Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 1 Registered provider: 1848 Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The statement of purpose confirms that the home can provide care for up to two children. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager currently. The manager in day-to-day charge of the home has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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 requires improvement to be good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Date of last inspection: 23 February 2022

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: declined in effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/02/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 18/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home is thriving and making good progress. She trusts the adults that care for her, which has contributed to her growing confidence. The staff speak about the child with genuine care and affection; they know her well. Staff have successfully helped the child to enjoy a wide range of activities that have subsequently helped her to make educational progress and improve her health and well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s attendance at college is good. She has achieved positive grades in her recent exams and is looking forward to new learning opportunities. The child enjoys a broad range of activities that include volunteering at an equestrian centre, attending cadets, playing rugby for a local team and going cold water swimming. Her confidence has grown significantly because of these opportunities and positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s views, wishes and feelings are carefully considered. The child said that she can speak to all staff about what makes her feel anxious and confirmed that she feels listened to and supported. The child has told staff that when she feels anxious, she struggles to communicate verbally. A helpful pictorial communication system has been introduced by staff in response. In addition, the manager has invited the child to attend the next staff meeting. The purpose of this invitation is to discuss further how the child would like staff to respond to her changing emotions, agree on new targets and to review her progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The new manager of this home plans to review the child’s care and support plans. She recognises that the current plans are not succinct or easy to follow. Staff support the child well, using their personal knowledge and experience to meet her daily needs. The manager knows that targets currently documented in care plans are too broad and do not align well with incentives that the child is currently working towards.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child lives in a home that is well maintained, warm and homely. She enjoys spending time in her bedroom and has made it a personalised and comfortable space to relax in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Opportunities for the child to develop independent skills are creative and effective. The child has grown in confidence and recently travelled independently on public transport to watch an England rugby match with her teammates.

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

Safeguarding concerns are recognised swiftly and managed well. Since the last inspection, there have been six reported concerns. Where appropriate, the Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 4 responsible person has shared the concerns with safeguarding agencies. Records are well maintained and detail the concern, actions taken and the outcome.

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

The child trusts the staff. She told the inspector that staff help her to make safe choices and stay safe. Staff understand and manage risks well. They are not averse to risk. This helps the child to develop her confidence and independence in preparation for adulthood.

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

Staff attend regular refresher safeguarding training courses. As a result, they use their knowledge to recognise concerns that the child may be at risk of harm and are confident to respond swiftly.

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

Since the last inspection, there has been one incident that resulted in staff having to physically hold the child in a restraint. The manager has identified lessons learned from discussions held with the child and staff after such incidents. The learning has been discussed with the team and included in the child’s revised behaviour support plan.

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

The management of medication is effective. A new recording system has been introduced. There has been one reported medication error. Senior leaders investigated this error and took appropriate action in response. This error did not have a negative impact on the child’s health or well-being.

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good

At the time of the last inspection, the responsible individual took over the leadership and management of the home. Since that inspection, a new manager has been appointed, whose application to register with Ofsted has been submitted. The new manager is also registered to manage a second home within the organisation.

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good

Staff spoke positively about the new management arrangements, commenting particularly about how the new manager’s experience and knowledge have had a positive impact on the team and child. A member of staff wanted the inspector to know that ‘This is a wonderful place to work,’ and that ‘The child is making progress because we work well together as a team.’

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good

Weaknesses identified at this inspection relate to the quality of records. Since the last inspection, there have been two complaints. These were fully investigated, and the child was happy with the actions taken and the outcome. However, some records do not detail the actions taken. Therefore, it is not clear to see how the investigating officer reached the outcome of no further action needed.

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good

Staff benefit from receiving regular supervision and team meetings. Discussions held in these meetings relate to individual roles and responsibilities and the impact the team’s care has on the child. Tracking the child’s progress and potential safeguarding concerns are set agenda items. Despite this good work, records of Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 5 these meetings do not always include agreed actions, nor do they detail development opportunities arising from monitoring activities.

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good

An independent reviewing officer commented positively about the quality of care the child receives. She confirmed that the child’s relationships with staff members are positive and that the team is skilled in helping the child to develop leisure interests which promote her health. Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 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

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

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (2)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that internal care plans and risk assessments detail the children’s current needs and risks clearly. 15 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (3) (5)) 15 July 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that records of staff supervisions and team meetings are of a good quality and reflect all agreed actions and findings from monitoring activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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 Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 7 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: 2623368 8

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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

Sharron Escott, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2623368 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 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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