Children's Home run by Essex County Council in Essex

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 1 SC044975 Registered provider: Essex County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home is a short-breaks service for disabled children. The service provides support to families so that children can remain living at home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been in post since 2017.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2021 Full Good 04/02/2020 Full Good 18/07/2018 Full Good 28/09/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, three children were receiving short breaks at the home. The home provides short breaks for 14 families, who truly value the respite. One parent said, ‘If it wasn’t for [name of home], I don’t know where we would be as a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience well-planned introductions before they stay. Social stories and symbols are used effectively to help children understand the length of their stay. This helps to reduce children’s anxiety and maintains their routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager uses her knowledge of children to plan their short-break stays. Groups of children who visit togther are carefully considered. This helps children to spend time with other children they enjoy being with. One parent said, ‘Visiting [name of home] is my son’s social life outside of school.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know children well and understand their complex needs. The staff are skilled in using different methods of communication. A variety of communication aids help children to make choices and tell the staff what they need. Children are encouraged to talk about their feelings when they have been upset. Supporting children to express their views and feelings has reduced behavioural incidents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff plan activities that they know children will enjoy. Children have experienced trips to the zoo and the beach, bowling and activities in the local community. Staff also organise themed weeks. These include cartoon week, sports week and planet week, and many more. This helps children to have new experiences and build confidence while having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to make progress, no matter how small. Daily records identify children’s targets. One child enjoys baking cakes, and the staff support him to buy the ingredients and follow recipes. Children are encouraged to develop other skills, such as making their beds, taking their clothes to the laundry, and keeping themselves healthy. Building independence and developing new skills help to increase children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are celebrated. Staff send families and carers photos that capture children learning new skills. This helps them to feel proud of their child’s achievements. The positive reinforcement and encouragement motivate children to learn.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and evidence the stages of crisis that children may experience. Clear strategies help staff to respond with a consistent approach. Staff use the risk assessments to understand how children may react in different Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 4 environments. One child’s anxieties increased when using public transport. Staff were able to reduce the risks in order that he could travel safely. Staff minimise risks to ensure that children continue to have new experiences in a safe way.

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

Care plans are detailed and include information about children’s health. Staff work with medical professionals to review this information. This helps staff to care for children with complex health needs. Care plans guide staff in children’s preferences and routines. This support helps children to develop healthier diets and sleep patterns.

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

Behaviour support plans are clear and provide staff with de-escalation strategies. Staff work collaboratively with other professionals to understand children’s emotional needs and the reasons behind their behaviours. This helps staff to feel confident when responding to incidents.

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

All staff are trained in safeguarding children, and they understand their roles and responsibilities to report concerns. The manager is experienced in recognising the signs that a child may be at risk.

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

Physical restraint is only used when necessary to protect children and staff from harm. All staff are trained in the agreed positive behaviour approach. Following a restraint, staff do not record enough specific details. This means that the manager is unable to monitor the proportionality of the restraint. Furthermore, the manager does not consistently meet with children and staff after a restraint has been used. Therefore, staff do not have the opportunity to consider alternative approaches and children are unable to tell the manager how they feel.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. She is supported by a deputy manager. The managers are enthusiastic about the children and have high ambitions for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and well supported by managers. Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision. Supervision records are detailed and evaluate children’s progress. Managers offer support and guidance to staff, which helps to improve practice and promote the welfare of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings are well planned and well attended. Staff discuss any concerns, and the children’s progress. Managers focus on developing the team. Professionals are invited to the meetings to talk about specific children’s needs. This helps the staff to increase their knowledge and to change practice where required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers follow safer recruitment processes. Children have been consulted about questions to ask potential employees. New staff move through a detailed induction and probation period. Managers sign staff off as competent to undertake their role. This helps staff to feel confident to work with children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 5 The manager completes a review of the quality of care provided. However, evaluation of the impact the care is having on children’s experiences is not included.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two members of staff have not completed the level 3 diploma within the required timescales. This means they do not have the additional knowledge provided by this qualification. This was raised at the last inspection and is restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person visits the home monthly and completes a report. However, the visitor does not report on whether the children are safeguarded effectively. The manager failed to submit one of the independent person’s reports to Ofsted. This means Ofsted was unable to monitor the quality of care provided to children and make enquiries about any of the concerns raised. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 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

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (‘the Level 3 Diploma’); or

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Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This was raised at the last inspection and is restated. 27 January 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(b)(i)(c)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 7 The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to—

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Requirement Due date

HMCI. (Regulation 44 (4)(a) (7)(a)) 18 November

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records of restraint are kept to enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. Any injuries to the child must be recorded to state where the injury may have occurred. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should complete a review of the quality of care which identifies areas of strength and possible weakness in the home’s care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed. The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s

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Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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: SC044975 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Essex County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Chelmsford CM1 1QH

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC044975 9 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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