Children's Home run by Children and Family Services Limited in Luton

Inspection report for children’s home: SC028599 1 SC028599 Registered provider: Children and Family Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to seven children with physical and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home registered with Ofsted in May 2022.

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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: SC028599 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2021 Full Good 16/05/2019 Full Good 29/11/2018 Full Good 18/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC028599 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress in a caring environment that celebrates each child’s individual personality. Several of the children have lived at the home for over three years. The children said that they would like to live at the home until they become adults .

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand how to communicate with children who have varying complex needs. Each child has a dedicated staff member available to support them. Children feel well cared for and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Social workers and parents are impressed with the progress children make in their independence skills. Their progress is supported by children having good daily routines and staff who provide consistency. One child said, ‘Living in this house has helped me gain more independence. I can now wash my own hair and make myself breakfast.’ Another child said, ‘I like cooking for the whole house. My favourite meals to cook are pasta dishes and curries.’ These skills help the children to prepare for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children have good school attendance levels. Communication between the staff and education professionals is of a consistently high standard. Collaborative working supports better education outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children progress through valuable experiences. Children’s hobbies are supported, and they are encouraged to take part in new activities. Some of the children have gym memberships and others like being taken out to local parks. Children enjoy trips out to the cinema and the local bowling alley. These experiences and trips increase children’s social skills and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The placement plans are child-centred and fully incorporate the views of the individual child. These provide staff with clear guidance on the likes and needs of each child. The plans are regularly updated, ensuring that the dedicated staff continue to work effectively with the changing needs of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions are well planned. The staff and managers visit the child prior to moving in and the child then visits the home and meets the other children. This helps to reduce any anxieties and encourages children to settle.

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

Children are safe and enjoy living at the home. Staff know the children well and trusting relationships are evident. A parent said, ‘Staff care for him very well. He has calmed down and is maturing well. They have helped him so much. I know he is safe at the home.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC028599 4 Children’s individual risk assessments are comprehensive, detailed and updated promptly. High-quality risk assessments provide staff with the necessary strategies to minimise potential dangers and protect children.

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

The children have different levels of understanding and some of the children are non-verbal. The staff reinforce positive behaviour by recognising achievements and giving praise. The staff use an incentive scheme which enables children to earn gifts of their choice.

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

The children do not go missing from the home. Staff monitor children’s movements to ensure their safety. Managers ensure that they have the correct staffing levels to adequately meet each child’s needs.

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

All children have detailed personal emergency evacuation plans. These plans ensure that staff are aware of the correct action to take for each child in an emergency. However, two children were delayed by two weeks in being shown the actions to take in an emergency evacuation .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked at the home for six years and is suitably qualified. The manager is supported by an experienced deputy manager and service manager. Their combined experience provides a strong management team that prioritises the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers advocate for children when necessary. One of the children requires support from an occupational therapist. There have been difficulties in accessing this service locally. Managers have been proactive and are working well with the child’s placing local authority to ensure the child receives this specialist support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive effective supervision which prioritises the children’s needs. The staff’s professional development is supported. The staff feel valued and supported by the managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers and staff have built good relationships with professionals. A social worker said, ‘The staff are very accommodating. They work in partnership and communicate with me regularly. They work really well at supporting the children to spend time with their families and friends.’ This keeps professionals updated and gives children friendship groups outside the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been one safeguarding incident since the last inspection. This has been investigated and the correct procedures followed. However, Ofsted has not been notified of a child suffering an injury at school. This requirement was raised at the last inspection and has been restated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC028599 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

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(1) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that new children are made aware of the evacuation procedure. 20 June 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 any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 20 June 2022

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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: SC028599 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children and Family Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 260-270 Butterfield, Great Marlings, Bedfordshire LU2 8DL

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC028599 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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