Children's home run by Enhanceable

Inspection report for children’s home: 2645163 1 Registered provider: EnhanceAble Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

EnhanceAble is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. The home provides short breaks for up to seven children. The provider states in its statement of purpose that it provides care for children who have learning disabilities, and/or physical disabilities, and/or sensory impairment. The service and the manager registered with Ofsted on 18 August 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was conducted on site and involved meetings with children, staff and managers. Email and telephone contact took place with parents, family members, and local authority social workers.

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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 for children’s home: 2645163 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2645163 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who access short breaks enjoy a range of activities and opportunities to have fun. The facilities are suitable for the needs of the children and include a sensory room and a playground. Children enjoy activities in the local community, such as visiting local parks and farms. This gives children a positive and stimulating experience during their stay.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their individual starting points. One parent said, ‘My daughter can now put on her own socks and is learning how to be independent from her parents.’ The support children receive from staff helps them to learn and develop important life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how children communicate their needs. Staff use a range of tools to communicate with children including signs, speech and pictures. Despite this, children’s wishes and feelings are not actively sought. This limits children’s input into their care and the delivery of the service.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s diagnosis and health needs are well understood by managers and staff. Children’s care plans are clear and up to date. Leaders and managers are part of the multi-agency team around the child. They attend meetings to ensure that the service is meeting the child’s needs. Any issues with the care provided are addressed immediately and effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the children who access the service. Activities in the community have been limited due to the children’s increased health vulnerabilities. Additionally, due to staff sickness because of COVID-19, the service has been reduced on some occasions. However, the registered manager has successfully advocated for children to get their entitled short-break service at a different time.

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

Safeguarding practice is strong. Children’s risk assessments separate physical risks and safeguarding issues. This ensures that staff remain clear about all risks posed to children and the strategies to keep them safe.

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

Safeguarding issues are regularly discussed with staff in supervision using case examples. Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing policies and procedures. This ensures that children’s safety is a priority.

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

Allegations of harm against children are addressed immediately. Leaders and managers are proactive, and they ensure that parents and relevant professionals are informed and updated as appropriate. Investigations are thorough and have clear Inspection report for children’s home: 2645163 4 outcomes. Despite this, the registered manager failed to report an allegation against a member of staff to Ofsted as required. This limits external oversight of the service.

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

Staff have the right training to meet the needs of the children in their care. As a result, they understand the children’s behaviours and use this to support them. This helps children to reduce their anxieties and has seen a reduction in incidents.

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

Restraint is only used in exceptional circumstances. All staff receive training and incidents are reported to parents and social workers promptly. However, children are not given the opportunity to express how they feel after the incident has happened. This limits the support provided to children and how well the manager and staff understand and review the impact of physical intervention.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership and management is strong. The service is managed by a suitably experienced manager who is in the process of completing the required management qualification. The registered manager is supported by three assistant managers who are also in the process of completing a management qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are open, honest and reflective. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of the service and take on board feedback from stakeholders. Any shortfalls in practice are quickly identified and plans are put in place to address the concerns.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective relationships with parents and carers. Feedback is positive. Parents and carers say that children look forward to attending for short breaks and they feel safe leaving their children in the care of staff. Any issues or complaints are dealt with quickly and resolved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is positive. Staff feel that leaders and managers are approachable. Staff receive regular supervision to discuss practice issues and areas for development. Supervision records demonstrate that supervision focuses on the needs of the children and their plans. This helps to improve staff practice and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose is up to date. However, it does not include the staff structure of the service, details of staff qualifications or the arrangements for staff supervision. Inspection report for children’s home: 2645163 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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who— develop positive relationships with them; engage with them; and take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)) 25 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)) 11 February 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose includes the staffing structure; experience and qualifications of staff and arrangements for supervision of staff practice. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.10)  The registered person should ensure that any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their wishes and feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as it is practical to do so. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.60) Inspection report for children’s home: 2645163 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 for children’s home: 2645163 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 13 Geneva Road, Kingston Upon Thames KT1 2TW

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Inspector

Leanne Grant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2645163 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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