Children's Home run by SW Education & Care Ltd in Devon

Inspection report children's home: 2578677 1 Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home is operated by a private provider of social care and was registered on 9 March 2020.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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 in 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

Good

How well children and young people are helped and protected Good

p.1

Good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Good

p.1

Good

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

p.1

Good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children's home: 2578677 2 Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2578677 3

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2578677 4

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. They live in a home that is well presented. The home is maintained to a high standard and children are supported to choose furnishings. There is a family tree on the wall that includes children and staff. This promotes their sense of belonging in the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families. The efforts made by the registered manager and staff team have meant that one child has resumed family time after a period without contact. A parent spoken to during this inspection described how staff increased safety measures to ensure that family time continued during the COVID-19 restrictions.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans to support children moving into the home are considered and take account of the children’s complex needs. This has helped children to change environments and settle. Similarly, in preparation for one child due to move on from the home, plans support the child to know what is expected and when changes will happen. The registered manager has ensured that a memory book has been created for one child who has left the home. However, this has not yet been started for the children currently living in the home.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

From the children’s starting points, both children have continued to make good progress. The children’s behaviours mean that they require staff supervision to reduce the risk of significant harm. This is reviewed regularly and for one child, short periods of free time have been implemented. Both children are engaging with education. An experienced tutor meets with one child in the home and the other child attends college, supported by staff.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s presenting behaviours are complex. However, the registered manager did not demonstrate a full understanding about their history and how this may impact their behaviour. This has the potential to limit support that helps children to overcome their previous experiences and manage their own needs. This also means that views and decision making are not always challenged effectively.

p.4

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

Children are supported to develop trusting relationships with staff. One child’s social worker described the child as ‘feeling understood and accepted’. This means that children take onboard messages from staff and accept care provided in the home. Whilst significant incidents continue, staff respond swiftly to reduce the risk of significant harm. Children trust in staff to respond to them and to keep them safe when they are distressed.

p.4

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

Staff have been provided with the necessary training to respond effectively to the children’s needs. Children also undertake training courses that supports their needs. Inspection report children's home: 2578677 5 One staff team member described how training has supported him and the child to respond to discriminatory behaviours. Some additional support aimed to enhance staff knowledge and skills has not had a measurable impact. Despite this being an issue identified by the registered manager, it has not been addressed effectively.

p.4

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

The registered manager has created a culture in the home that he described as ‘open, honest and caring’. This was not supported by a depth of knowledge about how practice is informed to best meet the children’s needs, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. However, a senior manager described research informed practice underpinning care in the home.

p.5

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

Physical intervention and restraint are used as a last resort in this home. Staff are skilled to respond to the children’s needs. The recording of physical intervention and restraint is completed in a timely way. However, there is insufficient analysis by the registered manager to ensure that all interventions are appropriate and effective.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since the home registered with Ofsted. He is suitably qualified and is experienced. The home is well supported by senior managers, who are confident about the registered manager’s abilities to manage the home. Senior managers are fully involved in the children’s care. This has included children being involved with training development, that has been shared across agencies.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children experience care from a stable and consistent staff team. There is no use of agency staff. Staff are valued and they are supported in their roles. Staff work closely with the registered manager and they have demonstrated resilience at times of challenge. Team morale is good.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, the registered manager has not ensured that there is a consistent approach in the recording of information that informs care in the home. For example, some plans were not clearly defined and discussions with professionals had not been recorded. There was also insufficient oversight and challenge recorded in supervision records. Despite there being no medication errors in the home, there was a discrepancy between the label on the medication and the medication administration record, about the time that it should be administered. This document was rectified immediately by the registered manager during inspection. Inspection report children's home: 2578677 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

p.6

Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

p.6

Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand and manage the impact of any experience of abuse or neglect;

p.6

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv)(v)(vi))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should understand the child's history, including diagnosis and the impact of this for the child and their care so that they are helped to reach their full potential. 11/03/2022 Inspection report children's home: 2578677 7 The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.7

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home's statement of purpose;

p.7

Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home

p.7

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.7

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met;

p.7

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(g)(i))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should demonstrate research informed practice that best meets the child's needs, in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure oversight and review of practice in the home is clearly recorded. 11/03/2022

p.7

Requirement Due date

The behaviour management policies and records standard is that the registered must ensure that—

p.7

Requirement Due date

Within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration; 11/03/2022 Inspection report children's home: 2578677 8 details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(v)(vii))

p.8

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: 2578677 9

p.8

Children's home details

Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd

p.9

Children's home details

Registered provider address: Tir Na N'Og, Fitzhead, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3LA

p.9

Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2578677 10 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.

p.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10