Children's home run by Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 1 Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is privately owned. The home provides care for one child who may have social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2021. She has the relevant experience and is currently undertaking the level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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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 children’s home: 2575551 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has positive and secure relationships with staff. This has been instrumental in helping the child to make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made progress in a number of areas. These include the child’s physical and emotional health, personal presentation, self-confidence, educational attendance and attainment. The staff work hard to ensure that the child achieves their personal targets and goals. Consequently, the child is now more able to recognise the progress that they have made and are proud of their personal achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged and supported to maintain good health. Staff regularly talk to the child about the importance of healthy lifestyles, which enables them to make informed choices in this respect. Staff ensure that routine appointments are made and make every effort to support the child to attend these. When necessary, they make referrals to specialist healthcare, including mental health services, and work collaboratively with these services to ensure that the child’s holistic health needs are assessed and addressed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is highly valued and promoted by staff. There is a learning culture within the home that helps the child to aim high. The child’s attendance is very good, and this has brought about academic progress in reading, writing and mathematics. The child is meeting all of their educational targets, and this has supported their recent move to further education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have provided great support to ensure that the child can visit family members and other significant adults. Staff travel long distances to make sure that the child maintains essential support networks and connections with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is learning new independence and social skills through the support and assistance of staff. They are learning how to do some chores around the house, know how to budget, and can cook for themselves. In addition, staff encourage the child to go on activities and mix with their peers. This increased level of independence has provided the child with opportunities to make and sustain friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

New life experiences have enhanced the child’s awareness of the world around them and enabled them to pursue new hobbies and interests. These include going on holiday, having a driving car experience for their birthday, going go-carting, attending the gym and swimming regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Positive role modelling by staff, regular discussions and key-work sessions form part of everyday life for the child. These discussions demonstrate the constant consultation that staff have with the child. During the inspection, the child was Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 4 observed talking to staff about their day and what they would like to do. It was evident that the child felt very comfortable in the company of staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is suitable. Communal rooms, including the lounge and the child’s bedroom, are personalised with photographs, ornaments and soft furnishings. The appearance of the garden and driveway has also been improved since the last inspection. Therefore, the recommendation made at the last inspection to personalise and improve aspects of the home environment has been met.

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

Staff are clear on how to better protect the child from harm. Their knowledge and practice are supported by the training that they receive, the clear verbal and written guidance given by the manager, and the strategies to follow in written risk assessments.

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

Behaviour support plans set out in detail the child’s vulnerabilities, their risks and what strategies the staff should implement to safely care for the child. Good behaviour is reinforced through recognition, praise and individual rewards, and staff could be seen engaging positively with the child during this inspection. Staff are consistent in their approach, and this helps the child to understand what is expected of them and what they can expect from staff.

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

Missing-from-home incidents are rare. However, when such incidents have occurred, the staff implement the missing-from-care protocols effectively. This means that the child returns home as quickly as possible.

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

When the child feels unsettled or anxious, staff are quick to respond. They ensure that the child is supported during and after each incident. Debrief sessions with staff are undertaken by the manager and reflective discussions take place with the child. The constant review of incidents includes the evaluation of how best to keep the child safer and an evaluation of risk. This helps to support and protect the child.

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

When allegations are made, these are taken seriously, and immediate action is taken to safeguard the child. All relevant professionals are notified in line with safeguarding guidance.

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

All staff employed undergo safer recruitment checks. This ensures that staff working at the home are suitable and safe to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff benefit greatly from the consistent and supportive leadership from the manager. The manager leads by example and sets clear expectations for the staff to follow. The manager expects staff to have high standards and to provide good- quality care to the child. Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 5 Good communication is promoted through detailed daily shift handovers, monthly formal supervisions and staff meetings. This helps staff to provide consistent care to the child. Staff say that they receive very good support from the manager, and this helps them to develop new skills. Staff confirm that morale is good and that they work well as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, staff receive appropriate training to provide them with the skills and knowledge to care for the child. Staff undertake induction and mandatory training. This includes first aid, behaviour management, safeguarding and physical intervention. Some staff hold the level 3 qualification in caring for children and young people. New staff undertake this qualification on the completion of their probationary period. This helps to ensure that all staff members are skilled and appropriately trained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When needed, more specialist training is provided in recognising the signs of child sexual exploitation, county lines, internet safety and global development delay. However, not all staff who have acted as an appropriate adult for a child have had specific training in this area. This does not help to ensure that they are fully aware of their role and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are two staff on duty to care for and support the child at all times. When required, staffing levels have been raised to support the child when they are unsettled. On occasions, staff work long shifts. This is positive as it ensures that the child is supported. However, it does increase the risk of fatigue and has the potential to put staff under extended periods of pressure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is excellent collaborative and partnership working with professionals and families. Professionals confirmed that the progress of the child to date is good and report that there is frequent and excellent communication from staff. This helps to ensure that key people are kept informed and the child receives the best care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are effective internal and external monitoring and auditing systems. The manager maintains a strong oversight of the care, records and staffing matters. Any detected deficits or shortfalls are swiftly addressed by the manager. This makes certain that the home continues to provide good-quality care. Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. In particular, ensure that all staff undertaking the duties of appropriate adult receive this specific training to enable them to carry out these duties effectively. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should plan staffing levels to ensure that they meet the needs of children and can respond flexibly to unexpected events or opportunities. In particular, keep under review staff working shift patterns, considering the presenting behaviour of children and the impact of prolonged and frequent incidents on all. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 54, paragraph 10.15)

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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: 2575551 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Sherwood Road, Worksop S80 1QW

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2575551 8 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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