Children's Home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional needs. The home registered in January 2022. This is the first inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an experienced manager who is registered with Ofsted.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home registered in January 2022. This is the home’s first inspection. There is one child living at the home, who has settled in very well. The child is being cared for by an experienced and confident staff team. They are highly attuned to the child’s needs and show great commitment to helping him meet his full potential. The child has developed strong bonds with the manager and staff. This has enabled him to make excellent progress in a short space of time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has re-engaged with education since living at the home. He has taken some exams and is in the process of securing an apprenticeship. The staff have provided constant reassurance and support to help the child achieve this. The child also has a part-time job which has enabled him to grow in confidence and develop social skills. These achievements are celebrated by the manager and staff, and this reinforces how much they care for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff ensure that the child’s health needs are met. He has a nutritious and varied diet, regularly trying different foods. The child has learned how to cook independently and takes pride in preparing meals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is excellent support for the child’s emotional well-being from an in-house therapist. This has enabled the child to talk about his feelings and accept support with any difficulties he faces.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child takes part in a range of interesting and exciting activities. The staff have introduced him to new experiences because they know it is important for children to learn and enjoy themselves. The child has appreciated these experiences. The staff understand that supporting the child in this way has helped him to feel valued and has increased his self-esteem. The staff write detailed records of all activities and take photos so that the child will have lasting memories of a significant period in his life. The child is able to spend time with his family at the home, which enables him to maintain relationships which are important to his identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff undertake regular direct work with the child, talking to him about important issues. The records of this work do not always reflect the thoughtful ways in which staff are working with him. The manager has plans in place to introduce new ways of recording the work, for example through pictorial and interactive resources. This will help records to be more meaningful for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is involved in his care planning. He attends meetings and is fully aware of when important decisions are being made. The child has been subject to restrictions of his liberty until very recently. The staff are helping the child to manage this new change and are very aware that they need to work at the child’s pace. As a result, the child has the right levels of reassurance and security he needs to manage his new independence safely. Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 4

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

Staff understand the risks posed to and from children well. Risk assessments are detailed and relevant. They are updated and reviewed regularly, particularly following an incident. Until recently, the child has been subject to a court order restricting his liberty. The manager and staff have supported the child well in managing this, reviewing the levels of restriction with relevant agencies when appropriate. This has enabled the restrictions to remain proportionate while keeping the child safe.

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

The manager and staff use their skills and experience to manage incidents well. They are confident in setting boundaries and are consistent in their approach. The child has learned to accept the boundaries due to the skilful approach of the staff. As a result, incidents have reduced in frequency and are short lived. Consequently, the home has a calm and relaxed atmosphere which provides stability and safety for the child.

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

The child is rarely missing from the home. When this has happened, the manager and staff have responded in a well-coordinated way. The child soon returned to the home and staff ensured that the required procedures were followed. Relevant agencies were informed of the incident and information was shared appropriately. This ensured that the child was kept safe from harm, such as exploitation and criminal activity.

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

The manager and staff are clear about their roles in safeguarding children. Thorough recruitment processes are in place to ensure that children are cared for by safe adults. There are good links with relevant safeguarding agencies. Leaders and managers are confident about which incidents need reporting to Ofsted. The manager and staff understand all procedures required to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an experienced and very capable manager in place, who has excellent organisational skills. She has significant experience of managing other homes in the organisation. Together with the deputy manager, she has established a home which is offering very good care. The manager is leaving her role and a new manager is starting imminently. There is a thorough handover planned by the existing manager to ensure that the child continues to receive consistency of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited a diverse staff team which has remained stable since the home opened. There is a balance of new and experienced staff. This works well, as those with more experience have the relevant skills and knowledge to support new staff in their roles. There are regular opportunities for staff development and progression, which helps to retain strong members of the team. The staff say that they ‘love working at the home’ and have good levels of motivation. This has a positive impact on their relationship with the child and the quality of care they provide. Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 5 The staff team receives regular supervision which is well structured and child- focused. They can raise any issues with confidence that they will be listened to. Following inspection, the managers recognise the importance of further developing the quality of supervision by increasing reflection on practice. Managers intend to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

use reflective supervision to help staff to increase their self-awareness regarding their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that all staff receive necessary training to meet the child’s needs. New staff receive a good induction in their role and are well supported through their probationary period. As a result, new members of the team soon acquire the necessary skills to meet children’s needs and their work is regularly appraised to minimise shortfalls in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have very good relationships with external professionals and have a good reputation with local authorities. The manager advocates well on behalf of children, ensuring their wishes and feelings are part of decision-making about their lives. This helps children to feel empowered and understand the processes involved in their care. External professionals speak with enthusiasm about the home, saying it is brilliant, and they have considerable confidence in the care being offered to children. Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff record information about direct work with children in a way that is helpful for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision which enables 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)

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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: 2662427 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

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Inspector

Laura Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2662427 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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