Children's Home run by London Borough of Sutton in Sutton

Inspection report children’s home: 2604750 1 Registered provider: London Borough of Sutton Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a local authority children’s home. The home’s statement of purpose states that it provides care and accommodation for up to two children who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 9 October 2020. He is working towards the relevant management qualification.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living at the home.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 8 February 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2604750 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2604750 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff develop positive relationships with children. They demonstrate resilience and commitment when faced with challenging situations. Children benefit from having adults that offer consistency and warmth. Children’s records clearly reflect their progress and the positive and enjoyable experiences that they have.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s education through accompanying children to school and attending important meetings. When children refuse or are reluctant to attend school, managers and staff work effectively with education and well-being colleagues to develop plans to improve school attendance.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A therapeutic support worker provides regular training and consultations to the managers and staff. As a result, children are being cared for by a knowledgeable staff team who understands and knows how to meet children’s emotional needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers meet with the children before they move in to the home. These well-planned introductions help children to settle into the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff work well with children’s families to ensure that children maintain positive relationships with people who are important to them. ‘Family time’ occurs within the home, where children can do activities with parents and relatives, such as cooking or playing games. One child said that this was the best thing about living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s guide does not provide children with clear guidance on how to make a complaint. Some of the language used in this guidance is not child-friendly.

p.3

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

Managers and staff have a good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities and work hard to keep children safe. Children are helped to understand risk. There is a collaborative approach to keeping children safe.

p.3

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

Plans to keep children safe and reduce risk are detailed. They include triggers for children’s behaviours and what certain behaviours may be communicating. This helps staff to respond to children in a child-centred way. A well-informed staff team is helping to keep children safe.

p.3

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

The frequency of children going missing from the home has reduced significantly since the last inspection. Plans to reduce the risks to children when they go missing from home are detailed. They identify the reasons why children may go missing and places they are likely to go. At times, the language used in these plans implies that the child is to blame for their actions, which is not consistent with the home’s ethos of not judging children. Inspection report children’s home: 2604750 4 Managers and staff are not risk averse. They support children to take age- appropriate risks to ensure that they enjoy a sense of independence. Effective joint working between staff and safeguarding agencies has enabled a child to participate in an activity in the community. This is important to the child as it is helping them to develop a positive self-identity.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is passionate about working with children and is dedicated to the home. He has developed an environment where the staff team receive high levels of support, as well as challenge when necessary. The manager and staff are ambitious for children and the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has strong monitoring systems in place and this ensures that continuous improvements are achieved in the home. The manager responds quickly when any concerns about staff’s practice or the quality of care are brought to his attention.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff know the children extremely well and they speak proudly of the children’s progress and achievements. Effective joint working with colleagues from other departments, such as education and health, is improving outcomes for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive excellent support from the manager. Additionally, they receive specific training and therapeutic consultation to help them care for the children. One staff member said, ‘I feel supported by my manager and have regular supervision, which is important to me. I am able to give my opinion, share my feelings, talk about my practice and I feel listened to.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s privacy is fully promoted by the manager and staff. Children enjoy spending time together, such as at mealtimes and doing fun activities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff work hard to create a homely environment. However, an outstanding maintenance issue undermines this. Inspection report children’s home: 2604750 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is available in an age-appropriate and accessible format to all children. The guide must have clear information on how complaints, including those against managers, are dealt with. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.21)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that recordings in relation to children do not imply that children are to blame for their actions, particularly where children have complex needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that maintenance issues for the home are resolved satisfactorily, so that the homely environment is maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.5

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: 2604750 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: London Borough of Sutton, Civic Offices, St. Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jonathan Williams

p.6

Inspectors

Colin Bent, Social Care Inspector Claire Beckingham, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2604750 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.

p.6

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7