Children's Home run by Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) Limited in Essex

Inspection report for children's home: SC423453 1 SC423453 Registered provider: Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) 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 support, care and for up to four children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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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: 16 November 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: SC423453 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/11/2021 Full Good 18/12/2019 Full Good 19/09/2018 Full Good 09/02/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC423453 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. The staff were supporting one child in their family home, in agreement with the social worker. This arrangement upholds the child’s wishes and provides assurances that the child is safely cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are attending education and doing well. One child has made significant progress and has achieved 100% attendance. He is engaged in learning, and focused on achieving his GCSEs and finding a college place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to develop their independence skills. Two of the children use public transport to travel to and from school. One child has learned to cook meals, which he could not do when he moved in. Another child has a voluntary role in a cafe. These opportunities have increased children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children enjoy a range of activities including bowling, playing football and going to the cinema. The children enjoyed a group holiday, which enabled them to share new experiences and build positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious and welcoming. However, a cupboard door in one of the children’s bedrooms is broken and some areas have not been repainted, despite signs of wear. This does not help children to take pride in their home.

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

The staff carry out thorough risk assessments that consider the children’s presenting risks. The staff review the risk assessments regularly to ensure that they understand how to mitigate risks to children. Staff have a good understanding of the whistle- blowing policy and know who to contact in the event of a safeguarding concern.

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

Staff know the children well and use tailored strategies to help children to understand how they feel and to make positive choices. Staff confidently help children with coping strategies. These include going for a walk or a drive and spending time with staff. As a result, the children make positive choices and physical interventions have not been necessary.

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

Staff focus on children’s positive behaviour and celebrate their achievements. The children respond to this approach well, and this has helped them to make positive choices.

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

Staff respond effectively to incidents and allegations made by children. One child openly talks to staff about incidents during time spent with his friends. Another child talks openly to staff about his worries. The staff communicate any concerns about the children with external professionals. This ensures that children’s safety plans can Inspection report for children's home: SC423453 4 be agreed and actioned quickly. As a result, children feel safe and able to discuss their worries.

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

The children know how to make a complaint and are encouraged to talk to their social workers and independent reviewing officers independently. The children are encouraged to spend time together to discuss any concerns that they have about the home and communal living. This provides the children with a range of forums to share any concerns that they have.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and is undertaking her level 5 qualification. She is in the process of registering with Ofsted. She is supported by a deputy manager who knows the home and the children well. The managers work closely together to support the staff to develop their understanding of the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they are well supported by the manager and that she is responsive to their requests for advice. The staff value the manager’s knowledge and her ability to help them to reflect on their practice and the children’s needs. Supervision meetings are regular and enable staff to discuss the children’s care and their professional development. One member of staff said that the manager’s positive approach to her well-being has had a positive effect on her morale.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The external monitoring of the home is good. The manager responds swiftly to recommendations made by the independent person. The manager has carried out an internal care review. However, the review fails to include feedback from children, parents, external professionals and staff. Therefore, the manager is unable to fully understand their experiences in order to inform continuous improvements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff take part in core training, including first-aid, safeguarding and physical intervention training. The staff also complete training that develops their skills in understanding the individual needs of the children, such as child exploitation and self-harm. However, new members of staff have not completed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder training. This prevents staff from fully understanding the children’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager responds swiftly to complaints made by children. She ensures that children are involved in the complaint process and are made aware of the outcome. However, the manager does not always include in the record the rationale for the decisions made. This prevents the reader from fully understanding the outcome of the complaint. Inspection report for children's home: SC423453 5

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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

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(b) (5)) 26 May 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should provide a homely environment. In particular, ensure that the broken furniture in the children’s bedrooms is repaired without delay and that the walls are repainted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access resources to meet their training needs. In particular, ensure that staff are trained in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, the registered person should ensure that records of complaint outcomes include a clear rationale for decisions and the

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Recommendations

outcome is clear. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children's home: SC423453 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: SC423453 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kedleston Group Ltd, Unit 8, Brook Business Centre, Cowley Mill Road, Cowley, Uxbridge UB8 2FX

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Inspector

Laraine Edmondson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC423453 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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