Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicester

Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 1 SC488930 Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care and accommodation for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

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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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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 3 November 2020, to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Information about this children’s home

A tragic event took place recently in which a child who was resident at this home died. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection, to inform inspectors’ judgements. The circumstances leading to the child’s death, including the actions of staff and managers at the home, have been investigated and reviewed by statutory agencies. These investigations have not identified any shortfalls in staff conduct or practice relevant to the tragic event.

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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. Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 2 Date of last inspection: 1 October 2019

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/10/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/03/2019 Full Good 14/03/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 26/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 4

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and staff are being well supported following a recent tragedy at the home. Children said that they are receiving the support they require. Managers are responding sensitively to the children as they go through the grieving process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is settled, welcoming and homely. Families are positive about the care the children receive and the progress they are making. A parent said, ‘The children are treated as individuals and have grown physically and emotionally since being there.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have built trusting relationships with the staff, and spoke positively about their key workers. The team has skilfully enabled each child to embrace their uniqueness. Children said that they feel valued because staff accept them for who they are.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy the wide range of extra-curricular activities that they participate in. They are encouraged to develop friendships outside the home by attending youth groups and other community events.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff undertake mindfulness sessions with the children. These compliment the formal mental health support that children receive. This combined approach is enabling children to speak more openly about any worries or concerns they may have. Staff also benefit from confidential sessions with the in-house therapy team. The therapists assist the staff with strategies and techniques to help each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from having structure, order and routine. Many arrive having been out of education for extended periods. They are now attending school and/or completing educational work each day.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they feel listened to and that they are supported to voice their views and opinions. They participate in house meetings and are confident about making complaints. Children’s concerns are responded to appropriately. An example of this is how children are encouraged and supported to read their statutory review paperwork and give their views on it. This has helped children to have their say in decisions that affect them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and families are supported to maintain contact through family visits. Staff facilitate these visits well. These visits occur in line with each child’s care planning arrangements. A family member praised the staff for their hard work.

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

Children and staff build trusting, supportive relationships. Children feel confident that they can talk about sensitive issues with staff. They tell staff if they have any worries or concerns, and they trust staff to respond in a sensitive, caring manner. Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 5 These relationships help children to feel safe. Children value the positive way that staff support them if they experience emotional health difficulties.

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

Creative strategies have been implemented to enable children to alert staff to any changes in their emotional state. This is particularly helpful for children who might be thinking about harming themselves. Strategies include ways for a child to indicate that they need additional one-to-one time with staff, or may need space to reflect. One child is using emotion flashcards to indicate their current mood. These measures mean that children are becoming increasingly able to recognise and regulate their emotions, and ask for help. The reducing numbers of incidents and accidents show that these approaches are working.

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

Missing-from-home episodes are rare. Children have agreed strategies that allow them to have some independence and free time. These are kept under review so that they can be adapted in line with changing risks.

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

Staff are trained to recognise the signs of online exploitation and radicalisation. They help children to begin to understand how they can stay safe online. Children also learn how they can raise concerns if they feel that they might be at risk of harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to the children and advocates well on their behalf. A family member spoke highly about how the manager has advocated for their child, to ensure that the child’s views are heard and considered by the placing authority. Another family member said that staff are ‘as committed’ as parents, and added, ‘I think they’d adopt them all if they could.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children receive all the support that they need as they prepare for adulthood and independence. He knows the children very well and makes sure that transition plans reflect their needs. The home has recently implemented new systems to help children to develop practical life skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff know that the manager has their best interest at heart. Consequently, staff retention is high. Leaders provide a positive work environment. They set high expectations and provide clear guidance. Staff described the leaders as caring and supportive. They said that managers are approachable and always available.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers emphasise the importance of respect for individual choices. They celebrate diversity and teach children to think and behave in a way that is non- discriminatory. Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 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: SC488930 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Drinsey Nook, Nottinghamshire LN1 2JJ

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Inspector

Sonia Hay, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC488930 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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