Children's home run by 5ab Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2597747 1 Registered provider: 5ab Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to three children with complex needs, including learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorders.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 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

Date of last inspection: 6 September 2021

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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: 2597747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2597747 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The children have quickly established positive routines that have helped them to make very good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience new opportunities that help them to gain independence. Staff focus on identifying how children can learn new skills and provide activities to support these. Professionals and parents all said that children are making ‘better than expected progress’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff value the importance of education for children and forge excellent relationships with school staff. High-quality planning has helped a child to maintain a long-term school placement. The manager successfully secured a new school placement for a child who moved from another area. A professional from the school said, ‘The manager is amazing, she is so good at making suggestions for finding solutions.’ The manager has established an open dialogue, and will challenge professionals to ensure that they find the best support for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are leading healthier lives. Staff work closely with families to find creative ways to encourage children to eat a wide range of nutritious foods. Children enjoy preparing vegetables, which they are then more inclined to eat. Staff provide health professionals with detailed information. This helps professionals make health- management decisions for children who have a limited vocabulary.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children lead active lives with lots of opportunities to experience the local community. They enjoy regular activities, often for the first time. Staff are ambitious for children, they arrange holidays and special days out. When children return from these trips, staff create keepsake books with photographs. This helps children build happy childhood memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and their families are treated with dignity and respect by staff. Families speak warmly of the staff. Staff value and celebrate children’s diverse backgrounds and ensure that their cultural traditions and values are maintained. There is an expectation that staff explore these. This focus helps children to enjoy celebrations that represent their traditions and beliefs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff work closely with professionals to prepare children for their move to the home. This work is planned with patience and detail so that children’s individual needs can be considered. One child who had a long period of being unsettled is now enjoying stability.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious, modern and suitable. Staff balance the health and sensory needs of children with a personalised and welcoming home. Children are Inspection report for children’s home: 2597747 4 comfortable and familiar in their own and shared spaces. The staff respect that their workplace is a child’s home first and foremost.

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

Professionals and families are confident that children are safe. Staff undertake good- quality training. This helps them understand the additional risks to children with a learning disability, as well as their communication support needs. Staff are clear about how to raise any concerns they may have. Learning from safeguarding events, including high-profile national reviews, is extensive and the manager makes sure this is shared amongst staff.

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

Staff know the details of children’s positive behaviour support plans and make regular updates to these when things change. Support plans emphasise the importance of de-escalation techniques to avoid incidents. Staff know children very well and take action quickly when children begin to show signs of distress, using a distraction technique or a change of activity.

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

Staff use good relationships as a basis for managing behaviours and reducing risks. Positive behaviour is encouraged and rewarded with praise and feedback. Managers review the effectiveness of using consequences and make changes to use other methods, including restorative practice.

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

The manager worked with local authority professionals during a sustained period of unsettled behaviours for one child. The staff used their experience and skills to protect the child and other children. This helped professionals to find the right home for the child and allowed a well-planned transition to take place.

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

There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. Each child has a clear plan for staff to follow in the event of any missing-from-home incidents. This includes details of likely places to search and prompts for staff to take essential emergency medicines with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is established and has built a skilled staff team that knows how to provide high-quality care and support for children. The manager is clear on the types of children’s needs that the staff can care for. This has helped children settle and have stable experiences. When children move on, this is well planned and successful.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and assurance systems have improved since the last inspection. The responsible individual visits the home regularly and knows the children and staff well. They encourage feedback from professionals and families about the support provided. Consequently, the independent visits produce detailed reviews of the quality of care and capture a wide range of views. Inspection report for children’s home: 2597747 5 Staff are enthusiastic and enjoy working at the home. Team spirit and morale are very positive. Team-building lunches following team meetings are encouraged and arranged by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the skills and experience required to support the children well. Leaders and managers encourage self-development and learning for staff. One staff member said that their aspiration to gain the experience to achieve a senior position has been supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual and manager enjoy a solid and productive working relationship. They recognise each other’s strengths and provide mutual support to develop and improve the home. Extensive planning has prepared staff for the manager’s imminent leave. The deputy managers have received support and training in readiness for providing cover.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete a detailed induction, completing several shadow shifts so that children can build relationships with them. Staff have comprehensive training and supervision sessions. These sessions provide reflective challenge for staff to learn and improve. The manager encourages staff to lead development sessions to other staff at team meetings. Staff feel valued, involved and encouraged by this. Inspection report for children’s home: 2597747 6

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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: 2597747 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Jones Hunt Ltd, 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0TY

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Inspector

Jamie Cousins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2597747 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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