Children's home run by Happy Group (UK) Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 1 Registered provider: Happy Group (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home that provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties aged between six and 17 years. Children are cared for by a staff team of carers.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has been registered since 10 March 2018. The registered manager has been in post since 1 April 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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 26/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/06/2018 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in a calm and friendly environment. Carers have high aspirations for children, and this is communicated to them in a way that helps the children to have goals. Praise and positive affirmations are readily available and as such, relationships are strong, and children trust their care givers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Plans for children moving in to and out of the home are good and help children to settle. Carers consult with children about how they want their moves into and out of the home to be achieved. This means that carers are able to pay close attention to the smaller details that are important to children, which helps the children to feel listened to, respected and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is valued and part of daily life. Carers encourage children to do well, and they actively challenge barriers that impact on children’s learning. This means that children’s education needs are addressed, and children are getting the help they need to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality and frequency of direct work is good. Carers talk to children about important issues that affect them, and repeat these conversations where necessary. Children understand the consequences of unwanted behaviour and are beginning to learn about how to make better choices.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought and respected. Children are encouraged to attend their meetings. Carers make alternative arrangements for children who struggle to take part. This helps to ensure that children can share their views, wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers support children to be independent and gain the skills needed for when they become young adults. Recently, two children started driving lessons and also have part-time jobs. This has given children opportunities to learn new skills, and provides them with the same opportunities as their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Restorative and therapeutic approaches are well embedded in practice. Promoting a culture of respect and openness is a clear strength in this home. Because of this approach, one child has made significant progress in the way that they relate to carers. They have started to talk about their experiences more openly. This represents a significant area of progress for this child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children visit friends and family as set out in their individual plans. Carers value these relationships and how they support children’s identity. Carers develop trusting relationships with family members, which keeps them engaged. This ensures that children get to spend time with people who are important to them.

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

Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 4 Children develop positive relationships with the adults who care for them. Children have trusted adults in the home with whom they share concerns or worries. Children are heard and their concerns are dealt with effectively. This helps children to feel safe.

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

Carers know the children well. They use their knowledge to predict and diffuse situations before they arise. This means that incident levels are low and the need for physical intervention is rare. This demonstrates that children feel secure and happy.

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

Carers have a good understanding of children’s specific needs and vulnerabilities and take appropriate action to address them. Carers are trained to understand the issues around child exploitation. This helps staff to recognise the risks and know how to respond effectively to these concerns. The safety of children is consistently at the centre of carers’ practice.

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

Children take risks that are appropriate to their age and understanding. Safety measures, such as regular checks, are in place to minimise risk to children who are away from the home. This gives a clear message to children that their carers want to make sure they are safe and that they are cared for.

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

Carers work well with other professionals. Communication and information-sharing are good. The manager has established effective relationships with the children’s social workers. The manager challenges other professionals when she identifies poor or ineffective practice. This helps to ensure that children receive effective multi- agency responses to matters that arise.

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

The inspector identified that not all staff know what action to take should a child return home under the influence of alcohol. Plans and risk assessments lack clarity around what is the expected level of supervision needed from a carer to protect the child from harm. This lack of clarity has the potential to leave children at risk of harm.

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

The manager has not always made notifications to Ofsted when serious incidents occur. This does not allow the regulator to monitor the actions taken by the manager to keeping children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She is enthusiastic about ensuring that children have what they need to thrive. She has the support of her deputy manager and, together, they ensure that children benefit from good- quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a good understanding of the individual children. She ensures that they have the help they need to achieve in life. Children’s progress is tracked, and the manager uses evaluation to identify whether changes in care are needed. This helps to ensure that children receive care that evolves to meet their changing needs. Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 5 Staffing levels remain safe. The manager will advocate for increased staffing where the need arises. Agency carers are used appropriately alongside permanent carers. The impact of carer changes on children is minimised because only a small number of agency carers are used. This helps to ensure that children receive care from adults who are familiar to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records contain a good level of detail. They describe their experiences well. Records are written in a way that does not stigmatise or label children. This means that children are helped to understand their experiences of living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When concerns about carers’ conduct are identified, the manager does not consistently address these in line with the home’s procedures. On one occasion, this has led to delays in poor practice being addressed. This delay is not good practice and could impact on children’s experiences of living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers described themselves as feeling happy in their work and have confidence in their managers. Morale is good, and this means that children are supported by carers who feel valued.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Systems for the monitoring of the quality of care are variable. Where shortfalls were identified during the inspection, the manager was quick to act. However, the manager’s own systems do not always identify all of the matters affecting the home. Consequently, shortfalls are not identified, and this has the potential to impact practice. Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 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

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—

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that children receive adequate supervision when under the influence of alcohol. 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff disciplinary procedures must be followed. 31 October 2022

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 31 October 2022 Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 7 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child — is instigated; or

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should develop effective monitoring and review systems that support continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that children’s records, including risk assessments, are kept up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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 children’s home: 1270393 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Happy Group (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Walk House, 99 Princess Road East, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 7LF

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Inspector

Rachel Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1270393 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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