Children's home run by Carbrey Care Ltd in Gloucester

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 1 Registered provider: Carbrey Care Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation and provides care for up to three children, aged up to 18 years, with social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager resigned her registration in January 2022. A new manager has been appointed and has advised he is applying to register.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, two children have moved from the home. One child moved from the home in an unplanned way, and one child’s move was not as originally planned. Staff were able to provide support to one child as they moved into their home, and further outreach was offered but declined.

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The care of children

Two children moved into the home in August 2022 and September 2022 respectively. Staff were able to meet with the children before they moved in, and the children were positive about their experience of moving into the home. The children have brought their personal items with them, and they are able to decorate and personalise their bedrooms.

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The care of children

Since the last inspection, the provider has appointed a new organisation to provide therapeutic and specialist support, training and advice to staff and children. Training is now giving staff better specialist knowledge and understanding about the children that they care for. This includes the provision of specialist training in supporting children who have autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Staff have also completed training in supporting children who engage in self-injurious behaviours. All staff travelled to one child’s home area to complete training from medical staff to ensure that they can support the child’s specific health needs. The provider has swiftly arranged for this child to be supported by a community team overseen by the primary healthcare trust in the local area so that the child does not have to travel significant distances for their healthcare.

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The care of children

Children talk positively about the support that they have received from staff. They say that they know how to raise any concerns with staff and are happy to do so. Children and staff were seen to have positive relationships. Although none of the children were attending school on the day of the inspection, staff were engaging children in appropriate activities. One child is attending school most days, and an application for a place at a local school has been made for another child who has only lived at the home for seven days. While one child is still not engaging well with the education provided by a tutor, the provider continues to challenge the placing and host local authorities for better provision and has plans in place if this continues to be unsuccessful.

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The safety of children

The provider recognises that the home has experienced an unsettled period. Two children had difficult endings to their time living at the home. Incidents had increased and at times staff were unable to safely prevent situations from Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 3 escalating. On two occasions this resulted in damage to the home. The bi-fold doors from the kitchen into the garden, damaged during one incident, are still pending replacement. However, this delay is as a result of the provider’s wider plans to develop the home and garden further to include private relaxation, meeting and office space in a building in the garden. This will allow for the office to become a second lounge space for the children.

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The safety of children

The use of physical intervention remains minimal. None of the children living at the home at the time of the inspection have been restrained. Plans for two children do not include any use of restraint. Incidents when children are reported missing from the home are also minimal. One child living at the home has recently been reported missing on two occasions. Staff took action to look for the child and reported them missing as required. Risk assessments for the child have been reviewed and updated following recent incidents and there have been no repeated incidents.

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The safety of children

Staff have responded to safeguarding concerns about one child, and the care planning and risk assessment have been updated as required. Staff have recognised when changes to the child’s plans were not successful or were increasing risks and have challenged the child’s social worker to agree for further changes.

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The safety of children

The introduction of a new electronic recording system has improved children’s records. Care plans are now easier to access and to use, and the new system is allowing for better monitoring and oversight. Care plans reviewed during the inspection were up to date and included better information about how staff are to support the children.

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The safety of children

When an allegation was made about staff practice, this was referred to the local authority designated officer as required. Other safeguarding concerns have been shared with local multi-agency safeguarding teams as well as the children’s social workers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is showing early signs of stability, and staff speak positively about this. Quality assurance and monitoring systems have been reviewed, and oversight of the home is much improved. A new manager started in August 2022, and they are applying to register with Ofsted. The head of care has been overseeing the day-to- day running of the home, pending the appointment of the new manager, and is regularly at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Since the last inspection, a new independent person has been appointed to complete monthly independent visits. The reports from the independent person are being shared with the provider more promptly and are informing the provider’s ongoing improvement plan. Action has been taken to comply with the requirements made at the last inspection, and the provider has been robust about making the changes and improvements identified in their improvement plan. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 4 There is a full complement of staff who are undertaking an improved programme of training. Better systems are in place to monitor the training that staff complete. The provider’s human resources department oversees the monitoring of this and keeps the head of care and the manager informed. The staff feel well supported and are more confident in being able to support the children who are currently living at the

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

home. This is reflected in the positive manner in which children talk about their experiences at the home and the support from staff when moving into the home. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/10/2021 Full Good 30/04/2019 Full Good 25/07/2018 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 11, Wheatstone Court, Davy Way, Waterwells Business Park, Quedgeley, Gloucester GL2 2AQ

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Inspector

Kerry Fell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1155761 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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Inspector

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