Children's home run by Moonreach LTD in Dover

Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 1 SC460671 Registered provider: Moonreach Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to two children. According to the statement of purpose, the aim of the service is to provide children with stability and consistency, to enable children to develop trust and confidence, and the opportunity to develop and grow.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2018. She is also the registered manager of another of the company’s homes, which is close by.

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Information about this children’s home

Due to COVID-19, at the request of the Secretary of State, we suspended all routine inspections of social care providers carried out under the social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) on 17 March 2020. We returned to routine SCCIF inspections on 12 April 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 14 November 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2019 Full Good 20/09/2018 Full Good 19/07/2017 Full Good 13/12/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with patient staff who are confident to take steps at each child’s own pace. Relationships are therefore built on mutual respect and these develop gradually over time. As a result, the children have built trust with the staff and make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Key working is a particular strength of the staff team. Regular one-to-one sessions are well planned and valued by the staff and the children. These opportunities support the children to explore a variety of subjects that are relevant to them and their current needs. One child was able to explore her relationship with her birth family during these sessions, which resulted in a reunification. Consequently, the children are empowered and supported to affect meaningful change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s education is valued and supported by the staff. Children’s progress has been exceptional. Staff recognised the determination and commitment of one child to fulfil their wish to attend a mainstream college. Staff supported and encouraged them to achieve their goals through the provision of targeted education support. This resulted in the child gaining a place at the local college, which therefore gives them positive life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regular consultation shows that staff listen to children. As a result, a variety of activities and events have been experienced, and changes have been made to the home. Children have been able to enjoy holidays with the staff and develop their friendships outside of the home. This has included overnight stays. The staff have developed areas of the home, such as the garden. Therefore, children feel listened to and their views are respected. This gives the children a sense of ownership and pride in their surroundings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to maintain family connections. There is a clear focus on what matters to the children. One child has requested that all family visits are stopped as they feel that these relationships are not healthy at this current time. Staff have supported this decision, while providing opportunities to explore the impact of this. In another example, the staff strongly advocated that a child is permitted to go on holiday with their family. Such practice demonstrates that children benefit from individualised support from staff who understand what is important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support independence. There are clear pathway plans that guide the staff to support children to take positive steps towards adulthood. Children have opportunities to develop life skills through well-planned and supported activities. There is also a focus on providing learning and understanding of the challenging aspects of growing up, such as alcohol, drugs and relationships. This level of preparation gives children opportunities to explore these areas safely, which therefore improves their life chances. Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 4

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

The safeguarding of children is a recognised priority of the staff team. Staff receive regular training that is complemented through discussions during team meetings and supervision sessions. Staff demonstrate a sound understanding of safeguarding through their effective risk management and care planning. Therefore, children receive the guidance and support they need to reduce the risk of harm.

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

Staff understand the importance of working as a team to help children to become increasingly safe. One child is identified as being at risk of exploitation when they access social media without support. Following the removal of electronic devices, there is a clear protocol and reintegration plan to support the child to manage being online safely.

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

The registered manager has taken positive steps to manage and reduce missing- from-care episodes. There are clear guidance and protocols in place. The staff work with professionals to develop risk management strategies. Return home interviews are consistently held and give the child space and time to reflect, while encouraging learning from each incident.

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

Managers provide risk management guidance that is comprehensive and captures the concerns for individual children. Staff understand these tools and routinely use them in their day-to-day work. These are regularly reviewed to ensure that current needs and changes are considered and reflected in updated guidance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers fully understand the home’s strengths and areas to further improve, and their development plan appropriately includes input from staff and children. Good progress has been made in bringing about a lot of the identified improvements to date, which demonstrates the leaders’ commitment to improving the care and support for the children. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been minimised for the children, due to the efforts and commitment of the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, this progress is let down by the overall condition of the premises. There is limited decor, such as an absence of photos, and some areas are sparsely furnished. The communal areas are dirty and unkempt in places. The environment does not present as warm and welcoming. Although action plans are in place for repairs and renewals, these lack urgency in some areas. For example, the cupboard door that houses potentially hazardous substances is due to be replaced, but the impact of not completing this in a timely manner has not been considered. These shortfalls are not acceptable and undermine the otherwise good-quality care and practice of the staff. Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 5 Staff say they are very well supported by their managers. They report that they are given clear direction and that the children’s experiences have significantly improved. Observations of the staff’s care practice by managers provide the staff with useful

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

learning in terms of what they do well and where they need to improve. Staff morale in the home is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision that covers a varied agenda. Records sampled showed that supervision is reflective and offers staff support and guidance, with a clear focus on safeguarding and learning from practice. This is supported by a comprehensive range of training opportunities for the staff, which includes specific training related to the individual needs of the children. Therefore, children benefit from staff who are motivated and supported to provide the best care for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment practices are understood and implemented by the staff responsible for this area of practice. There is a clear and thorough process, which has good management oversight. Leaders and managers have identified that the recruitment practice would benefit from developing the interview process further. New staff are supported by a clear and planned induction.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose is regularly reviewed, and updates are submitted to Ofsted. However, the current version does not sufficiently describe the individualised care and provision. The lack of the registered manager’s oversight and input into this key document risks staff being unclear about the home’s intended aims and objectives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems have improved since the last inspection. Leaders and managers have implemented a new recording system to ensure that records completed by the staff are examined at regular intervals. However, there are occasions where the emphasis on checking that documentation has been completed on time have overshadowed the need to thoroughly check the content and what this means in practice. For example, the staff’s weekly fire checks identified a minor issue. However, the monitoring focused on the timeliness of the completion of the checks and not whether appropriate remedial action was taken. Leaders fully accept this shortfall and understand the need to review monitoring mechanisms further. Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, ensure that the home is well maintained and that worn areas are replaced and refurbished promptly. 10 December

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is child focused and indicates how the home provides individualised care to meet the quality standards for the children in its care. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should make best use of internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement . (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC460671 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Dane John Works, Gordon Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3PP

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Inspector

Rebecca Fisher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC460671 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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