Children's Home run by Next Step Independence Ltd in Swindon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 1 Registered provider: Next Step Independence Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in December 2021 to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional needs. Two children were present during the inspection. The home is led by a suitably qualified registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 2

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improvement to be good

The home has been unable to sufficiently influence the worrying situation of one young person living there. Despite efforts by the carers, the young person remains uneducated, without health checks or healthcare, and is not taking part in any meaningful activities. This young person remains isolated in their bedroom without any face-to-face contact with others.

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improvement to be good

Frequent care planning meetings for this young person include the placing authority and professional stakeholders. Several additional services have been contacted by the home in attempts to try and bring about change. Assessments, or suitable support and guidance, have not been provided to help the young person progress.

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improvement to be good

The home has adopted some innovative responses to the situation. A carefully planned move into the home avoided a repeat of police involvement, as had happened in previous moves between homes. The carers use video conferencing to speak to the young person, with some variable success. They also offer incentives for room cleaning, following which the young person sends them photographic evidence of what has been achieved. While there is some limited progress in building relationships with this young person, there is also evidence of regression, especially when communication seems to be improving.

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improvement to be good

The other young person living at the home is happy and doing well. He has suitable relationships with the carers and trusts them to act in his best interest. This young person has plans to attend college, spends time with family and enjoys a wealth of activities outside the home. He is a keen sailor, attends Sea Scouts and is a young leader at Beaver Scouts. This young person is aspirational for the future. In addition to the care and encouragement provided in the home, he has the support of his family. This adds to his enjoyment of life as a young person and his potential to make a success of adult life.

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improvement to be good

One young person only feels safe if isolated in their room without any direct contact with others. This situation has persisted for more than six months.

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improvement to be good

The young person who is isolated in their room has unlimited, uncontrolled access to the internet via a mobile phone. This is despite ongoing concerns about their mental health and well-being. Use of the internet is contributing to the young person being awake in the night and then sleeping in the day. It is also compensating for the young person’s lack of access to the real world. The young person has a history of accessing inappropriate material and has a fascination with films which are often meant for adults, as they contain graphic images of death and violence. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 3 The social worker and legal representative of the placing authority advise that removal of the phone is a deprivation of liberty. This has discouraged staff at the home from taking effective action to safeguard the young person.

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improvement to be good

Young people can make their feelings and wishes known. Staff do all they can to try and accommodate young people’s requests where this is in their best interests.

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improvement to be good

It is not clear what is in the best interests of one young person. The other young person complies with boundaries and guidance, which are effective in keeping him safe. Incentives are in place to promote acceptable behaviour. This works particularly well for one young person, who has just acquired a fish tank display as a reward.

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improvement to be good

The members of carer team are trained in the use of de-escalation and physical restraint to manage young people’s trauma-informed behaviour. On one occasion, the use of physical restraint was needed to avoid serious injury. This incident was appropriately recorded and has been reflected on by all involved. The use of physical restraint was essential and could not be avoided.

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improvement to be good

Careful recruitment of, and effective checking of carers’ history prior to employment protects young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A suitably qualified manager oversees the home. She aims to provide the care and support to young people as described in the statement of purpose. The manager is a reflective practitioner. This approach enables continuous development and innovative approaches to problem-solving. Strengths and weaknesses of the home are fully understood and a development plan is in place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers have confidence in the manager’s ability. They find her to be knowledgeable and supportive. Essential training is provided to all carers, as well as specialist training specific to the needs of the young people. Formal supervision is provided on a monthly basis with additional sessions for those who are in a probationary period or needing additional guidance. Safeguarding knowledge is tested in supervision and sessions also offer additional learning opportunities for carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records are well kept. They are clear, thorough and avoid subjective or discriminatory language. The manager has effective oversight of all recording and a track record for efficient monitoring of the home. This allows her to report in detail to other professionals and contribute accurately to stakeholder meetings. Reports are sent to parents weekly. A parent described one initial concern about communication as being dealt with effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked tirelessly to engage other agencies in supporting one young person in particular. Little, if any, effective impact has been achieved. The manager, senior managers and carers feel unsupported in this regard. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 4 Additional action was taken by the registered people during the inspection to try and bring about the change needed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff should take effective measures to ensure that a child’s access to the internet is suitable, age- appropriate and safe. 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff— 30 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 6 understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

raise any need for further assessment or specialist provision in relation to a child with the child’s education or training provider and the child’s placing authority;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vii)(viii))

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child has access to such dental, medical, nursing, psychiatric and psychological advice, treatment and other services as the child may require. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)) 30 September

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Requirement Due date

The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

develop the child’s interests and hobbies;

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Requirement Due date

participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and 30 September Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 7 make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community;

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Requirement Due date

and that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies. (Regulation 9 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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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: 2638617 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Step Independence Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Stafford House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton TA1 2PX

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bridget Drew-Spyer

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Inspector

Janice Hawtin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638617 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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