Children's Home run by Homes 2 Inspire Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 1 Registered provider: Homes2inspire Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private company that is owned and operated by a large national charity. It provides care for up to two children. The home cares for children who may have emotional and social difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a suitably experienced registered manager.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 2

p.1

Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child in the home at the time of this inspection. Staff have clear and shared objectives to support the child to achieve her full potential. The child has made good progress from her starting points when arriving at the home. The staff ensure the child develops a sense of stability. The environment is that of a family home. This supports the progress and experience of the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the child very well. There is a committed team of staff who have established positive relationships with her. Staff have a genuine sense of commitment and loyalty towards her. Staff encourage the child to develop her independence skills. As a result, she has learned and developed new skills. This enhances her confidence and self-esteem.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are adaptable to the child’s communication needs. They use a variety of communication methods to provide choices and to ensure the child can contribute her views, wishes and feelings about her day-to-day living.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is homely and welcoming. The child has been able to beautifully personalise her bedroom and has recently got a pet rabbit. This provides a sense of belonging and responsibility, while adding to the family feel of the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff motivate the child to learn. Before moving to the home, she had not engaged in education for a number of years. Staff have supported the child to engage in an ASDAN programme, and she is now working towards the silver award. This helps enhance her overall aims and aspirations for her future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are largely met. However, a shortfall was identified in the recording of the child’s food and fluid intake. Staff have not identified or escalated concerns when the child had eaten and drunk very little. This has the potential to impact her health and well-being.

p.3

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

Safeguarding is of paramount importance. From admission, risks are well understood by the manager and staff. The staff team and the environment have been developed and designed to meet the child’s individual needs. This enhances her safety and well-being and minimises potential risk.

p.3

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

Staff ensure risk assessments are regularly reviewed and strategies to protect the child are adapted accordingly. The manager and staff work collaboratively with external professional agencies to reduce the restrictions on the child. This enables her to gain an increased level of independence and in turn become safer, with the support and oversight of staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 4 Staff rigorously follow missing-from-care protocols when the child goes missing or is absent. Records of such incidents are detailed and clear. However, there was an occasion when a return to home interview was not completed. This prevents staff from gathering vital information from the child as to where she may have been or who she associated with.

p.3

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

There have been complaints from neighbours in relation to vehicles attending the home and staff parking. Managers ensure that all complaints are recorded and responded to in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures. Managers work closely with involved agencies. Community engagement meetings have gone some way to alleviating the concerns of neighbours.

p.4

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

There has been one recorded consequence, which was excessive. The use of consequences has subsequently been reviewed by the manager and changes made. The manager and staff have moved towards a more restorative approach to behaviour management. This enables the child to learn about the impact of her actions on others and find more appropriate ways to express herself.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team is suitably qualified, experienced and focused on the child’s care needs. Managers are passionate and dedicated to supporting the child to achieve good outcomes. The staff have high aspirations for themselves and the child. As a result, the child is making good progress in this nurturing environment.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At times, the child displays behaviours that challenge. The management team supports staff by completing shifts alongside them. This increases staffing ratios to ensure the child’s safety. However, as a result, the manager’s internal monitoring systems are weakened. For example, following incidents, debriefs with staff have failed to take place. This is a missed opportunity to address shortfalls and evaluate restraint practice. Staffing has since returned to normal levels and monitoring systems have in turn improved.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Local authority plans for the child are out of date. Despite the efforts of the manager to escalate concerns, there is no up-to-date care plan. As a result, the manager has not been able to ensure the local authority plan informs the child’s relevant plans. This is an impediment to good care planning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. These sessions are well recorded and help staff to learn and develop their skills and confidence. However, records do not capture reflective practice. Staff say they feel well supported and valued. One staff member said: ‘The manager is really good, best I have ever worked with.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care planning is undertaken by a multidisciplinary team of health and social care professionals. The child’s care and progress are monitored closely. One professional said: ‘This is the first time that I have seen her happy in a placement.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 5 The staff undertake in-depth, bespoke training which is tailored to the needs of the child. Staff can readily describe how the training has positively influenced their practice. They are able to adapt their practice to meet the individual needs of the child. This supports the individualised care provided. Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of the children are met.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the plans. (Regulation 10 (1)(a) (2)(a)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the inconsistent recording of food and fluid intake. 26 September

p.6

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.6

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(b)(ii))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that the child’s care plan is accurate and up to date. 26 September

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")— 26 September Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 7 has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring records of physical intervention are reviewed in a timely manner and child debriefs are completed within the required timescale.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

p.7

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: 2667592 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Homes2inspire Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Lumonics House, Valiant Office Suites, Valley Drive, Swift Valley Industrial Estate, Rugby CV21 1TQ

p.8

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Earnshaw

p.8

Inspector

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2667592 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9