Children's Home run by Clouds Children’s Care Ltd in Derbyshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 1 Registered provider: Clouds Children’s Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for one child with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. The home is owned by a private provider and was registered in October 2018. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted. She provides dual management to this home and a sister home within the company.

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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

We last visited this setting on 1 and 2 October 2020 to carry out an assurance visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2020

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is receiving good care from a team of staff who understand his needs. He has been able to develop a sense of belonging and has trusting relationships with staff. Staff support the child to attend education both off site and through sessions at home. Due to the commitment of the staff, the child has made progress in many areas of his life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have provided considerable support for the child to improve his emotional well-being. They have implemented recognised behaviour management approaches in the home with good effect. The child is also benefiting from ongoing individual therapy which is helping him to express himself. As a result, the child is better able to manage his emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has engaged appropriately with the child’s parent. She has listened to feedback from the child’s parent, who expressed concerns about communication with the home. The manager has developed new systems and approaches to help staff strengthen their relationships with the child’s parent. This will help to maintain emotional stability for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has recently been on a holiday with his mum, supported by staff. This gave the family an opportunity to have extended time together and enjoy new experiences. Providing a holiday also demonstrates the commitment from staff to building relationships with the child’s parent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not yet taking part in the broad range of activities necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, develop social skills and improve his self-esteem. Although suitable activities are suggested and planned, staff have not yet identified effective strategies to engage the child, particularly in physical exercise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child benefits from regular key-work sessions, covering a range of topics. His views are listened to and practice is adapted where possible. When his wishes cannot be acted on, this is explained to the child in detail. The child knows his rights and how to make a complaint.

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

Staff and managers have a good understanding of the child’s individual vulnerabilities, risks and needs. Risk assessments are detailed and are reviewed regularly. This means that it is clear to staff when changes to practice are required and that they can take effective action to keep the child safe from harm.

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

Staff manage behaviour well using therapeutic approaches. This has led to fewer incidents happening in the home. The work that the staff have undertaken regarding Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 4 behaviour management has been praised by professionals involved with the child and also by his parent.

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

Recording and reporting of incidents is generally done well. However, one incident was not reported to Ofsted. This was during a period of oversight from a previous manager. The current manager has since improved reporting systems.

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

Managers and staff have strategies in place to promote internet safety. The child’s online activity is carefully monitored. The staff regularly check on the child when he is gaming, and they are aware of the people he speaks to online.

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

Managers ensure safe recruitment of staff. There is a full staff team, and the use of agency staff is kept to a minimum. When it has been necessary to use agency staff, workers familiar to the child are requested. This promotes a settled atmosphere and consistency of care.

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good

There has been inconsistent management of the home. This has led to shortfalls in the support, supervision and performance management of staff. A new manager was appointed in May 2021. She is currently applying for registration with Ofsted.

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good

The new manager has brought professionalism and energy to the team. She has already inspired confidence in senior leaders and staff. On starting at the home, the manager rightly prioritised the safety and quality of care for the child. However, she has a realistic action plan to ensure that management systems are improved.

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good

The professional development of staff has not been of a good standard. Staff have not received good-quality supervision and appraisal. The team has felt the impact of this, which is recognised by the new manager. She has implemented new systems to ensure that this shortfall is addressed.

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good

Managers work positively with other agencies. They have ensured that the child’s network includes relevant professionals to meet his needs. Professional feedback is listened to and changes are made to the child’s care plan where necessary. For example, the child’s social worker and independent reviewing officer have said that progress is being made in terms of the communication with the child’s parent.

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good

Leaders and managers now have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Leaders scrutinise shortfalls and take decisive action to prevent further incidents. For example, poor practice has been identified in respect of the home’s responsible individual. This has been addressed and a new responsible individual has been appointed.

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good

Managers have ensured that the physical environment is safe and secure. However, shared areas of the home and garden are not presented to a high standard and are Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 5 outdated. Improvements are required to ensure that the child and staff are comfortable and benefit from a nurturing environment. Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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 the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child; and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that the identified improvements to the home and garden are carried out in a timely way. This particularly applies to updating the kitchen and staff office, buying new items to make the home more comfortable and ensuring the garden is a child-friendly space. 18 October 2021

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider is an organisation, the organisation must ensure that the responsible individual undertakes such continuing professional development as is necessary to ensure that the responsible individual has the skills needed for supervising the management of the home. (Regulation 29 (2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders ensuring that the newly appointed responsible individual receives relevant training and support to fulfil the role effectively. 18 October 2021 Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 7 The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 18 October 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

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

(b) must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that serious incidents are reported to Ofsted and the child’s social worker so that safeguarding issues can be monitored and/or investigated where appropriate. 13 August 2021

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support children to take Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 8 part in school trips, out of school and other clubs, volunteering and leisure activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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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: 2495504 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Clouds Children’s Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 73 Francis Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire B16 8SP

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2495504 10 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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