Children's home run by Swan Children’s Homes

Inspection report for children’s home: 2591822 1 Registered provider: Swan Children’s Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

F This privately run home provides specialist care for up to four children with learning disabilities and/or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 23 November 2021

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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: 2591822 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2591822 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home. The children require high levels of support, and one child uses alternative communication systems.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved on from the home since the last inspection and another child moved to the home in January 2022. The child who moved on was supported well by staff and was involved in their plans. Children’s moves to the home are well planned and positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s communication needs. They use pictures, social stories and sign language to help one child to express himself. The staff support the children to understand each other’s communication styles, which has helped children to build positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of the individualised care for children is good. Staff help children to develop their independence skills, particularly in relation to their personal care. The children take pride in their achievements, which develops their confidence and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the children’s health needs and seek out specialist services for them. A counsellor is supporting one child to understand her thoughts and feelings. The staff are helping another child to use suitable strategies when he is feeling worried. Consequently, children feel more confident to express their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy their time at school. They are achieving their learning potential and building positive relationships with their peers. One education professional complimented the home, saying, ‘Staff are open to listening and working together to support the child’s needs consistently.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend positive time with people who are important to them. One child has enjoyed a sleep-over with his friends for his birthday. Another child is being supported to spend time with his parent in the community. This help’s children to retain their identity and improves their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences are fun and enjoyable. Two children go horse riding, and another child goes to scouts. They enjoy sensory activities, and staff encourage children to be creative in their play. The children are settled and enjoy each other’s company.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care plans do not reflect the support that staff provide the children to understand their cultural identity. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591822 4

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

Children are safe and well cared for. Risk assessments are detailed and reviewed regularly to demonstrate the children’s changing needs. Staff spoke confidently about the risks to the children and the strategies that they use to increase their safety.

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

Staff understand the safeguarding procedures and how to whistle-blow. They spoke clearly about who to contact should they have any safeguarding concerns for a child.

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

The children have positive relationships with staff. The staff respond confidently to children who may feel anxious or worried and use appropriate strategies to support them. As a result, one child who has a history of going missing from home has not left the home without staff agreement.

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

Staff enable children to take age-appropriate risks. The staff have supported one child to spend time with his friends in the community, without staff supervision. This plan is reviewed regularly with the child and his social worker.

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

The manager responds to safeguarding concerns swiftly. Internal investigations are carried out thoroughly. The manager and the responsible individual work closely together to ensure that internal investigations are consistent and inform learning.

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

Staff closely monitor children and record any injuries that they have sustained. However, there is a lack of curiosity from the manager, and she has failed to review these incidents. Therefore, scrutiny and full consideration of how incidents are managed is not effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and is working towards a relevant level 5 diploma. The manager has high expectations for the children and works closely with staff to ensure that the home is run efficiently to meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established a stable staff team that is committed to the children. The staff are either qualified to level 3 diploma or are working towards this. The staff benefit from training that helps them to understand the children’s individual needs. This includes autism spectrum disorder training and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a detailed knowledge of the home. Staff are confident in her understanding of the children’s needs and feel supported by her. Supervisions are carried out regularly. This gives staff the opportunity to reflect on the needs of the children, share any concerns that they have and discuss their professional development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591822 5 Staff participate in regular team meetings to reflect on the needs of the children and share their practice experiences. This forum enables staff to discuss their specific roles and share information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established positive working relationships with other professionals. She organises and leads regular multi-agency meetings to discuss the individual needs of the children. One professional described the manager as ‘excellent and efficient’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring systems provide effective oversight of the children’s welfare. The manager responds promptly to any recommendations made by the independent person to improve the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2591822 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that incident records of when children have injured themselves are evaluated and reviewed to identify lessons to improve practice. 20 June 2022

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. In particular, ensure that children’s care plans are up to date to reflect their cultural and identity needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2591822 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Swan Children’s Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 27a Green Lane, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2PX

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Inspector

Laraine Edmondson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2591822 8 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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