Children's Home run by Abbey Green Therapeutic Children’s Services Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 1 Registered provider: Abbey Green Therapeutic Children’s Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides therapeutic care for up to four children who have experienced trauma and may subsequently present with a range of behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a suitably qualified and experienced manager who is registered 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 outstanding

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 14/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children who live here have all made progress. The trusted relationships children have with carers has enabled them to settle well in the home. The nurturing and consistent care provided to children helps them recover from previous trauma and placement breakdowns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children are all attending education. They have good attendance and are motivated to learn. Carers are ambitious for the children and want them to do well. There is effective liaison with education professionals. This gives children the best opportunity to succeed in education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy fun activities, and they spend quality time with carers. Hobbies are encouraged and supported. One child at the home is a talented basketball player, and carers support him to attend training sessions several times a week. Another child plays rugby for a local team, and carers enjoy watching him play in matches. This encouragement to pursue interests and talents means that children are growing in confidence and celebrating their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The model of care in the home is based on attachment theory, and staff use a recognised theoretical approach. A lead therapist supervises a small team of qualified and experienced therapists. Direct work with children, and therapist support to parents, enhances the quality of care. Advice and guidance from therapists help the carers be aware of and sensitive to underlying reasons for challenging behaviour. One parent said: ‘If I could give this home an award, I would. Me and my son would not be where we are today without them.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are treated with dignity and respect by carers. Life-story work enables the children and carers to understand family history and previous experiences. Help is given to children so they can develop a positive view of themselves. One child has received sensitive help and care to understand his own race and identity. This has resulted in healthier self-esteem and emotional resilience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who are new to the home are welcomed sensitively. Careful planning for one child included a visit to his previous home by the manager and play therapist. For children who might be preparing to leave the home, positive endings are promoted with the welfare of the child being paramount. One child is being supported to spend additional time with his family as part of a plan to return home.

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

Safeguarding practice is effective. Carers understand their responsibilities, which helps keep children safe. Communication with social workers and placing authorities is good. This means children feel safe as a result of living here. Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 4 Risks associated with offending, self-harming or being exploited are low. The children very rarely go missing from home. Individual risk assessments reflect the children’s known vulnerabilities and are updated regularly. These plans set out what action should be taken by carers to reduce risk. This effective practice reduces the risk of harm over time and promotes positive behaviours.

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

Children identify trusted adults they can talk to at home. One child confided to a carer that he had suffered bullying and racism. Carers were able to challenge this discrimination and protect the child from further harm. This resulted in the child understanding about different forms of discrimination and how to protect himself from such negative behaviours.

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

Restraint is used only when necessary to protect children and carers from harm. Incidents are reducing over time. The management team reviews all incidents so the effectiveness of staff intervention and responses can be monitored and used as learning opportunities. Incidents which involve the manager are reviewed by the director to ensure independent scrutiny. Children and carers involved in restraint are always offered the opportunity to discuss this to ensure their views are understood.

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

The physical home environment is safe for children. Health and safety practices are effective in the home. Carers invest time in making sure the home is clean, tidy and well furnished for children. This results in a warm and welcoming home for the children to live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s leadership team is confident and inspirational. Leaders are ambitious for children in their care and want the very best for them. The company directors are passionate and lead by example. Their commitment to providing the very best care cascades throughout the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by a qualified and experienced manager who shares the leadership vision. He is supported by an experienced deputy manager who is equally passionate and committed to the children. This results in effective and robust management in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team has high expectations of all carers. Leaders have creative ideas to ensure the highest level of care for their children. Regular supervision and well attended team meetings provide opportunities for reflection and for ideas to be shared. Morale is high among carers who enjoy their work. This results in a team that feels valued and highly motivated to deliver excellent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The therapeutic model of care is having a positive impact on the children’s care. The company’s investment in therapy has resulted in a growing team of skilled therapists. Weekly group supervision with the home’s therapists helps carers to develop skills and strategies for building children’s emotional resilience. This embedded model results in children receiving therapeutic care from confident and skilled carers. Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 5 Working relationships with partner agencies ensure the best possible care and experiences for children. The team work closely with social workers, education and health professionals. Feedback from stakeholders consistently praises highly effective communication and partnership working. One professional said: ‘This is one of my favourite homes to visit; the team are all exceptional.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership team knows its strengths. Leaders are committed to continuous development. Recommendations made at the last inspection in 2019 have been addressed. Improvements made to physical restraint incident documents mean this is no longer a shortfall in practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 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: 2508525 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Abbey Green Therapeutic Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Abbey Green Road, Leek ST13 8SA

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2508525 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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