Children's Home run by Almond Care Children’s Services Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 1 Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager who is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified.

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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: 2661513 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is homely, like a family home. The child’s bedroom is personalised to their taste and liking. The garden provides a nice space for the child to spend time with their pet rabbit, which they enjoy greatly. The manager has plans to further improve the home environment by redecorating the entire home. This will add further to what is already a good and nice space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are considered by managers and staff. The child gets to choose and set the weekly menus and plan any activities they want to take part in. The staff ensure that regular meetings with the child take place. This consultation is further strengthened with regular discussions and key-work sessions. This provides the child with opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made positive progress from their starting point. The child now has less social anxiety and their independence skills have improved. Their relationship with family has also improved significantly from when they moved into this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child now attends full-time education. They are working hard towards achieving good GCSE grades. This is significant improvement and progress for the child. The staff encourage the child to learn and to make progress across all aspects of their development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate the child’s achievements, no matter what these may be. This gives the child a great sense of achievement and self-worth. The child has been awarded many certificates which they have proudly displayed on their bedroom wall. This signifies good, strong progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have developed good professional relationships with key external professional agencies. Professionals speak highly of the staff and their dedication to helping the child to achieve good outcomes.

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

The manager and staff have developed good strategies to manage risks to the child. The child has a specific risk assessment incorporated into their behaviour support plan. This fully considers the child’s vulnerabilities. As a result, the staff know how to protect the child and act proactively to minimise risk. Additionally, there is guidance for staff on establishing good daily routines and behavioural boundaries, which ensures that staff maintain a consistent approach with the child.

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

Staff have built strong relationships with the child. This helps the child to openly discuss their feelings, worries and concerns. Despite it being a newly established staff team, staff know the child well and this helps them to keep the child safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 4 Staff understand how vulnerable children can be when they use the internet and social media platforms. The manager and staff ensure good oversight of use of devices to ensure children’s safety. In addition, staff educate the child through key- work sessions about safe use of the internet. This helps to prepare them for adulthood.

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

Children are kept safe. Staff have undertaken safeguarding training. Missing-from- care incidents have decreased and staff know what to do if the child goes missing. A social worker spoken to said that the child was safe and doing well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic about her role and providing the best possible care for children. She is well supported by her manager and the staff team. She has high aspirations for the child and knows the child very well. The manager models a culture which puts children first.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked proactively with external professional agencies to ensure better outcomes for the child. For example, she has worked closely with education professionals and the local authority to ensure that the child receives the appropriate education provision to meet their identified needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager handles complaints very well. She responds to complaints in a very open and transparent manner. The child made a complaint and felt listened to. The child was able to see changes as a direct result of their complaint. This again provides the message to the child that they are listened to and taken seriously.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported. One member of staff said, ‘I love working here, it feels like a home.’ Team meetings are used to share information about children’s emerging needs and to develop strategies to support children. This ensures that staff are fully involved in decision-making and can share their expertise and knowledge of the child to help others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Not all staff have received good-quality reflective supervision. Supervision is of a varying standard and the child is not always discussed during these meetings. Management oversight of staff supervision and the child’s behaviour support plan could be stronger. This is the exception, as there is good management oversight of other aspects of the home. For example, safer recruitment for prospective new staff is robust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is reflective and thoughtful and seeks to improve her management practice. She has a willingness to accept that things may not work, but also a real desire to get it right for the child. As a result, the child receives care that meets their current and emerging needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 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 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

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to management oversight and monitoring of updates to risk assessments and the quality and frequency of staff supervision. 14 October 2022

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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: 2661513 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eliot Park Innovation Centre, 4 Barling Way, Nuneaton CV10 7RH

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Inspector

Pradip Panchmatia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2661513 7 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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