that children are cared for by safe and suitable adults. Inspection report children's home: SC366104 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A suitably qualified and experienced registered manager leads the staff team. The registered manager has made improvements to practice since the last inspection and has met the one requirement raised at that time. As a result, staff are provided with opportunity to reflect on and assess their development. The registered manager keeps a good oversight of the service and is able to drive improvement in the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has a good knowledge of the children’s starting points and what they have accomplished since living at the home and this is shared by staff. Management oversight and monitoring processes are highly effective. One member of staff said, ‘Following any incidents, [the manager] always completes a reflective discussion to ensure that we have the opportunity to discuss our views of the behaviours displayed.’ As a result, the registered manager has a good insight into the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy working at the home and are positive about the support they receive from the registered manager. He is ambitious for the children and is influential in developing staff to help children to lead better lives. Supervision sessions are regular and of high quality. They help staff to generate ideas and to reflect on their practice. New staff are well supported through a clear, effective induction process. This ensures that children receive high-quality care from skilled and well-informed staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The majority of staff hold the required level 3 diploma. A small number are currently working to achieve this and plans are in place to ensure that they complete this within the required timescales. Staff are also provided with a wide range of training that informs their practice and meets children’s individual and diverse needs. One example of this is the playfulness training that staff have attended. This has helped staff to develop play strategies with younger children, which enhances children’s development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s views are central to the running of the home. Staff consult children in all aspects of their care and support them to take increasing control of the decisions that affect them. Children confirmed that staff listen to them. This ensures that children feel that their views are valued and this provides them with a degree of control. The registered manager ensures that children receive feedback about any requests they have made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has excellent relationships with partner agencies, which ensures that children’s needs are met effectively. For example, he consulted the local mental health team when one child voiced intentions to harm himself. The registered manager is also a child protection trainer and attends regular child protection forums. Information gained is disseminated to the staff team to develop practice. Children and staff benefit from having a registered manager who strives to improve the lives of those he works with. Inspection report children's home: SC366104 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: SC366104 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Reflexion Care Group Ltd, Black Birches, Hadnall, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 3DH

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Inspector

Kev Brammer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC366104 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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