Children's home run by Florinee Homes

Inspection report for children’s home: 2655174 1 Registered provider: Florinee Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home offers care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in November 2021. This is the first inspection since registration. The manager also registered with Ofsted in November 2021.

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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: 2655174 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2655174 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. Since the home opened in November 2021, two children have moved in and then moved on to semi- independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager meets with children before they move in. This gives children the opportunity to ask questions and share information. The manager encourages families and professionals to share relevant information. The manager uses this information to make decisions about whether children can live together, and whether staff have the required skills and experience to support children. Consequently, the group of children living together is settled and staff can meet the children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team. Children have formed strong relationships with staff built on trust and affection. One child said, ‘The staff have become like my best friends.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time with children and celebrate when they have made progress. Children receive positive phrase cards from staff which they display in their bedrooms. Children play a lucky dip game where they choose a surprise gift for doing well. Staff use verbal praise and reassurance. Restorative approaches are used to help children learn and make better choices. This helps children to build self- esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are involved in planning activities that they enjoy. They have been indoor sky diving, to theme parks, canoeing and on trips to London. And they organised new experiences over the summer which included a bake-off, a Come Dine With Me meal and alternative Olympics. Children enjoy trips to a static caravan which they can access all year round for holidays. They have positive experiences and fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to spend time with people who are important to them. Children are encouraged to invite their friends to the home. Staff take children to see their families, no matter how far away they live from the home. Children have access to mobile phones and devices which help them to stay connected. One child said that staff always ask how her family are after she has seen them, and this means so much to her. Children feel valued and maintain a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are in full-time education and their attendance is good. One child had not been in education for five years before living at the home. They are now making good progress. One child engages in online learning. The manager has worked with the placing local authority to find a suitable education placement for another child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to develop independence skills. When children move in, staff assess their skills and set targets. One child now travels independently to see her family. One child has set up his own bank account and staff are helping him to Inspection report for children’s home: 2655174 4 understand how an account works. Children are helped to understand responsibility and achieve their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children know how to make a complaint. The manager thoroughly investigates children’s concerns. One child said that staff were confusing him with different rules. The manager met with the child to listen to his concerns and how he felt. The manager spoke with the staff involved and used a staff meeting to share the complaint and improve practice.

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

Staff understand children’s strengths and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are detailed and reviewed regularly. Identified risks and strategies are clearly recorded. One parent said, ‘My child used to self-harm four to five times a day. It’s only been four times since they have lived at the home.’ Staff understand that talking and listening to children helps them understand their emotions and reduce risks.

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

Children are involved in writing their own care plans. This helps children tell staff how they would like to be supported. Children are encouraged to share their preferred routines, what makes them feel worried and how staff should help them. This approach helps staff to provide tailored care and values children’s opinions.

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

Each child has a behaviour support plan which identifies stages of crisis and how staff should react. Staff reinforce boundaries with children. Staff challenge inappropriate language, remarks and attitudes. A social worker said, ‘[The staff] never give up on children.’ Children react well to this approach and the number of behavioural incidents is low.

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

The number of incidents of children leaving the home without permission is low. On the three occasions this has happened, staff were responsive and proactive. Staff looked for children in places they may go. Other professionals were contacted and vulnerabilities shared. When children returned, they were welcomed home and encouraged to talk about their experiences.

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

All staff have received safeguarding training and know how to report any concerns. Social workers said that the communication with the manager and staff is good. Staff understand their safeguarding role and responsibilities.

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

Physical restraint is used as a last resort, to keep children and staff safe. All staff are trained in the agreed positive behaviour approach. On the rare occasion that restraint has been used, all options have been tried to use de-escalation strategies first. Records of restraint are clear and include detailed information about the incident. The manager meets with children and staff after an incident. This helps children to talk about their experience. However, the manager does not record their conversations with staff. This means it is unclear how staff have reflected on the incident and considered alternative approaches to restraint. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655174 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably experienced and is undertaking a relevant level 5 qualification within the required timeframe. Directors spend time with staff and children; they show an interest in the development of the home. This helps staff feel appreciated and children feel respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision from the manager. New staff are supported with additional supervisions and a detailed induction plan. More experienced staff receive monthly reflective supervision, which helps them to develop their skills and improve the care provided to children. Staff say that they feel supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are trained to meet children’s complex needs. Additional training is provided when there is an identified need. Staff are encouraged to become experts in specific areas by undertaking training. One member of staff is receiving additional training and qualifications in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Another staff member has been involved in establishing an independent living skills programme. Staff are either qualified or working towards a relevant level 3 qualification. Managers invest in staff training and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes certain that the home is well staffed and resourced. When agency staff are used, the manager asks for staff who have worked at the home before; this provides consistency for children. Children are helped to build relationships with staff who are in their lives regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has completed a review of the quality of care. However, the report did not include the children’s views. This omission limits the scope to drive improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager employs staff using safer recruitment processes. However, when staff have worked in previous care roles, the reason for leaving is not consistently explored by the manager. Consequently, the suitability of prospective staff is not fully considered. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655174 6

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, verify, as far as reasonably practicable, the reason why prospective staff’s employment in a role with children or vulnerable adults ended. 18 November

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)) 25 November

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Recommendation

 The registered person should keep a record of restraint, including the debrief with staff, so that this informs learning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2655174 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Florinee Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit F68, Brightfield Business Hub, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6XU

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2655174 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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