Children's Home run by T. How Homely Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 1 Registered provider: T. How Homely 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 two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager position has been vacant since May 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 requires improvement to be 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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although this home is registered to care for two children, presently they are caring for one child. The relationships between the child and staff are good. The child said that they are happy and like the staff. Staff talk positively about the child. As a result, the child is enjoying life and is thriving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s wishes and feelings are at the centre of decision-making. Assessments and plans focus on addressing the child’s needs. A weekly meeting with the child includes an ‘ask the manager anything’ section. One-to-one key-working sessions have developed to be less formal and more often. This helps the child to express their feelings and make choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress in education. This is one of the longest school placements the child has experienced. The headteacher said, ‘This is down to the stable care placement as well as the school.’ The child wants to learn and school attendance is good because of feeling more settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, the accommodation is comfortable and homely. There are pictures of the child in the lounge. The child chose how they wanted their bedroom to look. However, managers are aware that some further decoration and maintenance are required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to remain healthy. They attend regular dentist’s and optician’s appointments and go to the doctors as required. Exercise is encouraged, with the use of the local swimming pool and gym, alongside walks in local parks. The child has been helped to change their diet. This ensures the child is helped to live a healthier lifestyle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is helped to see members of their family regularly. This is supported by the staff. One parent said, ‘I can’t fault them in any way. This is the best home [name of child] has been in.’

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

The child does not go missing from care. However, there are clear procedures in place should this occur. Staff support the child when out and about in the community. This ensures the staff always know the child’s whereabouts. Therefore, the child remains safe from any risks linked with going missing from care.

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

The child’s risk assessments are of good quality. They are clear and concise. They describe how the risk and vulnerability might present and specific ways of working with the child to manage these issues. This helps staff to recognise triggers, reduce risky behaviour and help the child become safer. Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 4 Recording of incidents has improved. A new template has been devised to help staff record clearly. The manager reviews each incident. Discussions are held with the child and the staff involved afterwards. Learning is shared with staff in team meetings and one-to-one sessions. Therefore, staff can identify different ways of working and incidents have reduced.

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

Safeguarding arrangements are good. There is online training during induction for new staff. Additional training has recently been arranged with the local safeguarding children’s partnership. Specific safeguarding issues are discussed in team meetings. This improves the staff’s knowledge of how to help and protect the child.

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good

The home has been without a registered manager since May 2021. An interim manager was appointed but left in May 2022. The responsible individual is currently managing the home pending the recruitment of a permanent manager. The process is at an advanced stage, with interview dates set.

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good

The interim manager has made significant progress in addressing the shortfalls at the home. Requirements and recommendations from previous inspections have been met. The manager has reviewed all areas of practice and introduced better ways of working. This has helped the development of the staff team.

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good

There is a good relationship between the responsible individual and the senior managers. However, the interim manager is not receiving the supervisory support required for the manager’s role.

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good

Management oversight of the home has improved. Weekly checks are audited by the manager. Evaluation of recording and performance is now routinely completed. This has helped to identify areas of practice that require further improvement. However, the monthly reports completed by the independent visitor are not always received by Ofsted in a timely manner.

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good

The interim manager is very reflective. He has clear expectations of the staff team. He speaks highly of the team and has high aspirations for the child. As a result, the team is developing well under his leadership. Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 5

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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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to there being no registered manager since May 2021. 1 September 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (1) (7)(a)) This specifically refers to independent visitor reports not being received by HMCI every month. 1 September 2022 Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2599773 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: T. How Homely Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Room 1, First Floor, Main Road, Middleton Cheney, Banbury OX17 2PW

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2599773 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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