Children's Home run by White Orchid Care Limited in Milton Keynes

Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 1 SC465588 Registered provider: White Orchid Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to four children who have complex difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a small, private organisation which also has one other home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2017.

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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. We last visited this setting on 9 February 2021 to carry out a monitoring visit. The report is published on the Ofsted website.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/04/2019 Full Outstanding 16/07/2018 Full Outstanding 20/11/2017 Full Outstanding 18/01/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 3

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outstanding

Children benefit from outstanding level of thoughtful, nurturing care. Staff have high expectations for the children. They are proud of them and celebrate all successes. This enables children’s self-esteem, resilience and confidence to grow. As a result of the exceptional individualised care provided, children believe they can achieve and are able to be children. As a result, they reach their full potential.

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outstanding

The children all make significant progress from their complex starting points. For some children, their progress has been remarkable. One carer commented, ‘I have seen 100% a different child. It’s all so positive.’ There has been a significant improvement for children with their educational progress and behaviour, and in accepting others. This is because of the actions of the staff and the caring ways in which they work.

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outstanding

Children now attend and enjoy their individual school settings. This was achieved through creative approaches by the staff team. One school commented on the approach of staff and described them as ‘brilliant’ and that ‘they make a massive difference to the children.’ Staff successfully challenge other professionals when provisions do not meet children’s needs.

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outstanding

Staff have the skills and confidence to understand the importance of listening to and involving the children in decision-making. This has led to trusting relationships being formed with children. Children are fully involved in all aspects of their care, including their care plans. Children feel well cared for and valued. One child spoken to said, ‘The adults are like lots of mummies and daddies, good ones. They care. They are the best.’ Fun, affection and warmth are seen to radiate from the staff. This has a positive impact on the progress children make.

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outstanding

Children’s emotional needs are closely monitored. Staff understand the impact of trauma. As a result of the therapeutic approach by staff, children begin on their individual journey of understanding and reflecting on past experiences. Children have taken significant steps in developing and implementing strategies which have strengthened their resilience.

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outstanding

Professionals and carers are consistently positive about their relationships with the registered manager and staff, and about the progress that the children make.

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outstanding

Children are supported to be as independent as possible. This is carefully considered for each child. Staff prepare children for the future at a rate that is right for the child and advocate on behalf of the child. This has resulted in successful transitions into foster care with outreach support being integrated into this. Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 4

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outstanding

Creative approaches and careful planning are used to understand and manage risk. The ‘my unsafe behaviour and how best to take care of me’ is an excellent child- focused document. This is reviewed regularly to ensure that current strategies are implemented. Staff are highly skilled at recognising triggers for children. They use this insight to implement further strategies to reduce risk.

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outstanding

Key-working sessions are highly effective and provide excellent opportunities for children to explore their emotions and start to learn their own strategies to reduce risk. Children now tell staff when they feel unsafe, as they are confident in staff members’ abilities to help them. One child commented, ‘Adults help me with my anxiety, and this helps me to be calm and not to hurt people.’

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outstanding

Staff are highly skilled at creating the right balance between keeping children safe and enabling them to take measured risk. There is a range of direct and therapeutic work that takes place with children to understand their own areas of individual risk. This has made an exceptional difference to children in how they learn to manage their own safety, for example keeping safe online and in the community, and their peer choices.

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outstanding

Due to the exceptional relationships and diligence of staff, children do not go missing. Children have been involved in finding individual strategies to de-escalate situations when they are angry and frustrated. This includes creating spaces in bedrooms such as dens, talking to staff and bike rides. There have been some physical interventions, but these have reduced in recent months. These have been appropriate with clear reflection and debrief with the child after each incident.

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outstanding

Staff do not use sanctions and instead reward positive behaviours with a range of incentives, such as bonus bonds and chosen trips out. Children are encouraged to achieve. Staff demonstrate to children that they are proud of the choices children are making. Children are motivated to have the confidence to succeed.

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outstanding

Staff demonstrate excellent knowledge of safeguarding processes. There is regular consultation with external professionals and excellent oversight from the manager, which enable them to be fully aware of any safeguarding concerns and ensure that they are confident in the processes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post for a number of years and is well established in her role. She has high expectations and her passion inspires the staff, who share the same vision for achieving the best outcomes for children. A staff member commented, ‘If I can make a child’s day better, I have achieved my goal.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has recognised the impact of the pandemic on both the children and staff team. It has embraced the situation and created memories and Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 5 positive experiences for children. Despite the challenges, staff retention has been excellent. Staff report this is due to having a very supportive manager and team. Comments from staff include, ‘The manager does a phenomenal job,’ and ‘We are like a family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been some decisions by managers for staff not to work following an allegation while investigations take place. However, the decision-making is not formally recorded. This inhibits follow up and monitoring.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is quick to identify weaknesses and act on any concerns through regular monitoring. However, some monitoring has not had the full oversight by the manager to ensure that standards are met, such as reviewing and analysing physical interventions. This does not ensure a thorough review of practice. The manager is currently reviewing her monitoring processes in place, as she has recognised some processes require more thorough oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to high-quality training and specialist support. The manager understands the importance of ensuring that staff are equipped and understands the key role she holds in training and developing the staff in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team has developed strong links with other agencies. Communication and information sharing are described as very good by all those spoken to. This contributes to keep children safe and happy. Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 6 ,

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring (including under regulations 44 and 45) to ensure continuous improvement. In particular, leaders need to ensure that monitoring and analysis of physical interventions regularly take place. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the policy on protection of children from abuse and neglect is reviewed. In particular, ensure that decisions made following allegations against staff are recorded and risk assessments are completed as required to enable monitoring. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.19)

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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: SC465588 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: White Orchid Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 77 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP1 1LF

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Inspector

Emeline Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC465588 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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