Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Inspection report children’s home: SC039025 1 SC039025 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

This home is owned and operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children, who are unable to live with their families and need help because of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2016.

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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 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: 23 September 2019

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC039025 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/09/2019 Full Good 27/11/2018 Full Good 13/09/2017 Full Good 16/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC039025 3

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outstanding

One child, when asked what they would change about the home, stated: ‘If I could choose, then it would be not to ever leave this home because I will miss this place a lot.’ This epitomises the impact of the care provided to children. Children, from their starting points, excel in all areas of their lives.

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outstanding

During the COVID-19 pandemic, children forged strong attachments with each other and the staff. Children accepted the restrictions and made the best out of a difficult situation. The children took part in a wide range of activities and had a great deal of fun. For example, staff opened a ‘tuck shop’ for children when they could not go to the shops, to buy treats. Staff arranged for children to help a homeless charity, serving Christmas Day meals. Staff have created a genuine family feel in this home, and this is commendable. Children see their adult carers as trusted and significant people in their lives. They learn from staff, who see the children as an extension of their own families.

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outstanding

Children’s engagement with education is exceptional. Staff advocate strongly for children in relation to their education provision. Staff ensure that education providers understand the impact of being in care and how children’s emotional well- being can be affected. Children have sat their exams and some are going to college. Despite the many challenges of the past months, children remain motivated to do well in education. This is because children are cared for by a highly dedicated staff team and the children feel safe and secure.

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outstanding

The staff engage parents, carers and other family members exceptionally well. Staff understand the value, for children, of these important relationships. Staff go out of their way to include these important people in decision-making and welcome them in the home, where appropriate. They ensure that children who are seeking asylum get to keep in touch with their families. Children, therefore, feel valued and listened to.

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outstanding

For those children seeking asylum in this country, their care is excellent. Staff have years of experience of supporting these highly traumatised children. Staff ensure that they have access to interpreters. The children have forged strong links with local community resources. They refer the children to international agencies to help search for family members. In a short time, these children have made friends locally. They engage in education. They attend religious and cultural events with staff. One child has now joined a local football club, despite initially speaking very little English. Children settle very well in this home and make exceptional progress.

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outstanding

The emotional health needs of children are fully met. Staff work closely with the local child and adolescent mental health service. Children receive counselling and prompt assessments, when required. Additionally, staff receive consultation and Inspection report children’s home: SC039025 4 guidance from key professionals from the agencies. Staff implement research- informed practice to support children. This includes techniques to support children to relax and sleep better.

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outstanding

Children feel safe and are kept safe by the staff. Staff practice in safeguarding is exceptional. Staff have an in-depth knowledge of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Staff have detailed plans and know exactly what actions to take if children go missing. Staff understand the underlying causes for children who want to leave the home unauthorised. Staff consistently implement effective strategies to keep children safe. Incidents of missing from care are extremely low. This reflects the sense of security that children feel. Children see this as their home and do not want to disappoint staff or let themselves down.

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outstanding

Staff know the children very well. They anticipate potential risks in relation to exploitation, criminal activities and other forms of abuse. Staff initiate multi-agency meetings to consider any emerging concerns and formulate plans. They ensure that children feel cared for and support them to make the right decisions. Staff continuously persevere with children and provide the children with excellent role models. The children know this and they feel cared for and loved.

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outstanding

Staff know and understand the underlying causes to more difficult behaviour that children can present. Staff and children agree plans to address this behaviour and provide the support children need. Children are assured that staff will do everything possible to keep them safe. The use of physical intervention is minimal. This reflects the ability of staff to de-escalate difficult situations and help children cope with strong emotions.

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outstanding

Staff take decisive and prompt action in response to safeguarding concerns. This has included working with the fire and rescue service and police. Staff encourage children to consider their actions and the impact on them and others. This has led to a significant reduction in risky or potential criminal behaviours.

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outstanding

Staff understand and appreciate that children make mistakes. Staff help children to learn valuable lessons from these mistakes. Children are supported to take managed risks, appropriate to their age and abilities, and staff support children to do this safely. Individual meetings between children and staff are used to reflect on any incidents of concern. Children respond well to these discussions and demonstrate an ability to reflect and learn. Children know that staff have their best interests at the centre of all they do.

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outstanding

Managers understand the actions they must take, in the event of an allegation being made. Only one allegation has been made since the last inspection. This was managed extremely well. Records reflect a highly competent and sensitive response to all of those involved. Staff have a detailed and clear understanding of their safeguarding responsibilities. Inspection report children’s home: SC039025 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational. She speaks with passion, dedication and commitment about the children. She is highly ambitious for the children and staff. She leads by example and is an integral part of the home and its success.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by equally talented, competent and dedicated assistant managers and staff. Teamwork is fundamental in providing children with the best possible care and support. The manager and staff are highly knowledgeable about the children. They demonstrate a high level of empathy and understanding toward the children. Staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities. This is the core to the outstanding care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel very well supported in their roles. Managers recognise and utilise the skills and talents of staff to good effect. This includes skills gained from previous positions or academic study. Staff flourish under this management team. They are highly motivated. They have a voice and influence the care provided to children. They are asked to consider new placements and give their views. This has led to very stable placements, as matching has been so carefully considered.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular formal supervision of a very high quality. They also receive daily support and guidance from the management team and each other. They see managers as accessible, welcoming and keen to ensure that their emotional health needs are met. This has led to a very stable staff team, and staff see themselves as a family around the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to high-quality training and development. They use their learning and apply it to how they care for the children. Staff value the guidance and support they receive from the local child mental health services. This guidance and advice provide staff with additional skills and strategies to support children. Research- informed practice underpins all the work with children in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have development plans to continuously improve the care that children receive. They regularly monitor and review the progress of each child. They use progress trackers to reflect on the children’s journey from when they first come to live at the home and progress made. These documents are very child friendly. They provide children with a clear sense of their progress if they were to access their records in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One recommendation was made at the last inspection. This has been fully met. No shortfalls were identified at this inspection. Inspection report children’s home: SC039025 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: SC039025 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: SC039025 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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