Children's Home run by The Ryes College Limited in Suffolk

Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 1 SC429702 Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with a combination of needs, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2012.

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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: 6 December 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: SC429702 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2021 Full Good 04/12/2019 Full Good 16/05/2018 Full Good 19/04/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. One child moved on from the home in June 2022 to return to the care of their parents. The child’s move was well planned. Staff supported the child to continue to attend school until alternative travel arrangements could be made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well and spend time with them to build trust. This has helped children to feel safe and comfortable. They can speak openly with staff about how they are feeling.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to participate in education. One child is in full-time education. Another child is educated at the home by teaching assistants who have experience in teaching children with additional needs. This has helped the child to make progress towards achieving their educational potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to attend health appointments. One child finds it difficult to go to the dentist. The staff are helping them to understand their worries and to build their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences are fun and enjoyable. One child enjoys trampolining. Staff support another child to have positive experiences in the community, such as going to the cinema. The children develop their relationship skills and build their confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager enables the children to discuss incidents that have happened at the home. This helps them to understand how their actions can affect others and encourages them to build healthy peer relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff enable the children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff work closely with parents to ensure that children’s experiences are positive. This improves children’s self-esteem and helps them to retain their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is comfortable and welcoming. The staff are in the process of decorating the living room and new furniture has arrived. Children are encouraged to express their individuality by choosing colours and items for their bedroom. One child has a space-themed bedroom. This helps them to feel that the house is their home and that they belong.

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

Staff understand whistle-blowing procedures. They spoke confidently about who to contact should they have concerns for the safety or well-being of a child. Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 4 Staff use appropriate restraint techniques to keep children safe. Physical interventions are monitored to identify specific patterns. This helps staff to support children effectively and improves their quality of care.

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

Staff respond confidently to incidents of children leaving the home without permission. Staff are familiar with the local area and follow the children to keep them safe. The staff have positive working relationships with local police and have shared information with them about the children’s vulnerabilities.

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

Children know how to make a complaint and understand who they can contact should they feel unsafe or worried. One child has an independent advocate. The staff have made a referral for an independent advocate for the other child. Both children are supported to speak with their independent reviewing officers.

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

Multi-agency meetings are held regularly for the children. This provides a forum for professionals to share information and develop plans to meet children’s individual needs. This has been particularly effective in supporting one child, who is not able to access the internet without supervision.

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

The manager acts swiftly on allegations made by children. She communicates effectively with the local authority designated officer to discuss concerns and share information.

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

Staff understand the risks that children face and use strategies well to increase children’s safety. Risk assessments are detailed and reviewed regularly. Although there have not been any incidents of bullying, the information in one of the children’s risk assessments suggests that there has been. This does not provide clear guidance for new staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and holds a level 5 diploma. The manager and the deputy manager work well together and have high expectations for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has embedded the home’s model of care into practice. This helps staff to develop their understanding of the children’s needs and how to support them. Inductions for new staff are thorough. Staff participate in training, including in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. The staff have either achieved a level 3 diploma or are working towards it.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established a stable team that is committed to the children. Staff say that they are supported by the manager and value her knowledge and experience. Supervisions are regular and provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on children’s needs, share any concerns that they have and discuss professional development opportunities. Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 5 Staff participate in team meetings during which they can share practice experiences and discuss children’s needs. Staff spoke about team meetings being effective in supporting them to work together to improve the children’s quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems are effective. The manager and deputy manager have good oversight of staff practice and the children’s care. The manager acts promptly on recommendations made by the independent person to improve the home. However, the quality of care review written by the manager does not include children’s feedback.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose has been reviewed and updated by the manager. However, this was not shared with Ofsted on time. This prevents Ofsted from monitoring the home effectively. Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 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

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b)) 25 July 2022

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)) 17 October 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 information in risk assessments is recorded clearly to ensure that children’s relationships are understood. (‘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: SC429702 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Skyview Business Centre, 9 Church Field Road, Sudbury CO10 2YA

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Inspector

Laraine Edmondson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 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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Inspector

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