Children's home run by Leicester City Council

Inspection report children’s home: SC038961 1 SC038961 Registered provider: Leicester City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by the local authority. It provides care for up to 10 children who are unable to live with their families and have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been registered since 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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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

Date of last inspection: 14 January 2020

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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: SC038961 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/01/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 08/07/2019 Full Good 09/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC038961 3

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outstanding

The quality of individualised care and support provided to children is exceptional. One child, with a life-limiting condition, has received such dedicated care and support that they are now healthier and able to look forward to a positive future. The medical support and attention this child receives from staff is exemplary.

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outstanding

Another child was felt to need 3:1 staffing and a placement on their own before moving to this home. A senior health professional involved with this child stated: ‘The staff team rearranged the entire home to support this child. The staff offer a bespoke programme of care. This is one of the best placements I have seen offering this level of relational security.’

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outstanding

Children learn to trust staff. They see that, no matter what level of verbal or physical aggression they may exhibit, staff will not and do not give up on them. Children also see that their parents and/or carers and significant others are valued by staff and included in their care. Feedback from involved agencies is consistently positive and includes:

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outstanding

 ‘The staff have gone above and beyond to support my child.’  ‘The relationship they have built with the child is exceptional.’  ‘Through the care received, the child now has the opportunity to live an extended and normal life, like their peers.’

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outstanding

A key strength is how well children’s extremely complex mental and emotional health needs are met. A team around the child approach includes mental health workers, a forensic psychologist and other health professionals. Education and training is in place for all children, appropriate to their needs and ability to engage.

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outstanding

Staff place a strong focus on enabling children to have fun and supporting them to try new things. Photos and life story work are used to provide children with visual memories, which they value enormously. Children get to see their family and friends. Siblings and parents visit the home regularly to spend quality time with children. Staff ensure that these visits are well planned and positive for all involved.

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outstanding

Children form a secure base through their relationships with staff. They feel able to express their wishes, views and feelings. They learn that they will not be rejected by staff and this increases their sense of worth and belonging. Children articulate their views in meetings with staff. They trust that staff and managers will consider their views and respond promptly to them.

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outstanding

Children are prepared extremely well for their eventual move from the home. An excellent independence assessment and work plan is devised for each child. Children learn the necessary skills to enable them to make a successful move to their own Inspection report children’s home: SC038961 4 accommodation. Outreach support is provided for all children who move to adult provisions. This includes visits by staff and invitations for former looked after children to return to the home for Sunday lunch and catch-ups over an agreed timescale. This reflects the emotional attachments made between staff and children.

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

Staff have a detailed and commendable insight and understanding of the complex needs of children. They plan, respond to and review all known and potential risks. They support children, some of whom would otherwise be placed in secure settings, exceptionally well. Staff provide children with the chance to experience family life and to overcome trauma. All practice is research informed and staff use recognised models of care, building on children feeling secure, awareness of strengths and needs, and strong relationships.

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

Children continue to go missing from the home on occasion, and at these times they may be at risk. The response of staff to such incidents is timely, sensitive and non- judgemental. Children learn to reduce their own risks and see the home as their secure base. Police, youth offending and forensic services give high praise to how well protected from harm children are. Multi-agency working is an integral part of protecting children. Information-sharing, planning and daily communication between agencies are leading to a significant reduction in offending and risky behaviours.

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

Staff support children to take age-appropriate, well-managed risks. Staff are not risk averse and show confidence in enabling children to have new experiences. If concerns arise, staff work with children to understand why certain freedoms may need to be withdrawn. Key-work sessions are used to support and educate children on relevant topics.

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

Staff have formed close and meaningful relationships with agencies. Work with the local police has helped in building a better understanding of the needs and issues for children in care. There is a strong emphasis on ensuring that independent return home interviews are carried out for children who go missing. Managers and staff use any and all information to inform and improve risk assessments and missing from care protocols and procedures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an inspirational and emotionally intelligent leader. He is held in very high regard by staff, children and other managers. His management style invokes a strong sense of commitment and loyalty from all staff members. His support to staff and children during the pandemic and through various lockdowns has been inspirational. Staff have faced personal and professional challenges, which they have managed through the support of the manager and each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff speak with real passion and knowledge about the children. No matter what happens, they maintain an inspiring desire to ensure that children have the best chances and outcomes. The team celebrates all successes, no matter how Inspection report children’s home: SC038961 5 small. Staff advocate for children’s individual rights and needs. They challenge any actual or perceived failures in other agencies to provide the support needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff love their work. They work as a family unit, with children at the very centre of all they do. They feel highly valued, and their views are sought and acted on by managers. They feel enabled to take on new roles in the home and to develop services for the benefit of the children. They receive high-quality supervision and excellent training opportunities. Despite the many challenges posed by the pandemic, they have continued to provide outstanding care and support to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong and commendable learning culture and practice in this home. Managers and staff demonstrate excellent insight into trauma-based issues for children. They use their training to consider the holistic needs of each child. They adapt and amend plans for each child. They show flexibility and tenacity when dealing with what can be frequent physical and verbal challenges from children. Managers can clearly articulate the journey of each child and the progress they have made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Equality and diversity is promoted consistently in this home for both children and staff. One child is accompanied to attend his place of worship by the housekeeper and another staff member. Children’s dietary needs are sensitively considered and met, including the provision of halal food. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are integrated into the community extremely well. They are supported through interpreters. Staff successfully link them with community resources and actively promote their ability to learn to speak English and enter education. Inspection report children’s home: SC038961 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: SC038961 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, 3rd Floor, Rutland Wing, 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

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Inspector

Tracy Murty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC038961 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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