Children's Home run by The Ryes College Limited in Norfolk

Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 1 Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to six children who have experienced significant trauma and loss. This is one of several children’s homes operated by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are five children living at the home. Most of the current children have lived at the home for over a year. Children say that their home is good and that they are happy and comfortable. The children are actively involved in making decisions about the day-to-day running of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff support children’s education. Some children attend school and sit GCSE exams and others have a home tutor. When children are not in formal education or are struggling to attend, the staff work with the virtual school headteacher to look for solutions. The staff and other professionals provide bespoke education plans for children. This helps children to overcome barriers to learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children and staff have good relationships. Children make progress in many areas of their lives, and their physical health and emotional well-being improve. However, younger children do not have enough one-to-one time with the staff or structured play. The staff turnover is high. This does not provide the children with consistent support to help them to develop their social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from adventure holidays and taking part in outdoor activities, such as surfing, swimming and cycling. These exciting experiences help to build children’s confidence and self-esteem. Parents speak highly of the care and support that the staff provide. Staff actively encourage families to visit the home, in line with the children’s plans for family visits. This improves children’s well-being and reduces isolation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have fun celebrating birthdays and special occasions. Children receive pocket money and accumulate savings. The weekly amount for children’s clothing allowance is the same for every child regardless of their age. This limits the choice for older children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to develop some independence skills. The staff help children to apply for a provisional driving licence or gain part-time work. One bedroom has a kitchen area. However, staff do not consistently encourage children to practise a broad range of daily living skills, such as cooking and budgeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The internal decoration has significantly improved. The hallway and dining room include upcycled furniture, which creates a family feel. One room has gym equipment for the children to use. Internal wear and damage to the house are quickly repaired. Children are involved in choosing colour schemes and accessories for their bedrooms. A bath has been fitted to help children to relax. This demonstrates a commitment from the managers to improve children’s experiences. Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 4

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

Children say that they feel safe and can approach any member of staff to share their worries or talk about their feelings. Children know that the staff care about them and want them to be safe because the staff often tell them this.

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

Staff use physical interventions to prevent children from actual harm or guide them away from danger. At times, in response to significant incidents, the staff call the police to the home. However, reliance on the police is rare and children are not criminalised. Increased staff supervision and regular child-centred conversations reduce incidents. These help children to learn and take responsibility for their actions.

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

Children rarely go missing from home and incidents have decreased. When these do occur, the staff take appropriate action to locate children and return them to the home. On one occasion, a child spoke to a member of staff on the phone throughout their time away from the home, resulting in the child’s safe return. Return-home interviews help staff to understand the reasons for children leaving.

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

Staff recruitment procedures are thorough and ensure staff’s suitability. Staff know how to whistle-blow. The manager refers allegations of concern to the local authority designated officer without delay. The managers take swift and appropriate action to investigate shortfalls in staff practice. This helps to keep everyone safe while investigations are concluded. Relevant agencies and children’s parents are kept appropriately informed of any safeguarding matters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is highly experienced in children’s residential care and suitably qualified. He has transformed the home and is trusted by the children and staff. The manager provides care for children exclusively from the local placing authority. Therefore, children remain closer to their homes, which reduces travel for families. This minimises children’s anxiety and maintains important family relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and professionals visit the children regularly and provide positive feedback about the quality of care. They have confidence in the manager and say that communication is good. The manager advocates for children and ensures that any specific services to meet children’s needs are provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive a good range of support. The manager provides regular supervision, child-centred team meetings, appraisals and individual discussions. However, many of the staff do not have the required qualification, and are new to working in residential childcare. This does not ensure that there are sufficient staff with the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of every child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, staff turnover has been high. Many staff work overtime to cover shifts, although recently the use of agency staff has reduced. The manager, Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 5 deputy manager and responsible individual are working shifts, including sleep-in shifts, to maintain stability for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel included in the day-to-day running of the home. The manager audits files and has introduced administrative systems to improve monitoring and overview. The staff personalise children’s written records and this helps to ensure that staff capture children’s individual experiences. Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(iv)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that younger children have more opportunities to play and develop social skills. 30 November 2022

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; 12 January 2023 Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 7 ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d)(e))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are supported to express themselves as individuals and should be given an appropriate degree of freedom and choice in relation to day-to-day arrangements for their care, depending on their individual needs and the setting in which they are cared for. This is in relation to both activities and personal items, such as clothing. In particular, review the amount of clothing allowance to ensure that this reflects the children’s ages. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.21)  The registered person should ensure that the design of the home should, where appropriate, enable children to develop independence skills within the supportive environment of the home, including through encouraging independent use of kitchen and laundry areas. In particular, ensure that children have the opportunity to practise skills in cooking and budgeting. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.25)

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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: 2537782 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Ryes College Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Skyview Business Centre, 9 Church Field Road, Sudbury CO10 2YA

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Inspector

Rosie Davie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2537782 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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