Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 1 Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited 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 four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in November 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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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection the home has received since registration. There are two children living at the home. Both children are making good progress. The staff know them well and enjoy spending time with them. This has helped children to build trusting relationships with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their hobbies and interests. One child attends a youth project group where he is learning to become a mechanic. Another child plays football for the city’s youth football team. Staff offer children a range of activities and new experiences and help children to feel part of the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff follow detailed and individualised care planning. The children benefit from the staff’s consistent approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to lead healthy lifestyles. They ensure that children access the health services that they need. There is a strong focus on children’s emotional well- being. The staff meet children regularly to talk about the children’s feelings and worries. Consequently, there are few incidents of self-harm and substance misuse.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to maintain relationships and friendships outside the home. Children are taken to activities or family settings so that they can spend time with the people who are important to them. One child’s relative said that the staff respect the children and care for them well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s attendance at school is good. One child has a reduced timetable which is tailored to meet his emotional needs. However, the staff do not provide a suitable alternative to education or enough informal learning opportunities. This means that there are times when the child is not doing anything productive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is large and provides spacious communal living areas. However, most areas require redecorating. The paintwork and woodwork are worn, and the heating system is not effective. The hallways and landings do not have any heat sources. The three bathrooms are heated but are very cold. An air conditioning heat unit is used in each room, but these fail to provide a comfortable and consistent source of heat.

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

Children are rewarded when they make a positive contribution. Staff use praise and incentives to encourage children to progress towards their targets. This approach has supported children to become independent and learn life skills. Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 3 The staff rarely use physical intervention. The manager monitors the effectiveness of sanctions. The sanctions used encourage children to be accountable for their actions.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. However, one child has left his education placement on several occasions. Staff have been responsive when this has happened and made certain that he is found as soon as possible. Staff have consistently provided the child with return home interviews, which has enabled him to talk through his anxieties and concerns.

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

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are comprehensive. Each plan has a detailed chronology of all incidents. However, the level of detail increases the length of these plans and detracts from the strategies to minimise risk.

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

Staff are trained to meet the children’s needs. Children rarely have behavioural incidents. They benefit from a calm environment and staff who understand how to keep them safe.

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

Children are supported to make decisions about their lifestyle choices. Staff have worked well with the police to enable discussions with a child to develop the child’s understanding of safe relationships. One child has been referred to smoking cessation groups. Overall, there is a strong focus on working with other agencies to keep children safe.

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

The manager matches children carefully and considers the remote location of the home and any risks associated with the local area. This means that children are kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and working towards a relevant level 5 diploma in leadership and management. The staff and children feel well supported by her. Senior managers are involved and oversee the day-to-day management of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems which she uses to develop the service. She has a good knowledge of the strengths of the home and the areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision which is reflective and supportive. Safeguarding is routinely discussed. The manager shares learning from investigations to make certain that staff are aware of practice expectations. Team meetings are planned and well attended by the staff. Staff are provided with a thorough induction and training to meet the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed good relationships with professionals and children’s family members. Children’s needs are at the centre of these relationships. Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 4 Information is shared consistently to ensure that children are happy, healthy and safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have provided good care, support and routines for children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager has provided staff and children with regular lateral flow tests and personal protective equipment. A good cleaning schedule is in place. There have not been any cases of COVID-19 at the home. Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 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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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to use reasonable endeavours to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, provide education for children when they are not attending school. 28 January 2022

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect children from avoidable hazards to health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the home has adequate heating throughout and that the walls are repainted. 28 January 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that behaviour management plans are more concise. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 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: 2599659 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspectors

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Deirdra Keating, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2599659 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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