Children's Home run by Evoke Care Group Limited in Croydon

Inspection report children's home: 1273719 1 Registered provider: Evoke Care Ltd 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 three children. The home’s statement of purpose confirms that the home provides care for children who have social and/or emotional difficulties. This home registered with Ofsted in June 2018. The manager registered with Ofsted at the same time.

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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 10 March 2021, to carry out a monitoring 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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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 1273719 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2019 Full Good 05/02/2019 Full Good 15/10/2018 Full Inadequate Inspection report children's home: 1273719 3

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outstanding

Children are extremely happy and very well supported living at the home. They form close and trusting relationships with staff. One child said, ‘I love my house, and the best thing here is that I have fun.’ Professionals and family members praise staff for creating a ‘family environment’ for children at the home.

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outstanding

Key-work sessions are frequent, creative and effective. Staff understand how children’s past experiences and the trauma they have suffered can affect their behaviour. Children respond well to behaviour management plans and learn to manage their emotions effectively.

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outstanding

Children are making exceptionally good progress socially, emotionally, physically and educationally. Case records evidence the progress achieved by children. Children have aspirations and goals. Staff help children to achieve their goals and prepare for independent living. One child was supported to set up their own business.

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outstanding

Children’s cultural and identity needs are met well. Staff supported a transgender child to feel comfortable in their identity and supported family members to understand and accept the child’s transgender identity. Staff and children celebrated Black History Month with a party, and some family members and professionals also attended.

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outstanding

The home uses technology to connect and communicate with children effectively. This ensures that children’s wishes and views are known and taken into account on a daily basis. Children are encouraged to make complaints, and the registered manager addresses these appropriately.

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outstanding

Children live in a warm and welcoming home environment. There is no staff office in the home; this makes the home very ‘homely’. The home is clean, comfortable, spacious and bright and is decorated to a high standard.

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outstanding

Staff have worked hard to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on children by arranging creative activities for them. The home produced a video involving social media influencers, to motivate children and keep their morale high during the pandemic.

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

Children live in a safe home environment, and safeguarding practice at the home is strong. The registered manager and staff know the children well and have established strong relationships with them. Inspection report children's home: 1273719 4 The risk management plans are of a good quality and reflect children’s individual needs and the potential triggers for risk-taking behaviour. The risk management plans help staff to identify, manage and reduce risk. Furthermore, staff know how to sensitively manage children’s individual risks and help children to keep themselves safe. Consequently, missing-from-home and child exploitation incidents have reduced.

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

Restraint is used as required to keep children safe. Staff work closely with the police to keep children safe, in line with their safety plans. There is a clear de-briefing process is in place that is individualised for each child. The registered manager proactively seeks appropriate therapeutic support and advice to ensure that each child’s individual needs are met.

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

Staff have reflected and learnt from an incident when one child, who had just moved in at the time, went missing from the home. Staff have completed safeguarding training and know how to respond to safeguarding concerns. When concerns arise, these are shared with the relevant professionals. This ensures that children are safeguarded effectively.

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

Safer recruitment and employment practices ensure that staff are thoroughly checked for suitability. This prevents unsuitable people from working at the home and helps to ensure the safety of children.

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

The registered manager is aware of how to deal with allegations against staff and follows the safeguarding procedures to inform the designated officer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers share an ambitious vision and have high expectations for what all children can achieve. They strive to make a positive difference to children’s lives. Leaders and managers are present and available to support children and staff. A strong, child-centred leadership in the home helps children to make exceptional progress from their starting point.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have ensured that the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. The quality assurance process has been improved by the appointment of a new independent person. The home has its own internal compliance process which strengthens management oversight. The registered manager’s six-monthly quality of care review report sets out an ambitious plan to improve children’s progress and outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager uses creative methods to support children and staff. Team meetings are used as learning and development opportunities. The registered manager has delivered specialist training to develop staff, to ensure that children’s individual needs are met. The home aspires to become a therapeutic home by undertaking further training in systemic and trauma informed practice. Inspection report children's home: 1273719 5 Leaders and managers are involved in research and evidence-based practice, to improve children’s outcomes and to contribute to the sector. They feel passionate about supporting the professional network within the sector.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff report that they feel well supported and valued by leaders and managers who are compassionate and caring. Staff receive regular training and supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home has become paperless and has been using an electronic recording system. This frees staff to focus on key-work sessions and spend more time with children. Inspection report children's home: 1273719 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: 1273719 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sunnyhill House, 3-7 Sunnyhill Road, Streatham, London SW16 2UG

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Inspector

Gulcin Ardic, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 1273719 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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