Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 1 SC489970 Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a suitably experienced registered manager.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 29/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are good relationships between the staff and the children. Staff speak highly of the children and the progress they have made. One staff member said, ‘We push them to be the best version of themselves they could possibly be.’ Children like living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The shared areas of the home are currently being decorated. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. There is the recent addition of a small swimming pool in the garden. This improves the daily living experience of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child attends school full-time. Another child’s attendance at education has increased. A child who does not attend any education out of the home has completed a whole academic year with an independent tutor. A quiet room with computers has been created for study. This has ensured that good educational progress has been made from the child’s starting point, despite not being in formal education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to remain healthy. They are registered with local doctors, opticians and dentists. Activities include regular trips to the local swimming pool and walks in local parks. Individual and group sessions with staff and the police have addressed some children’s smoking and cannabis use. The intervention of staff encourages and helps children to live healthier lifestyles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to, and their views contribute to decision-making at the home. Children’s meetings take place fortnightly. Children also meet with staff individually to talk about any issues and talk about their care plans. Plans are presented in a child friendly way. There are different versions of a children’s guide to the home for younger and older children. This consideration of how information is provided for and shared with children helps children to feel more included in their care.

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

Risk assessments and support plans are clearly written. They are individual to each child and they provide staff with strategies and actions to follow. Managers and keyworkers review these regularly. This improves the staff’s understanding of risk and how to help children when they are in need.

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

Incidents have been well managed. Records are clear. The manager has recorded their oversight on all incident reports. Work takes place following incidents, such as direct sessions with children and staff debriefs. This helps staff to learn how to address each child’s needs and behaviours, and reduce incidents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 4 Clear processes are in place if children go missing from care. Staff follow children and look for them as soon as they go missing. Children are helped by staff to understand the risks involved in going missing from care. As a result, incidents of children going missing from care have reduced.

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

An independent counsellor visits the home each week. They provide support to children and staff. This is in addition to other specialist help children receive. One child has weekly independent equine-assisted therapy sessions, increasing the support provided to the child and staff.

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

One child has made a complaint while living at the home and this complaint was taken seriously by the staff and manager. This complaint was about another child in the home and the impact their behaviour was having on the child who raised the complaint. This situation was managed well. The manager gave a written response to the child who raised the complaint. The child was content with how this had been managed.

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

A previous shortfall regarding the way in which incidents of bullying are managed has been addressed. Individual and group sessions have taken place with children. There is a folder of fact sheets and helpline details for use with children. A bullying support plan flowchart has been created to inform staff. This improves the help and protection given to children.

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

Concern remains for one child who has been involved in criminal activity. Staff are developing relationships with the youth offending service in order to help the child keep to the conditions of a court order. This is a new situation for the home and the manager is learning about the processes involved. As a result, staff are clearer about the support and boundaries for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been many improvements since the last interim inspection. All the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good systems in place to monitor the home. A detailed quality assurance document is sent to the responsible individual each week. This covers the progress of children and staff, as well as health and safety matters. It also addresses any actions identified through the independent person’s monthly visits. This has informed a development plan for the home and is driving improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s experiences of moving to the home have improved. Plans and assessments are in place before children arrive. Telephone calls and visits to the home are arranged. This helps children to feel welcomed to their home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team talks very highly of the manager and her warm approach to children and staff. This is also the view of other professionals. One staff member said: ‘We have a great staff team with a really great manager heading the team and leading Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 5 the way. She is a constant and guiding light.’ This is helping staff to enjoy working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have not completed the level three diploma. Most are in the process of undertaking this. They are enjoying group discussions as they work through the modules. The manager is aware that the remaining staff need to register for the diploma and be given time to study towards this qualification. This will develop the staff team further.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has regular supervision with a responsible individual. Senior managers are approachable and available whenever help is needed. This ensures that the manager feels well supported. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that all staff are registered on the diploma and completing this to timescale. 30 September 2022

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. In particular, the registered person is to ensure that shift leaders record a second check of medication administration in line with the home’s policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15) Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 7

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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: SC489970 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Drinsey Nook, Lincoln LN1 2JJ

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489970 9 and inspects 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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