Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 1 Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to two children who have emotional and social difficulties. The home was opened on 28 February 2017. There is a manager in place who is in the process of registering with Ofsted.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/05/2019 Full Good 09/05/2018 Full Outstanding 06/12/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 06/06/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have lived at the home for a long period of time, and have positive relationships with staff. One social worker said, ‘It’s hard for [child’s name] to build trusting relationships, but staff there have done it.’ This means that children are receiving positive role modelling, which helps children to develop trust with the adults who provide care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children have positive experiences living at the home by taking them out on activities such as go-karting and fishing. Children are supported with their hobbies, and are encouraged by staff to practice their skills. This ensures that the child is remaining focused in their interests and developing their self-esteem and confidence. One parent said, ‘Staff support [child’s name] with their sporting interests.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When education is a struggle for children, meetings are held between the manager, virtual school and social care to discuss more suitable provisions for the children. This means that children are now attending a school or college that better meets their needs. One child has successfully gained three GCSEs at grade 9, and in subjects that need improving, they are now working towards this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported with their emotional well-being from clinical psychologists and therapists, both share their strategies and approaches with staff. This means that there is a consistent approach to working with children when they are struggling to cope. Consequently, children are learning how to express their feelings in a different way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children benefit from good routines and structure. As a result of consistent staff practice, one child has a more stable night-time routine. This means that the child is no longer taking medication to help them sleep.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are generally fit and well and eat a balanced diet. Nevertheless, not enough has been done by staff to help improve one child’s dental hygiene. This means that the child has not attended their routine appointment. Overtime, this has the potential to hinder their health outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has recently been involved in anti-social behaviour in the community with their new friends, which has led to police involvement. Staff have not discussed what impact inappropriate friendships could have on children and what they could lead to. This is not helping the child to understand what constitutes as a positive friendship. Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 4

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

Risk assessments are well documented and provide staff with clear actions to follow to reduce the risk of harm to children. Nevertheless, one child’s risk assessment has not been updated following an allegation of a sexual nature. This does not provide staff with up-to-date information about the risk, which would help to identify emerging patterns.

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

Some children have engaged in anti-social behaviours, such as association with setting fires. Records do not demonstrate that staff have discussed the dangers of fire setting or being around a lit fire. This is not raising children’s awareness of how to keep themselves and others safe.

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

The home’s health and safety checks are carried out weekly and monthly. Audits of health and safety in the home are carried out by the manager and deputy. Any actions identified are then sent to the maintenance team, and they are addressed accordingly. This means that children are living in a safe home.

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

Incidents of children going missing-from-care receive a coordinated approach from multi-agencies. Staff work in line with protocols and put themselves at risk of harm in order to help locate the child as quickly and safely as possible. Recently, there has been an increase in missing-from-care incidents. Through partnership working, necessary actions have been taken to reduce the likelihood of the child going to inappropriate known addresses.

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

Staff are consistent in their approach towards the children. This means that routines and structure are in place for the children, which helps them to form trusting relationships with staff. Both children said that they feel safe living at the home and can speak to staff about any of their worries. Staff know the children’s triggers and, on some occasions, can mitigate incidents before they escalate.

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

There have been two physical interventions since September 2020. On both occasions, the intervention was used to protect the child from harm. Children and staff are debriefed following each incident by the manager. This allows them to reflect on the incident and to learn from it.

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

Recruitment checks are thorough, and all references are verbally verified. This means that the suitability of staff is ensured before they start working with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is in the process of completing their registration documents for Ofsted. He has a new deputy manager in place who knows the home and children well. Together, they are respected by staff who have said that they feel supported working in the home. The manager leads by example, which ensures a consistent approach towards the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 5 Staff receive high levels of support and encouragement from the manager. This includes regular supervision and team meetings. The care that is provided to the children is very child centred. A social worker said, ‘Staff are consistent with their approach and it’s this that makes [child’s name] feel safe and trust staff.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction plan for new staff is thorough and covers all aspects of working in the home, and with the children. New starters are subject to a six months’ probation period. Their practice is reviewed every two, four and six months. There are a series of questions, which are assessed by the manager, who then decides their suitability for the role. This ensures that the staff are competent and knowledgeable, and that they understand the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses, and the monitoring systems that are in place highlight any shortfalls. This enables the manager to act on these shortfalls without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children communicate their views, wishes and feelings through one-to-one sessions, children’s meetings and through general discussions. There is a postbox in the children’s ‘snug’ room. This means that children can write to the manager with their views, wishes and feelings. The manager will respond to these letters in a timely manner. Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 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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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met; and

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)) 23 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)) 23 March 2022

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)) 23 March 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 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: 1252095 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Victoria Street, Greetland, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX4 8DF

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1252095 9 regulates and inspects 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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