Children's Home run by Sunflower Children Care Services in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 1 SC449099 Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who have emotional and social needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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 outstanding

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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: SC449099 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2021 Full Good 12/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/04/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 31/07/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusting and secure relationships with staff. Adults looking after them have a shared goal. They want all children in their care to have positive experiences. This means children develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school and make good progress. One child has been supported to attend a specialist provision which meets his needs. Another child has successfully completed a college course and is progressing onto the next level. Staff are strong advocates for children in relation to their education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to embrace their independence. Staff educate children on how to keep themselves safe. This allows children to enjoy a variety of community activities and recreational opportunities. As a result, children’s self-esteem and confidence improve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has left the home since the last inspection. This was a considered and thoughtful ending. All staff supported the child practically and emotionally in preparing for her move. The child has kept in touch with the home and always receives a warm welcome. She said, ‘They made sure I had everything I needed to move on, they even kept in touch when I had gone.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to develop positive relationships with children’s family and friends. They are respectful towards people who are important to the children. There are no unnecessary restrictions in place. This means children can safely enjoy time with those relatives and friends who are important to them.

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

Children state that they feel safe. They have trusted adults to talk to. Staff provide a strong response to any safeguarding matters which helps to keep children safe. One child is much safer as a result of living here.

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

Children become increasingly safe because of the support they receive. For example, one child’s risk of going missing and of being exploited has reduced significantly. Staff teach children how to keep themselves safe. This means that children can take risks safely and increase their independence.

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

Positive behaviour is consistently promoted. Staff are well trained in using de- escalation techniques which are specific to each child. Physical intervention is rarely used. Recent incidents have required the use of physical intervention for one child. Records of such incidents are clear and used effectively by the manager to identify any practice shortfalls. This has improved since the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 4 Staff working in the home are clear about safeguarding procedures. Clear records show effective communication between the home and placing authorities, including the designated officer. This helps to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is a strong and confident leader. She is inspirational to the staff team and highly regarded by all those who work at the home. She leads by example. Staff respect her and feel well supported at work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is very experienced. She has driven improvement in the home. A deputy manager provides support to the leadership team. They are an effective and passionate duo. The three previous recommendations have all been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders have extremely high expectations and ambition for the children in their care. Staff have advocated exceptionally well for children. This has included extensive support with transition plans to ensure that these centre on what is in the children’s best interests. Managers ensure that children are always kept in mind.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership work is very good. Professionals unanimously give praise for the managers and staff. They confirm there is strong communication and collaborative work which contributes to children developing and making progress. A professional said, ‘Our team thinks highly of the home. The child has made significant progress from where she was last year, she has been incredibly safe and happy here. We have no concerns at all.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Case records are of a good quality. Highly effective quality assurance systems enable managers to track children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision records lack detail and are not routinely signed and shared between the managers and staff. There is the risk that important matters may drift if this is not put right. Inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). It is good practice for a note of the content and/or outcomes of supervision sessions to be kept and to ensure that both the person giving the supervision and staff member have a copy of the record. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3 and 13.4)

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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: SC449099 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Forge, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey GU21 6HT

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Inspector

Rachael Sprigg, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 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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