Children's Home run by Rite Directions Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 1 Registered provider: Rite Directions Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care that is tailored to their individual needs. The support and care that children receive from the staff and manager is very good. This has helped children to make good progress from when they moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of relationships between staff and children is good. This has resulted in children developing trusting relationships with the staff. Children feel listened to and this encourages them to share their thoughts and ideas with staff. This means children feel valued and enjoy a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children first move into the home, the staff welcome them sensitively. The staff will go out of their way to support a child to move into the home in a positive manner. For example, staff visited one child living a considerable distance away to ensure that a carefully planned transition could be achieved. This resulted in the child being very well prepared for the move and getting them quickly on track to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. Children’s mental health needs are accurately identified. This means that children receive the specialist help they need. A real strength of this home is the effective communication with involved professionals. A drugs worker said, ‘The child has changed significantly during her time at the home. It can be seen physically as well as emotionally.’ Staff are proactive in escalating any concerns to the placing local authority and other involved agencies. This results in effective partnership working which benefits children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious for the children’s education. For example, one child has completed her statutory education. She now has a college placement and part-time job, which she enjoys. This has improved her self-esteem, confidence and emotional resilience. The child has made good progress from her starting point when moving to the home. Another child does not yet have a school place. Staff are supporting educational activity within the home while this situation is being resolved. They are also advocating for a swift return to education for this child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children keep in touch with people who are important to them. Staff provide the required levels of supervision and transport the children to meet their families. Children and their families are now enjoying better time together. The children also enjoy having their families visit them at the home.

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

A committed staff team ensures that children develop the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe. The manager and staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities. They know what actions to take to keep the children safe. This has resulted in children becoming safer. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 4 Children say that they trust the staff and feel able to confide in them. Children say that they feel safe. Regular conversations between children and staff enable the children to speak openly about their worries and experiences. This openness helps staff to safeguard the children.

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

Staff understand the risks associated with children going missing, drugs misuse or criminal activities. The manager and staff complete and review risk assessments for each child. The manager maintains good oversight of all incidents. This leads to good and effective analysis of incidents. This analysis helps effective care planning for children and helps keep them safer.

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

The staff recognise the triggers for more challenging behaviour from children. The staff respond well by maintaining clear behavioural boundaries. Physical intervention is used at times by the staff as a last resort. When this does occur, children and staff are listened to and supported by the manager. The manager completes and in-depth review of all incidents. This is then used as a learning opportunity to identify the underlying causes and triggers to help develop the staff’s response to any future incidents.

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

The physical environment is maintained to a safe and secure standard. The home is situated in a rural area, and children are educated to understand the additional risks this can present.

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

On one occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of a serious incident concerning a child. Additionally, at times, serious incident notifications lack the context and detail about the actions taken by the staff to keep children safe. This obscures Ofsted from being able to fully evaluate the actions taken to safeguard children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a qualified and experienced manager. She is ambitious for the home and has high expectations of the staff. This creates an environment and culture that is passionate about children’s care and experiences. The staff team is suitably qualified to meet the children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed positive relationships with the staff and children. The staff feel listened to and valued. The manager has developed nurturing relationships with the children, which is apparent in the warm and welcoming feel in the home. The manager is highly visible on a day-to-day basis, which means that both staff and children can approach her whenever they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager regularly seeks feedback from involved agencies. This feedback and information are used as a learning opportunity. Overall, the feedback from involved agencies is excellent. Praise is given for effective communication and how well children are supported by the manager and staff. One social worker said, ‘The manager’s ethos and communication are excellent, she participates in all meetings and updates me on a regular basis, as do all staff.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 5 Most of the staff team have the required qualification for residential childcare staff. New starters are also quickly enrolled onto the qualification following the successful completion of their probation. Induction plans for new starters are thorough. A new member of staff on her first day said, ‘I am enjoying my induction shift and feel well supported.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager provide regular professional supervision to the staff team. This is child focused and reflective. The supervision process provides the staff with the guidance they need to provide good and consistent care to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 6

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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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Statutory requirements

Requirement Due Date The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Statutory requirements

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Statutory requirements

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Statutory requirements

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Statutory requirements

A notification made under this regulation—

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Statutory requirements

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Statutory requirements

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Statutory requirements

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Statutory requirements

In particular, this relates to notifications required following a serious event and the required level of detail to describe actions taken by the manager to safeguard children. 31 January 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 7

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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: 2616704 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rite Directions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tan Y Marian, Constitution Hill, Penmaenmawr, Gwynedd LL34 6BA

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2616704 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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