Children's Home run by Ivory Cottage Limited in Warwickshire

Inspection report children's home: 2586067 1 Registered provider: Ivory Cottage Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post is vacant. A suitably experienced manager recently started in the post and is in the process of applying to Ofsted to be registered.

p.1

Inspection date: 2 February 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 2 February 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2586067 2

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judged that it has sustained effectiveness.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children who were living in the home at the time of the last inspection have now moved on. These moves were well planned and in line with the children’s care plans.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three children have moved in since the last inspection. Unfortunately, one of these children left the home because of significant challenging behaviour that placed her at risk. Before the child moved out, staff worked hard to keep the child safe when she went missing from the home. However, the manager in post at the time of these incidents did not consistently provide oversight to identify learning and give guidance to staff. In addition, staff missed opportunities to provide the child with appropriate support to understand her challenging and risk-taking behaviour. For example, there is limited evidence of targeted discussions or one-to-one support with the child to help her to explore the context of her behaviours.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home. Both children are settled and are making good progress from their starting points. For example, one child had enuresis when she came to the home. However, the symptoms of this condition have significantly reduced over time.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both children attend school and have excellent attendance records. The dedicated staff team travel a considerable distance each day to transport both children to school. Staff and professionals told the inspector that children make good social, emotional and physical progress. For example, children improve their personal care skills and become increasingly confident.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children enjoy a range of experiences and activities. For example, a child recently won a community baking competition, and both children enjoy volunteering at a local animal sanctuary. The children’s social worker told the inspector, ‘The staff have provided them [the children] with much needed stability. They are very focused on the children and have supported them to make good progress.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager, who is new in post, ensures that internal care planning reflects children’s individual needs. These plans incorporate detailed risk assessments and behaviour management plans. However, one child’s file does not contain an up-to- date local authority care plan. This means that the child’s journey and progress may be misunderstood. In addition, staff have not yet received training in relation to a child’s health condition. The impact of this shortfall is lessened as the child’s plans provide staff with clear guidance to support the child’s health needs. Inspection report children's home: 2586067 3 Since starting in post, the manager has worked tirelessly to improve staff practice and the quality of care children receive. For example, the quality of children’s one- to-one support has improved significantly. Staff feel that the quality of children’s care continues to improve. They speak positively about the manager and the impact

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

he has had in improving staff morale and practice. A member of staff told the inspector, ‘He [the manager] has definitely changed things for the better. He implements new ideas. There has been a major turnaround in staff learning, and things are much more organised. I can’t fault him.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. For example, he works alongside senior managers and the independent visitor to regularly review children’s care and identify learning opportunities. The manager completes daily, weekly and monthly audits to review the quality of children’s care and to identify areas for learning. He is confident that the new online recording system will continue to support staff to provide good-quality care in line with children’s needs. The manager acknowledges that aspects of the home appear tired. He plans to redecorate these areas soon.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection, five requirements and one recommendation were made. Overall, the staff team has worked well to respond to these shortfalls, and as a result, three of the requirements and the recommendation were considered to have been met. Inspection report children's home: 2586067 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children's home: 2586067 5

p.4

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.5

Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

p.5

Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.5

Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

p.5

Requirement Due date

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This relates to staff providing children with regular, good- quality one-to-one support in line with their needs to support them to make sense of their challenging behaviours. 28 March 2022 Inspection report children's home: 2586067 6 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.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

p.6

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(f))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to providing consistent management oversight of staff practice and children’s care. In addition, staff must receive appropriate training to fully understand children’s needs. 28 March 2022

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all areas of the home are well maintained and decorated. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children’s files contain up-to-date local authority plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.2)

p.6

Information about this inspection

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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: 2586067 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ivory Cottage Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: C/O Sky Tax Accounting, 37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AA

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Caroline Wigmore

p.7

Inspector

Gareth Leckey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2586067 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8