Children's Home run by Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited in Rotherham

Inspection report for children’s home: 2577014 1 Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is a privately run children’s home. It provides care for up to one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The provider has made interim management arrangements to cover the vacancy for the registered manager. The interim manager is currently going through Ofsted’s registration process.

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Information about this children’s home

There is one child in residence, and one child has left the care of the home since the last inspection in February 2022.

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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: 2 February 2022

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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: 2577014 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2577014 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived in this home since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children who come to live at the home benefit from the strong and positive relationships they have with the staff team. These relationships help children to establish trust and assist them to settle into their new home more quickly. Children then begin to make progress in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thrive with the attention and support given to pursue their individual hobbies and interests. A child said: ‘Since coming to live here, I have tried the cadets, but this wasn’t for me. Staff take me fishing and to play pool, that I love to do. I have joined a drama group, and now I’m going to my first looked after children’s council meeting.’ Children’s involvement in age-appropriate activities has had a direct impact on their self-confidence. Additionally, they have opportunities to make friends and enjoy new life experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is given priority by the staff. Education placements are pursued by the manager with vigour for children. The current child in placement has had an educational assessment and a number of meetings to secure a local college place. The child is to start imminently at a local college.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have made sure that a weekly education timetable is planned. This includes the child undertaking mathematics and English work, with work set at their assessed level. The child has access to books, magazines and other resources to support their ongoing development. This greatly supports the child’s learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have learned new skills appropriate to their age and understanding. These include cooking, travelling independently on public transport, washing clothes and learning the importance of good personal hygiene routines. This provides children with invaluable independence and life skills that support them now and in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy seeing their family. They also keep in touch by telephone and by using a video telephony app. Staff ensure that the children go to see their family regularly, travelling long distances. This maintains those vital connections with those who are significant to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living at the home embraces the staff ethos and approach to keeping them fully involved in their day-to-day care and plans for the future. There are meaningful discussions on areas that affect the child and their daily care. These include education, family time, keeping safe, relationships and independence skills. These sessions capture the child’s views. This open Inspection report for children’s home: 2577014 4 communication makes sure that the child’s wishes and feelings are taken on board and influence the child’s care going forward.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a positive environment. The home’s decor and furniture are maintained to a good standard, with lots of homely touches. These include pictures, cushions, personally chosen bedding and photos of the child on activities with staff. There are books, board games and CDs. This makes the house a home that reflects the child’s interests, wishes and requests.

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

Children’s safety is quickly assessed. This ensures that the staff have a clear understanding and awareness of the agreed support strategies to minimise identified risks. Children’s written risk assessments and support plans are regularly reviewed when changes occur. This makes sure that safety strategies and plans are up to date for the staff to better protect the child.

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

Children become increasingly safer. This is a result of the frequent discussions staff have with the children to assist them to recognise dangers and the actions needed to keep themselves safer. Staff take appropriate action when required to help keep children safe.

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

Staff know the steps to take when children go missing. These procedures and protocols have been followed. Incidents of going missing are low. There have been no such incidents in the last three months.

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

When allegations are made, safeguarding procedures and protocols have been followed. Social workers and the local authority designated officer have been swiftly notified. Appropriate action has been taken to safeguard the child.

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

Great care and multi-agency working approaches have been implemented to support children when in crisis. Children receive support with their emotional well- being. Staff recognise children’s past life experiences and how these affect their presenting behaviour. The individual child’s needs are further met with carefully considered strategies in care approaches. These assist to keep the children safe.

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

There have been incidents when a child needed to be held, to keep them and others safe. When a child displays anxious and worrying behaviours , staff first use distraction and de-escalation methods. Staff explained that the use of physical intervention is the last resort when all other approaches have failed. Such incidents are thoroughly reviewed internally and externally. This makes sure that physical interventions are only undertaken when necessary, for the sole purpose of protecting the child and others from harm. Inspection report for children’s home: 2577014 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively, with an emphasis on providing consistently good care to children. There is a strong ethos on teamwork, commitment and wanting the best for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are thorough internal and external monitoring systems that detect shortfalls and deficits. Prompt action is taken to address the deficiencies found. This ensures that the home maintains good care and work practices in line with the requirements of the Children’s Homes Regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The recommendations made at the last inspection have been actioned. This includes the development of the rear yard area to make a useable and enjoyable space for the child, providing more reflective supervision, and education resources. This brings improvement to facilities and care practices in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is very strong collaborative working with professionals and agencies to provide the best support for children. This assists greatly to improve children’s experiences and outcomes going forward. A professional said: ‘The staff communication with me is excellent. They are always prepared and attend meetings. They go above and beyond for [child’s name], advocating for them.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that the manager is approachable and supportive. They receive formal supervision regularly; this includes discussion about their care practice, where support is needed, and training and development. Regular supervision, along with monthly staff meetings, promotes the delivery of consistent care for the child in residence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an established staff team to ensure that the child is consistently cared for by the same individuals. The child benefits from two staff being on duty each shift. When staff change over, a detailed shift handover takes place. However, there is no overlap of shifts; the staff going off shift undertake this duty in their own time. This essential and good practice is reliant on staff goodwill.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff in post have relevant experience to work with children. Staff receive an induction at the commencement of their employment, and complete mandatory training. This includes behaviour management, physical intervention, first aid and safeguarding children. More specialist training is provided in areas such as child sexual exploitation, internet safety, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, not all staff have received training on how to use ligature cutters. This falls short on ensuring that all essential training is provided to meet the needs of the children being cared for. Inspection report for children’s home: 2577014 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, ensure that all staff have ligature cutter training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained. In particular, consider having a rostered shift handover period that facilitates the formal handover. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2577014 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Advanced Adolescent Care Solutions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 38 Sherwood Road, Worksop S80 1QW

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Inspector

Debbie Foster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2577014 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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