Children's Home run by Bryn Melyn Care Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 1 SC411142 Registered provider: Bryn Melyn Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. The home cares for one child who displays complex behaviours because of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2018. She has completed the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for health and social care - children and young people’s services (residential management pathway).

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 18/10/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 05/11/2019 Full Outstanding 24/10/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the interim inspection in March 2022, one child has continued to live in the home. The home has provided stability for the child and they have made very good progress in the important areas of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A dedicated staff team builds good-quality and trusting relationships with the child. The child told the inspectors that they felt safe and are happy living in the home. The registered manager understands what works for the child and has made child- focused decisions to enable the child to develop relationships with a consistent team of staff. These relationships have allowed the child to settle. This is the longest period that they have lived in one home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child is listened to, respected and valued in the home. Staff encourage the child to be involved in their own care planning, which reduces the number of significant incidents when enjoying family time. For example, staff supported the child to plan their own family time at Christmas. As a result, the child’s family time was successful and meaningful to the child. This supportive approach means that the child grows in confidence and feels valued by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to make exceptional progress with their education. For example, the child’s school attendance increased from 27%, when they moved into the home, to 97% for the last academic term. In addition, staff and the registered manager work effectively with education professionals to help the child overcome barriers to their learning. One education professional said, ‘Communication is absolutely brilliant with the home and the registered manager has been superb. Every member of staff has been faultless and [name of child] is in a better place and achieving positive outcomes.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise and promote the importance of family time for the child. They plan the time that the child spends with their loved ones effectively. This approach has meant that the child has reconnected with some members of their family. One parent said, ‘Staff are great and they do a great job with [name of child]. I can’t fault the home and I am happy with how things are going.’ As a result, the child shares positive relationships with those people who are important in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard to meet the child’s health needs. They ensure that both routine and specialist health appointments are attended by the child. Furthermore, staff work effectively with health professionals to identify additional areas of support suitable for the child’s specific needs.

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

Staff work therapeutically with the child to keep them safe. They understand and adopt the home’s therapeutic model of care. This approach has meant that the Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 4 number of significant incidents with the child has reduced. For example, the number of incidents of physical aggression requiring physical restraint has significantly reduced since the child moved into the home. In addition, staff rarely issue consequences to the child to manage their behaviour. This approach helps to reassure the child that staff are confident in promoting their welfare.

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

Staff support the child to become safer. They understand the child’s needs and follow their plans effectively. The child’s risk assessments are clear and provide a good overview of individual risks and what staff need to do to keep the child safe. This reassures the child and has helped them to make very good progress from their starting point.

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

Staff respond effectively to safeguard the child when they have gone missing from the home. On two occasions, they followed the child’s protocols and worked well with external professionals. This proactive approach ensured that the child returned to the home quickly and safely. Also, staff ensure that return home interviews are carried out by an independent person. As a result of these actions, the child rarely goes missing from the home and incidents have considerably reduced.

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

Leaders do not consistently follow the home’s child protection policy and referral processes. For example, on one occasion, following an allegation made by the child against staff, the registered manager failed to immediately notify the local authority designated officer, as directed in the home’s safeguarding policies. In addition, the registered manager failed to record her decision-making or discuss and review the incident with senior leaders, which is also specified in the policy. The failure to follow safeguarding procedures and accurately record significant decision-making resulted in a significant delay in the necessary professionals being informed.

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

However, following an external audit of the home six months later, the incident was identified and referred to the local authority. It was reviewed by the appropriate external professionals and no further action was recommended.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager. She is child-focused and places the child at the centre of her decision-making. She knows the home’s strengths and weaknesses and takes action to make continual improvements to the home. She is supported by an ambitious deputy manager who is keen to learn and develop. This ensures that the child receives good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is sufficiently staffed to meet the needs of the child. Staff and the registered manager work as a team to cover gaps in the home’s rota and staff retention is good. In addition, the registered manager has made other important decisions to provide stability and continuity for the child. As a result of this stability and continuity, the child has made significant progress and has developed trusting and positive relationships with staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 5 The registered manager works hard to provide a nurturing environment for staff. Staff feel supported and empowered to do their best for children. Supervision and appraisal sessions are regular, reflective and of good quality. Furthermore, children’s plans are discussed and staff are encouraged to think creatively to improve the quality of care. These sessions improve staff’s confidence and enhance their learning

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home’s last full inspection, the registered manager has continued to make consistent improvements to the home. The internal and external monitoring systems used are much improved and are now identifying areas for development. This management oversight improves the care that the child receives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are suitably trained and equipped with the skills to meet the needs of the child. Also, the registered manager uses team meetings to further develop the skills of staff. For example, specific workshops have been held with staff, relating to children’s allegations and complaints, and therapeutic parenting. This helps staff to improve their practice and has a positive impact on the care received by the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The majority of staff are qualified. One member of staff is currently in the process of completing the required level 3 diploma. However, this has not been achieved in the required timescales. The registered manager has identified this shortfall and taken action to ensure that the staff member is supported to complete this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 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

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This refers to leaders’ understanding and implementation of the home’s child protection procedures and the action to take when a child makes an allegation that they have been harmed by an adult in a position of trust. 9 February 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, must have the qualification in regulation 32(4) within the relevant timescale listed in regulation 32(5). The registered person may extend the period if the member of staff has not worked in the role for a prolonged period, for example due to sick leave or maternity leave, or if it is not reasonable to expect the member of staff to complete in this timescale due to the nature of the hours they work. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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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: SC411142 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Bryn Melyn Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atria, Spa Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL1 4AG

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Inspectors

Dean Wilton, Social Care Inspector Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC411142 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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