Children's Home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd in Calderdale

Inspection report children’s home: 2600259 1 Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned and managed children’s home that provides care for up to two children aged between seven and 17 years. The home aims to provide a high level of care, support and intervention built on an evidence-based model of care to help children progress and develop, either returning to family or moving onto independence.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered in September 2020. The registered manager also manages another children’s home.

p.1

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.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 22 February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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. Inspection report for children’s home: 2600259 2 Date of last inspection: not applicable

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.2

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2600259 3

p.2

outstanding

The manager and staff team demonstrate a high level of commitment, nurture and care towards the children. They have an ethos of maintaining boundaries and consistency to give children a secure base of support. This high-quality care means that children are making exceptional progress from their starting points.

p.3

outstanding

The children’s voice is clearly heard; children share that they feel listened to and know the expectations of the home. They recognise the positives they have and the support available to them. Children have a say in their care and the staff team advocates on their behalf when this is appropriate.

p.3

outstanding

Staff work with children to overcome barriers to learning and encourage them to take part in education. The manager and staff work with education providers to ensure that they meet children’s needs and promote further consistency in how they work with the children. The manager is proactive and challenges for change to be made when needed. All of the children have improved their attendance and engagement in education significantly.

p.3

outstanding

Professionals and parents are extremely positive about the care the children receive. They consistently feel that staff are as contactable as the manager and that staff genuinely care about the children. Family time is supported in line with children’s plans and the staff advocate for the children to have more time if this is appropriate. One parent shared: ‘I could never put boundaries in place because he would never listen to me. However, the staff have different routines for him and, because of that, he has progressed loads.’

p.3

outstanding

Some children had a history of cannabis use, alcohol use and smoking. Extensive work has been done with the children by the staff team and external professionals as to the reasons for this and to give the children other coping strategies. As a result, children no longer use alcohol or cannabis, and their smoking has also significantly reduced.

p.3

outstanding

Children take part in activities and have enjoyed holidays with staff. These memories are captured for children in a way that they can look back on as adults. Children have also built their self-confidence and self-esteem from taking part and succeeding with new skills. For example, one child has achieved his level 1 in rock climbing.

p.3

outstanding

Children are well prepared for independence when they leave the home. A clear independence plan is in place alongside a workbook to work through. This gives them the skills and knowledge to understand the full extent of running a home, not just how to budget or cook. Children’s anxiety about moving on is significantly reduced and they have the skills to manage; for one child, they had previously been unable to cope with this transition. Inspection report for children’s home: 2600259 4 Children’s health needs are clearly understood. External support is in place and follow-up health appointments attended. The staff team recognises when there may be additional concerns, such as with sexual health, and ensures that the children receive the support they need in a sensitive way. The manager works with professionals to try and mitigate the lack of therapy available from the local authority and to push forward alternative plans. Children have less anxiety and

p.3

outstanding

better coping mechanisms as a result of this.

p.4

outstanding

When children move into the home, the manager goes to great lengths to ensure that they have all the information needed. Visits to school, discussion with previous placements, parents and the child all help to ensure that clear plans are in place from the moment the child moves in.

p.4

outstanding

The staff work effectively as a team and this means that children receive a consistent approach, both in knowing the rules of the home as well as how staff respond to any incidents. Staff understand that children will make mistakes and work with them to understand the underlying causes. Staff are positive role models and help children to understand how to interact positively and manage their anxieties.

p.4

outstanding

Children have positive relationships with staff and engage in discussions about any concerns. Staff validate the child’s view and have a professional curiosity which enables them to get further information and detail. Staff use this information to put plans in place to help protect children as well as to offer advice and guidance to the children to understand potential risks to themselves and others.

p.4

outstanding

Staff are creative in how they give children the knowledge children need to understand risks. Children have completed online training for issues pertinent to them. Children can share how they have benefitted from this information and how they can help keep themselves safe. While children may not always apply this knowledge, staff have given them the knowledge they need for the future and continue to educate them.

p.4

outstanding

Staff manage episodes of missing from home well, and they are active in searching for children and seeking support from the police to ensure the safety of the children. A recent increase in missing episodes for one child has been addressed with a combination of direct work with the child, proactive action by the staff and significant professional challenge. The manager understood and recognised the importance of contextual safeguarding and continued to address concerns with the local authority. Consequently, this offers better protection to children.

p.4

outstanding

Staff know and understand the children’s risks and how to respond to them. Staff are proactive to prevent incidents and keep children engaged with them, knowing that this reduces their anxiety and gives them purpose. The manager reviews incidents quickly and adapts plans as and when this is needed, ensuring these are shared quickly with the team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2600259 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high aspirations for children and wants them to have longevity in their placements. Staff support this vision and are aware of the model of care used and the individual goals for children. This is due to the way the manager communicates and shares information with them.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well supported, sharing how communication is strengthened through the use of handovers, team meetings and social media groups. They have regular supervisions to discuss the children, incidents and their own development, and these provide an opportunity for constructive criticism and praise.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Induction of staff is of a high quality. They have time to shadow shifts and meet their colleagues before working as part of the rota; this gives them a sense of belonging and they feel part of the team. A quick guidance document supports staff to know how to access information quickly and helps newer staff to understand the model of care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is committed to giving his staff the skills they need. He has been instrumental in changes within the company to create a new training platform consisting of webinars and learning workbooks. When needed, the manager sources external training for the staff team to increase its knowledge and skills, continuing to improve the quality of care further for the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has built strong links with other professionals to enable him to support the children further. He is proactive in challenging shortfalls and also actively seeks feedback to improve the quality of care. Links with the community and a knowledge of available activities have meant that children benefit from accessing these, such as football, rugby and fishing venues.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is child focused and wants children to have the best time they can while living at the home and to achieve their goals. He will do anything to make this happen, and the staff team shares this motivation. The manager knows the strengths of the home and recognises this and continues to push forward, looking at further ways to develop the home and the staff team’s skills. Inspection report for children’s home: 2600259 6

p.5

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 for children’s home: 2600259 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Victoria street, Greetland, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX4 8DF

p.7

Inspector

Debra Boldy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2600259 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8