Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: 2491059 1 Registered provider: 1848 Ltd Interim 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 and provides care for up to three children. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified manager has oversight of the home and their application to register is being processed by Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 15 March 2022

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 15 March 2022

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2491059 2

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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.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the previous inspection, the manager, leaders and staff have focused on addressing shortfalls and improving outcomes for the children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The careful matching of children to make sure their needs can be met has improved. A recent placement followed the collection of information from several stakeholders, detailed assessment and meetings with the child and those already living in the home. An unplanned end to this placement was neither predictable nor avoidable.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Care-planning documents have been reviewed and updated. They now offer clarity about children’s needs and targets for improvement. A new electronic recording system has just been implemented. Staff have received training and are being offered support to use this system effectively. This major change has yet to be totally understood by all or fully implemented in practice to capture completely the experiences of children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The implications of using rewards, sanctions or consequences to improve children’s behaviour are not fully understood. One consequence is excessive and has the potential to reinforce concerns presented by the child. Another sanction is inexplicably linked to food, and a record of the incidents lacks clarity and objectivity.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recent supervision provided to the manager followed a gap of nearly three months. The record of this session lacks essential elements of good-quality professional supervision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has access to a staff training matrix and can see that the staff have completed both essential and specialist training. Staff said that they feel valued and supported to do their job well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make progress and develop skills. They feel valued and encouraged and said that they are happy in this home. Children are in a much safer position than before they moved in. Staff have helped them to improve their understanding of risk, and risk-taking behaviour has gradually reduced. Both children attend education and have clear aspirations for the future. One child has secured a much sought-after apprenticeship and the other has the confidence to attend a job interview and to seek further education courses linked to their chosen career. Inspection report for children’s home: 2491059 3 The environment is homely, well maintained, and decorated and furnished as a family home. Children’s bedrooms reflect their personalities. Recent improvements to resurface the drive leading to the home have made it much safer.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/06/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2491059 4

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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 registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the frequency and quality of the supervision provided to the manager of the home. 30 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no measure of control or discipline which is excessive, unreasonable or contrary to paragraph (2) be used in relation to any child. (Regulation 19 (1)) 30 April 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—  the name of the child  details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure  the date, time and location of the use of the measure  a description of the measure and its duration  details of any methods used, or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure  the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used  the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the recording of any sanctions or consequences used in the home. 30 April 2022

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2491059 5 should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, ensure that all records are up to date and objective. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 Staff should understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour through the use of positive behaviour strategies. In particular, understand how to avoid reinforcing negative behaviour linked to childhood trauma, food and diet. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)

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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.

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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: 2491059 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Bank Buildings, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AJ

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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2491059 7 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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