Children's home run by South West Childcare Services

Inspection report for children's home: 1248071 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The provider states in its statement of purpose that care is provided for up to two children with social, emotional or behaviour difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since February 2021.

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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 inspections on 12 April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

We last visited this setting on 22 September 2020 to carry out an assurance 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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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 1248071 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/07/2019 Full Good 28/01/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 1248071 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Outcomes for children are positive. The staff succeed in building trusting and nurturing relationships with the children. One child reported that the home really feels like home, following their many moves. The children are a good match, get on very well and report that they feel like a family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff offer nurturing care to the children, and routines in the home run smoothly. The children’s bedrooms are highly personalised, and photos of the children, the staff and the home’s pet cat are displayed throughout the home, giving the children a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children learn independence skills. For example, one child is learning to return to the home on time after free time and always inform the staff where they are. Another is learning to walk to the shops on their own. Children are also learning how to cook, budget and undertake their own laundry. These are the skills that they will need when they leave the home to move on to their own accommodation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are attending college and making progress. The manager strongly advocates for the children and ensures that they are appropriately placed on college courses where they can succeed and learn the vocational skills that they will need to find employment in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from participating in a range of activities. One child is enjoying being part of a football club. Another child has learned to reduce time spent on computer games and engage in other activities. This means that children are meeting friends in the local community and pursuing activities in line with their interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s health needs are met. The administration of medication is safely managed. The manager ensures that medication reviews are undertaken regularly so that the children can reduce the need for medication when appropriate. Another child is engaging positively with health professionals and is now making healthy choices.

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

Safeguarding procedures are effective. The staff succeed in allowing the children to take age-appropriate risks while keeping them safe. Children report that they feel safe and can speak to all the members of staff if they feel worried or upset.

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

Boundaries in the home are consistent and the children are making progress with their behaviour. The staff encourage positive behaviour through rewards and supporting the children to learn from their mistakes. The use of consequences is Inspection report for children's home: 1248071 4 minimal. If a consequence is given to a child, the manager scrutinises records to ensure the consequence is effective, fair and proportionate.

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

The staff are vigilant and take safeguarding action if a child is behaving differently or there are changes in their behaviour. The children can speak freely to the staff and share any concerns or disclose if they have been involved in any incidents when away from the home.

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

Safeguarding incidents are promptly reported to the relevant safeguarding professionals. The manager has a positive working relationship with the police, youth offending team and social workers. Professionals comment positively about the helpful information and communication that they receive from the home.

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

Comprehensive recruitment procedures are in place to ensure that only suitable people are employed at the home. Extensive checks and documents are obtained and scrutinised prior to a new member of staff coming to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides strong leadership and is well respected by the staff and placing social workers, who comment positively about the quality of her leadership, support and communication. The manager is child-focused and succeeds in creating a homely environment for the children where they can flourish and make progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff benefit from a comprehensive training programme that ensures they have the skills and knowledge that they need to care effectively for the children. If specialist training is needed, this is promptly obtained by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly supervises the staff. However, the minutes of the supervision sessions do not demonstrate that reflective supervision is taking place to support the staff to learn from any incidents and develop their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A comprehensive development plan clearly identifies the home’s strengths and areas for improvement. The home has recently been fitted with new carpets and repainted, and it provides the children with a warm and homely environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Quality monitoring is undertaken by the provider through regular audits and monthly visits from an independent person, who sets actions for the manager to complete. Management oversight of the home is comprehensive. The manager is very knowledgeable about the needs of the children and how to plan to support them effectively. Inspection report for children's home: 1248071 5

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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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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the staff receive comprehensive supervision that supports their training needs and development. In particular, ensure that supervision sessions include reflective supervision. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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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: 1248071 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Second Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1248071 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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