Children's home run by Enabling Futures Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2703224 1 Registered provider: Enabling Futures Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to two children with a learning and/or physical disability.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s statement of purpose states that it offers bespoke and holistic packages of care for children or young people with learning disabilities and/or autism, behaviours of concern or mental health conditions.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post, who is also the registered manager of a different children’s home on the same site. The home was registered in September 2022. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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 children’s home: 2703224 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who lives at the home is receiving a good quality of care. The child has extremely high and complex care, health and behavioural needs. They are receiving individualised care and support from a committed and experienced staff team. The skilled staff team can meet the needs of disabled children confidently.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

After a long period out of education, the child is receiving education from a tutor. Considering the extent of the child’s needs, this is phenomenal progress. The child is able to sit with the tutor for short periods of time and take part in educational activities. To enhance the educational experience, the child dresses in clothing that is similar to school uniform. This is a lovely touch and helps the child to understand that it is time for education. On occasion, communication between the care team and the education tutor could be improved. However, this has not detracted from the child’s educational experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite the complexity of the child’s care and behavioural needs, the manager and staff are committed to helping the child leave the home for activities. The child enjoys regular walks in the countryside around the home. On days when the child is feeling more settled, they are encouraged to go to the local supermarket, follow a list and choose items. This experience is invaluable in helping the child to maintain contact with the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Healthcare needs are well met. It is hoped that a recent health diagnosis and subsequent medication review will help the child to feel more settled and stable. Medication is safely managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has access to an independent advocate and, wherever possible, staff seek the child’s views and feedback about their care. The manager and staff team ensure that the child spends lots of time with their family. The family visit the child at the home and have video calls. A family member said, ‘We get to see [Child’s name]. It’s a good time.’

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

The child’s complex health and behavioural needs mean that there are frequent times of upset, distress and behaviour that is challenging. Comprehensive care plans and risk assessments help to ensure that the staff team understands how to meet the child’s needs as sensitively as possible during these times. They understand how to keep the child safe.

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

When all other de-escalation techniques have been exhausted, restraint is used in accordance with the child’s behaviour plan and risk assessment. The management team monitor the child’s behaviours and the use of physical intervention extremely closely. This enables the manager to alert the multi-disciplinary team when the Inspection report children’s home: 2703224 3 frequency and duration of restraint has become a concern. Very recently, an emergency meeting was called to identify how the child could be further supported. This is an example of good multi-agency practice to help to protect the child.

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

The child’s home is well maintained and safe. The garden is spacious and has lots of play equipment, such as a trampoline. Due to the child’s needs, some areas of the home, such as the kitchen, are inaccessible to the child on some occasions. This is subject to close review. There have been no occasions when the child has gone missing from the home.

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

Recruitment and vetting procedures are sound. This helps to prevent unsuitable people from having contact with children. Practice would be further enhanced by staff who conduct interviews having a better understanding of the principles of safer recruitment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is highly effective and leads by example. She understands the child’s history and needs well. The manager is a strong advocate for the child. She is proactive and is continuously constructively challenging other professionals to strive to do more to help the child to become more stable and settled. Stakeholder feedback is positive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management monitoring and review systems are established. The management team thoroughly evaluates incident records and risk management plans. This means that opportunities for improvements in practice are identified and acted on swiftly for the benefit of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team offer continuity of care. Where agency workers are used, the same workers are used each time. Despite some changes in staffing, the child receives consistency in care arrangements. This is helping the child to develop a secure and stable base.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably trained to meet children’s complex care needs. The have an understanding of safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures. Staff say that they feel well supported and value the time that they spend in team meetings and one- to-one supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A professional said, ‘I think [the child] is in a really good placement. It’s the right placement. It will be so good to see [the child] emerging out of their shell. We are all optimistic about this.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2703224 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should maintain good employment practice. They must ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, ensure that all staff involved in recruitment are familiar with the principles of safer recruitment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should lead a team that provides high-quality care for all children living in the home. They must lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. They should also play a key role in shaping the ethos of the home through developing a culture of high aspiration for children, which is demonstrated through the care, resources and opportunities offered to the children. In particular, the relationship between care staff and education staff should be enhanced to ensure that there is a clear understanding of each other’s roles. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)

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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 children’s home: 2703224 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Enabling Futures Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Coach House, Millbrook House, Manchester Road, Hollingworth, Hyde SK14 8LA

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Inspector

Catherine Honey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2703224 6 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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