Children's home run by Almond Care Children’s Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 1 Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties. It is owned by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is recently appointed and not yet registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 3

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff provide the children with a nurturing and extremely supportive environment. Children and staff have trusting relationships and staff show a great deal of empathy, curiosity and playfulness with children. This, combined with a comprehensive understanding of the individual needs and histories of children, contributes to excellent outcomes for the children.

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outstanding

Children are well cared for and loved by adults, who are sensitive to children’s needs, and are warm and nurturing. Secure relationships help children to regulate their emotions. Staff know children well and set appropriate behavioural boundaries. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in missing from care and self- harm behaviours. Children are happy and feel safe and this enables them to make excellent progress.

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outstanding

Children’s views are important to staff and are embedded into all aspects of care practice. Children are encouraged to express their views about all aspects of daily living and the care they receive. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and reflect their interests. Children’s guides are excellent, age appropriate and provide children with a wealth of information. Children choose their activities and menus. Children also express their views at their fortnightly children’s meetings and through regular key-work sessions with staff. This means the children’s views and opinions are central to the running of the home.

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outstanding

The progress of children is exceptional, considering their starting points when first moving to the home. Children are helped to make positive changes to their lives through well-thought-out strategies that do not overwhelm children. These have been developed by staff and in collaboration with children. Children are fundamentally involved in the care planning that supports their daily lives. This is empowering and builds children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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outstanding

Children have made significant progress in their education. All children attend school. One child, prior to living at the home, was not in education for three years. The staff and managers worked tirelessly with external professionals to find a new school placement. Another child is doing very well in school and is predicted excellent grades in their GCSEs. They have been offered a place at the college of their choice for the next academic year. This child aspires to going to university and gaining a degree. Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 4

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outstanding

Managers and staff work hard to ensure that children are safe. Children’s risk assessments and behaviour support plans are thorough. They reflect the risk and vulnerability of each child. Risk assessments and plans are reviewed using a whole- team approach and are discussed at team meetings and in staff supervisions. Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and have an excellent understanding of the children’s needs. Staff respond quickly to any potential risk to children or concerns with children’s behaviour, and are consistent in their approach to boundaries.

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outstanding

Staff have developed warm and nurturing relationships with children. This enables children to feel safe and secure. Staff provide good emotional support to children. This means children can feel safe enough to express themselves and can openly discuss their fears and anxieties.

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outstanding

Children say they feel safe and happy living at the home. One child, who previously had multiple placement breakdowns said, ‘This is the best home that I have ever lived in.’

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outstanding

The staff respond to incidents, quickly and decisively. This is because they understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping children safe. For example, they responded very quickly to a child who attempted to harm themselves. The response from staff was excellent and ensured the child was safe and received the help and care needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Both the manager and the deputy manager have recently been appointed and are new in their roles. The manager is yet to register with Ofsted. They are both establishing their leadership systems and processes. Managers are working on improving communication across the staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have good oversight of all aspects of the home and complete a variety of daily, weekly and monthly audits to ensure the smooth running of the home. Managers also have good oversight of staff supervisions, training and performance. Safer recruitment checks are thorough and ensure that only those adults with the right intentions get to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported and enjoy working at the home. Staff supervision is regular, reflective, and supportive. One member of staff said, ‘I feel listened to and valued. Our suggestions are acted on, and managers appreciate our work.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers welcome feedback from the home’s independent visitor and act on any recommendations made. They ensure that the culture of the home is open and reflective and are constantly striving to improve the services it provides to children. Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 5 Leaders and managers have strong working relationships with external partner agencies. This ensures the best possible care, experience and futures for children. External professionals are very positive about the care and support provided for children at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are reflective and thoughtful and seek to improve their management practice. They have a willingness to accept that things may not work, but also a real desire to get it right for the children. As a result, children receive care that meets their current and emerging needs. Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 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: 2567607 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Eliot Park Innovation Centre, 4 Barling Way, Nuneaton CV10 7RH

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Post vacant (new manager yet to register)

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Inspector

Pradip Panchmatia, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2567607 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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