Children's Home run by Abundantia Care Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 1 Registered provider: Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider. It offers care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. There is currently only one child living at the home.

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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: 18 January 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: 2638239 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out in September 2022 and another child moved in during the same month. The home has been providing care for one child on a solo basis.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress living in this home. The child living in the home is engaging in their lessons. The praise and recognition from staff give the child confidence and help improve their self-esteem. The child who left the home had made progress from their starting point. From not being in education, the child sat their exams and gained GCSE qualifications. The child also has an apprenticeship which gives them goals and aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are planned and risk assessed. A planned move on from the home enabled staff the opportunity to say their goodbyes and to present the child with a memory book of their time at the home. A detailed transition to the home supported the new child to visit the home, meet the staff and identify the things they enjoy doing. This helps provide children with reassurances about the people caring for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff complete direct work with children, which focuses on children’s relationships and attachments and how children can achieve their individual targets. The records of these sessions are detailed and are discussed with the home’s therapist alongside children’s plans and the approaches for staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend a wide range of activities and staff encourage them to take part in hobbies and interests. For one child, this involves trampolining and going on a sky coaster.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise children’s health and well-being. Children attend routine appointments and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Staff support children to have a balanced diet. One child has recently become a vegetarian and staff offer the child a wide range of healthy meals and snacks. This helps the child maintain a healthy weight and has improved health outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well decorated and furnished. The child’s bedroom is personalised and decorated to reflect her taste. When the child has experienced difficulties sleeping at night, the staff consulted with her to ask what would help. Sensory items such as a lava lamp and a dreamcatcher were provided to help the child sleep. This has resulted in the child having a more settled sleep patten, which contributes to their overall health and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 4

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

Children know how to make a complaint. When complaints have been made, the manager has acted swiftly to resolve the issue. Children are offered support and mediation to help them manage any distress. Complaints are dealt with effectively and demonstrate that a thorough investigation takes place.

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

Children’s risk assessments are clear and detail strategies for staff to follow to reduce risk. One child was supported by staff to learn new ways to communicate their feelings and look at new ways to express their emotions. This led to a reduction in their self-harming behaviour.

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

Children respond well to praise and incentives. This motivational approach allows children’s achievements to be celebrated. Children respond well to this and, as a result, their behaviours improve.

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

When children have gone missing from home, staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and follow the procedures to return children home safely. Children have opportunities to speak to an independent person, which allows them to express their reasons for leaving.

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

Staff recruitment is in line with safer recruitment practice. Staff have a detailed induction and probationary period which gives them the skills and knowledge to work with children.

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

Staff use de-escalation techniques and their positive relationships to help children manage their behaviours. When staff have needed to hold a child, this has been proportionate and only used as a last resort. The records are detailed, and all relevant professionals are informed. Staff and the child are debriefed. This ensures that there is learning to prevent the incident from reoccurring. When the manager has been involved in a hold, the debrief from senior leaders has been out of timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate and aspirational to provide a high level of care and support to the child. The manager was observed interacting with the child and there was genuine warmth and love exchanged.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s visible presence in the home enables her to work alongside the staff to support the children. The manager leads by example and the staff mirror her aspiration for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Excellent working relationships with professionals and external agencies enable good information-sharing. All professionals spoken to commented on the manager being child focused, and that the communication and knowledge the manager has of children are excellent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 5 Staff training includes topics related to children’s needs. Staff understand the child’s journey, trauma and experiences. Discussion with the clinician help staff to better understand their needs and the difficulties they have faced.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff meetings and supervisions offer a high level of reflective practice. This allows staff opportunities to consider other ways of working and identify areas to improve their own practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The quality-of-care report included a thorough analysis of the last six months and shows good consultation with professionals but does not include any feedback from the children. The manager has captured this in direct key work sessions and one-to- ones but has not implemented this into the report. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b)) 6 January 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. The review should provide the opportunity for amending practice to ensure it meets the needs of each child. This refers to debriefs being completed in the correct timescales. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)

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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: 2638239 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Accounts Unlocked Llp, Repton Manor, Repton Avenue, Ashford TN23 3GP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Reynolds

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Inspector

Aasia Hussain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 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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