Children's Home run by Solace for Children Limited in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 1 Registered provider: Solace for Children Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a small private company. It is registered to care for three children who may have social and emotional needs as a result of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in October 2021. This is the home’s first inspection. The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, three children have lived there. One child has since moved out. This was not in line with their care plan. Two children currently live in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet children before they move into the home. Children visit the home, spent time with staff, share a meal and get to know one another. This helps children make informed choices about where they live and helps to decrease the anxiety of moving home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they are happy living in this home. The registered manager and staff know the children well. They demonstrate a good understanding of children’s needs. They respond to children sensitively and with compassion, which assists children to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make positive progress in all areas of their lives. They are supported to attend education; this has increased gradually and children now attend full time. Staff take one child to school some distance from the home to maintain continuity in their friendships and education. One social worker reported that the child she supports has ‘made significant progress emotionally, educationally and socially’ while living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

An independent reviewing officer (IRO) told the inspector that the home and school have excellent communication and they mirror positive strategies. As a result, children benefit from a joined-up approach to having their needs met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families. They help support children with feelings of loss and bereavement. This has included planting a memorial garden for a child’s loved one. As a result, children continue to feel connected to people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills. There is mutual trust between children and staff regarding independent time out of the home. As a result, children develop age-appropriate independence and life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to engage in a range of activities. This includes a martial arts club membership and trips to local attractions. Staff take photos of children enjoying activities and celebrations to contribute to their memories and life stories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard. It is homely and a place that children and staff feel proud of. One child told the inspector, ‘It’s like a family home.’ However, one child’s bedroom requires some redecoration and the carpet needs cleaning. During the inspection, the manager was quick to arrange for these shortfalls to be met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 4

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improvement to be good

Children rarely go missing. On the two occasions they have done so, staff took swift action to ensure their safety. They looked for children, followed missing-from-home protocols and worked with police, social workers and family members to find children quickly. Staff speak with children on their return to help them understand the child’s behaviours and offer support.

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improvement to be good

The manager understands children’s individual needs and risks. He implements good guidance for staff to follow. However, there was one occasion when staff did not supervise children appropriately in accordance with their known risks and vulnerabilities. Additionally, staff lacked professional curiosity and failed to complete appropriate checks when a child attended a place of work. Consequently, children could have been at risk.

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improvement to be good

When standards of care and supervision of children have fallen short of expectations, the manager has been quick to address this appropriately. This practice addresses shortfalls quickly and effectively to ensure they do not reoccur.

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improvement to be good

Children understand their rights and entitlements to make complaints. When children make allegations, these are always taken seriously and prompt action is taken. This includes swift referrals to the relevant agencies and good communication with professionals.

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improvement to be good

Staff complete regular key-work sessions with children to give them the knowledge to make positive choices and keep themselves safe. However, this has not included topics that are pertinent to children and their development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is child-focused and passionate about the care children receive. He has a clear vision that the home is a ‘home from home’, and this is how children and staff describe it. An IRO told the inspector the staff have created ‘a sense of belonging’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager knows children well. He understands their individual needs and personalities. He shares this knowledge with the team and ensures all staff work with children to offer consistent care and routines. As a result, children feel well supported and safe, and understand the boundaries in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is good. They report they are well supported by the manager and each other. They benefit from regular supervision, team meetings and training. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 5 The manager has effective systems in place to ensure he has oversight of the care children receive. As a result, he is quick to address concerns with staff and implement measures to support staff..

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals say the manager communicates well and keeps them updated with the progress children are making. There is a clear sense of staff and professionals all working together to support children’s needs holistically. Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

provide to children living in the home the physical necessities they need in order to live there comfortably. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring the home is well maintained. 20 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

help each child to understand, in a way that is appropriate according to the child’s age and understanding, personal, 20 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 7 sexual and social relationships, and how those relationships can be supportive or harmful. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff carrying out work with children regarding safe relationships.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to staff supervising children in line with their care plans and known risks and vulnerabilities. Also, to the registered person ensuring that staff understand potential risks to children and that safeguards are in place when children are out of the home. 20 July 2022 Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 8

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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: 2651823 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solace for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Attwoods, 90-92 High Street, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4EU

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Inspector

Jodie Lewis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2651823 10 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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