Children's home run by 5ab Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2512898 1 Registered provider: 5ab Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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 outstanding

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2512898 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 06/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2512898 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has gone above and beyond to support children. Staff have provided a creative and stimulating environment for the children. This has reinforced strong bonds between children and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are referred to the home have their individual needs carefully considered before a place is offered. This means that new children are compatible with existing residents. Children confirm that they were made to feel very welcome when they moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

From their starting points, children make good progress. A foster carer said that, since moving to the home, a child ‘has gained a much-improved sense of identity, her health has improved, and she has achieved in education’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Therapy is central to the operation of the home. A qualified therapist works with children and the staff team to ensure that the therapeutic model of care is embedded into practice. A child said, ‘I had incredible support from the in-house therapist.’ Therapeutic support improves children’s emotional and psychological well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a culture of reward and staff are quick to recognise children’s achievements. This motivates children to achieve their goals. As a result, children gain confidence and their self-esteem improves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions from the home are very well planned. Staff supported one child’s move to college and student accommodation. This child said, ‘The staff are all kind, supportive and care a lot. Care does not stop when they come off shift.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop independence skills that are appropriate to their age and development. However, not all children’s bedrooms are maintained to a high standard, in the way that a good parent would ensure.

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

Safeguarding incidents are exceptionally rare. When they do occur, staff know how to respond and keep children safe.

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

Physical interventions have not been used in this home. This is because staff teach children to manage their emotions and behaviours.

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

Incidents of young people going missing from the home are isolated and reduce over time. Social workers confirm that safeguarding situations, including missing from home incidents, are well managed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2512898 4 Risk assessment is of the highest calibre. Risks are reviewed and risk management strategies are adapted to protect children. This means that when risks reduce, children enjoy higher levels of independence.

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

Children are safe in this home. This is because they have strong relationships with the manager and staff. Children talk to staff openly about their current and previous life experiences. This means that staff can support children to overcome past trauma and to manage current risks.

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

The provider has implemented a programme of improvements to the interior and exterior of the home. This means the environment will be improved and free from potential health and safety issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a qualified and experienced residential care practitioner. She is passionate about improving the lives of children. She provides outstanding leadership to a committed and knowledgeable team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team members all either hold or are completing the relevant qualification in residential childcare. In addition, high-quality training is provided to all staff. As a result, staff have good opportunities to improve their knowledge and to develop new skills. Experienced staff are able to undertake the leadership and management qualifications. This means that children benefit from a highly skilled workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision arrangements are excellent. Staff confirm high levels of support and professional development. They feel respected and valued. This reinforces the strength of the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership work is extensive and highly effective. Strong multi-disciplinary work means that care plans are of a good quality and accurately reflect the needs of each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are kept electronically. Recording is generally to a good standard. However, the current system does not reflect the contribution that children make to their own records or show when children have accessed their records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Meticulous internal and external quality assurance provides detailed analysis of care provision. This means that the manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. Development plans are in place to ensure continual improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2512898 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand that many children placed in homes may undergo a difficult transition and what should be simple aspects of their care take on a substantial significance in this context. Staff should seek to meet the child’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met – doing so is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the child and value them as an individual. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that records which are kept electronically (regulation 38) can be easily accessed by anyone with a legitimate need to view them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’,

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Recommendations

page 61, paragraph 14.2)  The registered person should ensure that children should be actively encouraged to read their records and to add further information to them. Children should be regularly reminded of their rights to see information kept about them and be given information about how they might be supported to access their records in later life. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.6)

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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 for children’s home: 2512898 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 0TY

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Inspector

Amanda Ellis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2512898 7 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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