Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 1 SC063689 Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since August 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

There are six children currently living at the home. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out and one child has moved into the home.

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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: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 23/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/02/2020 Interim Declined in effectiveness 14/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop positive relationships with staff and will often seek out hugs, comfort and reassurance. One child commented that they could speak to their key worker if they were worried about anything.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The physical, emotional and health needs of each child are identified, and appropriate action is taken to secure the health services required to meet children’s individual needs. Staff ensure that every child is provided with age-appropriate guidance and advice. For example, one child has been sensitively supported with changes during puberty and understanding how this affects the body.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children can express their views, wishes and feelings. Staff are knowledgeable about children’s different communication needs and no child is assumed to be unable to communicate their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly attend school or college. One key worker proudly told the inspector how their child had recently been supported to pass his exams, which meant he could pursue his college aspirations. This demonstrates how staff help children to excel in their studies and achieve their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children’s care plans are detailed and kept up to date. However, one child, who moved into the home in an emergency, does not have a detailed care plan. This hinders the staff from having an accurate picture of the child’s progress since moving into the home and how to support their faith.

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

Children are kept safe. Staff develop bespoke assessments that take account of each child’s level of vulnerability. For example, some children’s access to the busy road is protected by a locked gate. However, other children, who are less vulnerable, are given access to the code for the gate so that they can leave independently.

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

Children are physically restrained only as a last resort. The registered manager ensures that children and staff can talk about any incidents and identify any learning.

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

Staff are recruited using robust recruitment processes that ensure that staff are fully vetted before they work with children.

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

Children are educated about keeping safe. For example, staff complete social story work to help children to understand what is happening when building work is carried out at the home and why it is important not to touch the workers’ tools. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is well supported by the senior leadership team. There is regular supervision and mentoring from her line manager, which supports her development in her role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is dedicated to ensuring that children have positive experiences, and has a development plan to support children’s independence skills and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are supported through regular and reflective supervision. This is enhanced by regular team meetings that are used to explore children’s progress and care needs to ensure that there is consistency across the team. Consequently, staff have opportunities to reflect on their practice, as well as space to develop and learn.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular training is provided for staff and all staff have the relevant skills and training to provide support to meet the children’s complex needs. However, the provider still needs to ensure that all staff achieve the level 3 diploma in residential childcare within the required timescale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager’s monitoring of the quality of care is effective. As a result of this monitoring and oversight, the manager is knowledgeable about the children’s day-to-day experiences and has a well-rounded view of children’s progress and the quality of care that they receive from staff. However, the independent visitor’s reports lack feedback from external stakeholders. Therefore, an impartial view of the care provided is limited. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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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

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must ensure that a child’s religion and faith are recorded as part of their care planning, including how these needs will be met. 10 December

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

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

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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’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must obtain local authority care plans in a timely manner and ensure that these inform accurate care planning for children. 10 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. 31 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 6 The registered person may only—

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated as the time for completion has not yet passed.

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should ensure that the independent person they appoint has the skills and understanding necessary to assess all relevant information and form an impartial judgement about the quality of the home’s care. In particular, the independent person should seek feedback from external stakeholders to inform their judgement. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 15.8, page 65) Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 7

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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: SC063689 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cyrinus House, 18 Hatherley Road, Sidcup DA14 4BG

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC063689 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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