Children's home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2506232 1 Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 12 weeks for up to three children with complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 22 December 2020.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: A restriction of accommodation notice was issued on 24 June 2022. Compliance notices were served under Regulation 12, Regulation 13 and Regulation 40 on 27 June 2022. A monitoring visit took place on 2 August 2022. At the case review, the notices were deemed met and the restriction of accommodation notice was lifted. Inspection report children's home: 2506232 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/06/2022 Full Inadequate 08/12/2021 Full Good 07/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2506232 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences living at this home are good. Staff are skilled at developing relationships with the children based on honesty and mutual respect. Children say that they know that staff will support them and give them advice. Staff have advocated for children and have championed for them to make sure their voices are heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is valued. Children are encouraged to learn either through formal education or a bespoke approach at the provider’s own education centre. Children benefit from taking part in experiential learning to care for a variety of animals that live in the grounds.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress. Staff support them to reduce unwanted behaviour. They speak to children about relevant topics such as substance abuse, exploitation and keeping themselves safe online. Consequently, children gain a greater insight into their behaviours and develop knowledge that helps them to make positive choices. Social workers speak highly of the progress that children make. They find that frequent communication from staff keeps them up to date with children’s development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use key-work sessions effectively. They support children to consider their behaviours, and some children have changed their outlook as a result.

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

Staff work collaboratively to keep children safe. Strategies are planned before the children move into the home to ensure that staff are aware of identified risks and how to reduce them.

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

All staff have had revised safeguarding training. They are clear about what to report, to whom and when. Staff are tenacious when children go missing from care. They try to keep children in sight and use local knowledge and a coordinated response to encourage them to return to the home. Staff work proactively with the police and ensure that relevant safeguarding partners are kept up to date.

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

When allegations are made, staff are clear about the steps to take to keep children safe. However, they do not have a system in place to conduct repair and rebuild sessions between staff and children. This is a missed opportunity to show children how to repair relationships.

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

Social workers speak highly of the lengths that staff go to when responding to children’s needs. A parent also commented that ‘communication is effective’ and that this gives them confidence that staff have good knowledge of children’s complex Inspection report children's home: 2506232 4 needs. An independent reviewing officer spoke positively about staff having difficult conversations with one child when their behaviour presented concerns.

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

New staff have been recruited. Safer recruitment checks have been carried out and new staff speak positively about their induction. The more experienced staff have found the recent training refreshers helpful and feel confident in their roles and responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and her team are committed to supporting children. They have come together as a team to make the necessary improvements for children. Senior leaders and managers make regular visits to the home. Staff speak positively about the increased visibility and support from the responsible individual.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff’s skills are mapped against children’s needs as part of the referral process. Where additional needs are identified, staff are trained to equip them with the knowledge and skills required before children move in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managerial oversight has improved. Systems have been implemented to enhance compliance and improve quality. A new independent visitor is providing an additional layer of scrutiny and challenge. As a result, leaders and managers are focusing on areas to improve further and raise the quality of care for the children. Inspection report children's home: 2506232 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, develop consistent practice to rebuild relationships between children and staff following incidents and allegations. 6 November 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 children's home: 2506232 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Advantage, 87 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7SN

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Inspector

Sarah Olliver, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2506232 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 children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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