Children's home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Ashford

Inspection report children's home: SC064081 1 SC064081 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home provides care, accommodation and education for up to seven children. It is part of a charity that has other homes and a school in the local area.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has applied to Ofsted to be registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account Outstanding

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected Outstanding

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers Outstanding

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 15 January 2020

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC064081 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/01/2020 Full Outstanding 14/02/2019 Full Outstanding 26/03/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/10/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children's home: SC064081 3

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Outstanding

Children thrive in their home. Relationships, often formed over a number of years, are warm and nurturing. This ensures children feel safe and genuinely cared for. As a result, children make significant and sustained progress. This is especially impressive when taking into account their starting points.

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Outstanding

Each child has a carefully thought through plan of care which is developed using expertise from professionals who work in the organisation as well as those from outside. Children’s plans helpfully guide staff in providing a consistently high standard of care. Staff carefully explain the content of their plans to children at a level they can understand, in accordance with their age and cognitive abilities.

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Outstanding

Children make progress in all areas of their lives. They have often experienced severe neglect and trauma prior to coming to live in this home. The consistently high standard of care provided helps them to feel secure which enables them to reflect on their earlier experiences. They enjoy living in a home where the adults who care for them help them to relax and enjoy their childhood.

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Outstanding

All the children achieve a high level of attendance at school. For some, this is their first experience of regular school attendance. This is a source of pride for the children and staff alike. Members of staff have daily contact with each child’s school to check children’s progress and to identify and promptly respond to areas that they need more support with.

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Outstanding

Children’s health needs are understood and any needs are swiftly addressed. Members of staff seek advice and guidance from health specialists and implement regimes and care which are recommended. The positive attention to children’s emotional wellbeing is a specific strength. Advice from specialists is incorporated into children’s care plans and this further strengthens the measured and thoughtful care given to the children.

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Outstanding

The views of children’s are actively sought and encouraged. They are enabled to share their views and opinions, worries and hopes, with all members of staff. This helps the children to feel listened to and enables staff to have a clear understanding of how each child is progressing and what support they need.

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Outstanding

The children actively influence how their home is run. They interview prospective staff and voice their preferences about holidays, menus and activities. They are frequently consulted about how they wish to be cared for and supported, especially when they are struggling. Their views and wishes are central to the operation of this home. This ethos helps the children to have a strong sense of belonging and of being valued by staff. Inspection report children's home: SC064081 4 Children are supported to maintain contact with their families and significant people in their lives. During the COVID - 19 pandemic this was facilitated through the use of digital technology. As restrictions have eased, staff actively support children to spend time with family and friends who are important to them. Staff have an informed knowledge of how some contacts may be more difficult for children. The support and nurture provided to children during these visits and meetings is

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Outstanding

Children’s wellbeing and safety is at the forefront of practice.

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Outstanding

Staff have an excellent knowledge and understanding of each child’s vulnerabilities. Children’s plans ensure that they are well supported and are kept safe. Information from research and assessments carried out by external specialists, for example a neuropsychologist, is used to further inform day-to-day practice. Staff are well equipped to provide the help, support and advice for children at a level which they are able to understand.

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Outstanding

Staff are not unduly risk averse and this approach helps children to develop life skills and take part in activities which are enriching and develops their self-awareness. For example, they learn to ride their bicycles in the community through learning basic road safety skills. These experiences increase children’s’ confidence and encourage their self-care and independence.

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Outstanding

Social workers speak highly about the level of communication they have with staff and their prompt responses when issues arise which may impact on a child’s wellbeing or safety. Records demonstrate that external agencies are promptly informed of any incidents. The home uses external managers to review incidents and identify any learning providing an important external check and balance.

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Outstanding

The use of physical intervention is proportionate and all incidents are promptly and thoroughly reviewed to ensure that children are safeguarded. Children’s views are sought and explored and plans are amended if needed. This helps children to feel that they have an influence in how they are cared for, especially when they are struggling and emotionally fragile.

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Outstanding

No children have gone missing from the home since the last inspection on 20 January 2020. Staff are very aware of potential vulnerabilities should children go missing. Embedded routines and well-grounded safety plans have ensured that no child has attempted to go missing. Inspection report children's home: SC064081 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

The acting manager has applied to Ofsted to be registered. His succession was carefully planned, facilitating a smooth and orderly transition process from the previous manager, with little disruption to the children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

The change in manager also coincided with the COVID - 19 pandemic. During this testing period the staff team has worked tirelessly and with commendable dedication to ensure that the children were safe and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

Cases of COVID – 19 infection in both the staff team and with children have been successfully managed. The impact on children’s routines was minimised as much as possible. This highly skilled approach demonstrated a sound knowledge and sensitivity of each child’s individual needs. Consequently, children continued to flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

All staff receive regular training to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to support the children in their care. All spoke of being well supported by their managers, further underpinned by regular supervision sessions with a clinical psychologist. This provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and to process how ,caring for children with high needs and vulnerabilities, can affect them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

Records are made of staff supervision meetings. The content of the records do not always contain enough detail to show how issues have been resolved or explored. This minor shortfall has no detrimental impact on the progress and safety of children, but it does result in the rationale and clarity of some decisions and issues discussed difficult to audit. A recommendation is made to address this shortfall

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

Managers and staff advocate strongly on behalf of their children if they judge an external agency is not acting promptly or effectively. Important changes are made for the children as a result of this close attention. An example is that a child’s school placement was changed, as their previous school was not meeting their support needs. The child has settled well at her new school and has made excellent progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

A diverse group of staff from a rich mixture of cultures and backgrounds encourage the promotion and celebration of different identities and backgrounds. Staff provide excellent role models in practising tolerance and respect. This is a home where each child and staff member is valued and their differences are seen as an opportunity to enrich each other’s experiences and to learn from each other. Inspection report children's home: SC064081 6 Inspection report children's home: SC064081 7

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Recommendations

 Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. ('Guide to the children's homes regulation including the quality standards' page 62, paragraph 14.4). In particular, ensure that the recording of supervision more consistent and explains how issues discussed have been resolved.

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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 children's home: SC064081 8

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Children's home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SP

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Children's home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

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Inspector

Paul Taylor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: SC064081 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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