Children's home run by Semi-independent House Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 1 Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who have experienced neglect and/or abuse and have related behavioural and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 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: 14 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 children’s home: 2510315 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/09/2021 Full Good 13/01/2020 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out and two children have moved into the home. Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection. Two of the children have lived at the home for over two years. All the children say that the home is a great place to live. Children make good progress. The manager and staff provide a stable and happy environment which the children respond well to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children understand the importance of education. One child attends school full time and is predicted to gain good GCSE grades. One young person attends college. When interruptions in education arise, the manager has been a proactive advocate. This has resulted in a child receiving daily home tutoring. This has gone well, and the child will be returning to school soon. Staff recognise and celebrate children’s achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the children to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Healthy eating is encouraged and activities that increase body confidence are well supported. These include boxing lessons, playing badminton and training regularly at a local gym.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Helping children to develop independence skills is a strength at this home. All the children know how to cook and bake for themselves. One child enjoys walking with his friends to and from school. Two of the children attend the local gym on their own and all know how to use public transport. One young person, who will soon be moving to independent living, proudly spoke to the inspector about his impressive food budgeting skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the last inspection, a recommendation was set due to the standard of the environment at the home. A new sofa, which the children chose, has improved the lounge area. However, a recommendation has again been raised as the carpets in two of the children’s bedrooms need replacing. The home’s communal areas require redecoration to achieve a more homely environment.

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

All the children say that they feel very safe living at the home. Staff provide consistent nurturing care and encourage good daily routines. The children recognise that having structure in their lives aids their well-being and increases their sense of security.

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

Children have individual plans and risk assessments. Following an incident, these are updated promptly. When a risk has increased or decreased, this is reassessed and detailed. This provides staff with up-to-date guidance and appropriate actions to take. Children’s views are included in their plans, which reinforces to them that their opinions are valued and respected. Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 4 Staff have regular meaningful conversations with children. These conversations help the children to express their feelings and emotions. Children learn how to make wiser choices and understand behaviour that may prevent them from achieving. One child said:

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

‘The staff really care about me. They are always chatting and checking that I’m feeling okay. They have really helped me with my aggression. I used to be unable to control my anger. I still get angry, but I can control myself now. I don’t “lose it” anymore.’

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

There have been no incidents requiring physical intervention since the last inspection. All staff are trained in physical intervention and are skilful at identifying situations that could escalate. Staff have developed good, trusting and respectful relationships with the children. Staff use their knowledge and understanding of the children to calm incidents.

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

When a child goes missing from the home, staff follow procedures well. They are proactive in locating the child and work in partnership with police to ensure the child’s safe return. Staff speak with the child to help them recognise the associated dangers. However, independent return home interviews have not consistently been requested by staff. This does not ensure that children are given the opportunity to speak freely with an independent person who is unconnected to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to and ambitious for the children. He holds a relevant level 5 qualification. He is supported by the deputy manager, who is also suitably qualified. They are both very child focused and take pride in seeing the children flourish.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are happy in their roles and say that they feel valued and incredibly well supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a structured induction and complete the home’s mandatory training during this period. Additional specific training to meet the children’s individual needs is provided to staff. Children benefit from being cared for by well-trained staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a strong advocate for the children. Communication with social workers and other professionals is effective and helps the children to progress. A youth justice worker said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘This home has really impressed me. The staff are such positive role models. They always go above and beyond (expectations). The managers and staff have helped [name of child] progress so much by supporting my work with him.’ Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 5 Monthly staff meetings are well attended. Time is always prioritised to discuss children’s progress. Targets and actions are set. This ensures that any areas in which children require further help and support to achieve are not overlooked.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has undertaken six-monthly reviews of the home. However, he has not included the opinions of the children in these reviews. This does not ensure that the children’s views are considered in plans to develop the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The independent person visits monthly and provides well-considered reports that recommend actions for improvement. However, the children’s views are rarely included due to the visits often taking place when the children are at school. This reduces the effectiveness of the report as a quality monitoring tool and does not provide the intended safeguards for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the three requirements and three of the four recommendations raised at the last inspection. Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 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

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires. (Regulation 44 (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the visits take place when the children can be seen. 30 January 2023

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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 feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it. (Regulation 45 (2)(b)) 30 January 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment. In particular, children’s bedroom carpets should be cleaned or replaced and the decoration and furnishings should be updated as needed. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Information provided by such interviews should be considered when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30) Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 7

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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: 2510315 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-Independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector

Lynne Drage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2510315 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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