Children's home run by Cedarways Residential Child Care Larkhill House Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 1 Registered provider: Pathways Residential Child Care Larkhill House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A privately owned limited company runs the home. It offers care for up to four children with social and/or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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

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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the home’s first inspection since it was registered in February 2021. Two children live in the home. Their moves into the home were well planned. The registered manager worked well with a range of professionals to gather information about the children prior to them moving in to the home. She used this knowledge to inform children’s plans and staff practice. This well-informed approach helps children to settle quickly and make good progress.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build strong and trusted relationships with children. They genuinely care about them and know them well. Staff use this knowledge to provide children with good- quality individualised care. When one child first came to the home, they were unable to communicate due to experiencing significant trauma and neglect. The registered manager and staff worked alongside specialist agencies and used research to provide the child with support in line with her needs. For example, staff supported the child to develop her communication by using specialist symbols, signs and speech. The child has made significant progress from her starting point. For example, the child can communicate freely with staff using a range of symbols and can verbalise some words.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a friendly and caring home. Staff show a significant level of commitment to children and their practice is underpinned by high levels of affection and nurture. Staff use subtle encouragement and humour to support children to make continued progress. This child-centred approach helps children to develop a strong sense of belonging. A child told the inspector, ‘It feels like my home. I can talk to anyone here when I need to. Before I lived here, I used to run away a lot, but I don’t feel the need to do that here.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child had been out of education for a significant period of time prior to her admission to the home. The dedicated staff team works hard to provide the child with firm structures and routine. The registered manager and staff support the child to understand the importance of academic success. As a result, the child’s attendance rates are excellent, and she is developing aspirations for her future. A teacher told the inspector, ‘The staff are very proactive. She [child] responds really well to firm boundaries and they [staff] are excellent at this.’

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Another child has not accessed any form of education prior to her admission to the home. As a result, she has a range of developmental needs. The child does not currently have an education provision. Overall, the registered manager and staff have worked hard to provide the child with education support in the interim. As a result, the child has significantly developed her verbal and written communication skills. Unfortunately, the child has received minimal specialist tutoring support since her admission. The registered manager missed opportunities to fully escalate her concerns about this matter. Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 3 A therapist is employed to work in the home. They work closely with staff to ensure that they understand children’s needs and provide appropriate and effective care. The therapist and staff regularly scrutinise children’s progress and agree strategies to address children’s needs. This specialist oversight means that children receive

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

good-quality and well-informed care. Children make significant progress in managing their emotions and behaviour and responding to boundaries and routines. However, during the inspection, some staff were unable to articulate a clear understanding of the home’s model of care. The registered manager is aware of this shortfall and plans to provide staff with further training.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children spend time with those who are important to them. They work hard to develop positive relationships with family members. As a result, family members feel involved in their children’s care. Similarly, children feel reassured and happy that their family are respected by staff. A child’s parent told the inspector, ‘Staff always call me. I feel part of her life. The home is a good place for her, she is doing really well. I can’t fault them.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, the home environment is homely and welcoming. Children’s pictures are on display throughout the home. In addition, children’s bedrooms are personalised. However, some aspects of the internal environment require redecoration and are therefore out of step with the rest of the home. The registered manager has plans to address this shortfall.

p.3

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

Children’s vulnerabilities are understood by staff and recorded in detailed and up-to- date risk assessments. Children say that they feel safe, and their behaviours reflect this. For example, one child frequently went missing prior to her admission to the home. The child has settled, and her missing incidents have significantly reduced. Staff practice strikes a good balance between embedding clear and consistent boundaries and providing children with nurturing care. This helps children to feel settled and safe.

p.3

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

Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are effective and provide staff with clear guidance to keep children safe. The registered manager uses her initiative and responds well to new risks as they present. For example, she worked effectively with safeguarding agencies to provide a robust and timely response to manage the risks associated with a child’s phone use and online activity.

p.3

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

The home is situated in a rural location close to a busy road and neighbouring farmland. This presents children with additional risks, particularly on the rare occasions when they go missing. Staff follow clear procedures to keep children safe. They actively search for children, and, when necessary, report them missing to the police. This proactive practice means that children are located swiftly and returned home. Children receive a visit from an independent professional following their missing incident. Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 4 Staff provide children with clear, consistent boundaries and routines. They reward children for positive behaviour. The registered manager has introduced imaginative reward systems. For example, both children enjoy earning tokens that they place in a jar. Children thrive on this approach and enjoy meeting their targets and receiving rewards. Staff respond to children’s challenging behaviours in a calm and measured

p.3

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

way and the use of restraint is rare. This positive ethos helps children to reduce their levels of challenging incidents.

p.4

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

Staff provide children with a calm and nurturing environment. They listen to children and know them well. Staff give children time and space to make sense of difficult emotions and feelings. Children learn to create strategies to de-escalate difficult situations. In addition, staff support children to understand their risks and take ownership of their behaviours. For example, one child is now able to apologise to staff and professionals following challenging incidents. This good work is undermined on occasions by the quality of children’s one-to-one support. For example, some sessions are detailed and meaningful; however, this is not consistent.

p.4

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

Children can seek support from trusted members of staff if they need to discuss concerns or worries. This helps children to feel secure. In addition, children know how to complain, and their concerns are taken seriously by staff. This open and transparent approach helps children to feel safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aspirational and ambitious for the children in her care. This ethos has inspired staff to provide children with good-quality care. The registered manager has made a positive impact on the lives of children and the staff team. She is supported by a passionate, committed and knowledgeable deputy manager. A member of staff told the inspector, ‘I can speak to the managers anytime I need them. They are always there for us. Even when the manager is not here, I can contact her and she will respond straight away.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is currently working towards the relevant level 5 qualification. Staff have either completed the level 3 qualification or are in the process of doing so. In addition, they have access to a comprehensive training programme that equips them with the skills and knowledge to meet children’s needs.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has effective monitoring systems that support her to identify strengths and areas of development. Internal daily checks support staff to consistently provide good-quality care. In addition, the registered manager completes monthly reports that help to identify strengths and areas for development in the home. She competently tracks children’s experiences and progress. The registered manager identifies patterns or trends and adapts staff practice to address children’s needs. She is determined to continually improve the quality of children’s care and has plans to drive up the standard of staff practice further. Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 5 An established and diverse staff team means that children have access to staff who have a range of expertise, skills and experience. Staff are committed to children and know them well. Staff enjoy the open and healthy learning environment that allows

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

them to discuss and, if necessary, challenge their practice. They provide children with a strong, well-thought-out and consistent approach.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that children’s plans are comprehensive and individualised. She ensures that key documents are on file and works closely with social workers to develop a clear understanding of children’s needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, staff receive regular supervision. However, the inspection identified some shortfalls in the quality of these supervision sessions. The registered manager acknowledges that staff receive inconsistent supervision support and she plans to address this shortfall. The impact of this shortfall is lessened as staff meetings are used as opportunities to explore children’s progress and improve staff practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has established strong relationships with partner agencies. Staff are proactive and share information frequently with key partners to ensure that children receive well-informed and consistent care. Professionals are unanimously positive about their communication with staff and the care provided to children. Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 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 education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and training and to maximise the child’s achievement;

p.6

Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The relates to the registered manager fully escalating her concerns with regards to a child’s tutoring support. 07 February 2022

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well presented to provide children with a warm and welcoming environment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff receive consistent and good- quality supervision. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff provide children with good-quality and consistent one-to-one support. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 7  The registered person should ensure that staff develop an appropriate understanding of the therapeutic model and how this influences their practice. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

p.6

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: 2577151 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathways Residential Child Care Larkhill House Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 33 Stapenhill Road, Burton-On-Trent, Staffordshire DE15 9AE

p.8

Inspector

Gareth Leckey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2577151 9 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.8

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.9

Inspector

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

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9