Children's home run by What's Out There Limited

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 1 SC465120

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Registered provider: What’s Out There Limited

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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. It provides care for up to three children. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The staff successfully build trusting relationships with the children, and routines run smoothly at the home. Outcomes for children are mixed. Since the previous inspection, one child has moved into the home and is settling in well. One child has lived at the home for some time, is settled and is making progress. However, one child experienced an unplanned ending and left the home.

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The care of children

The child was removed from the home by the police due to a violent incident where the staff were unable to keep the child or others safe and the police were called to support them. Damage was caused to the home, and staff were injured. Prior to this incident, the manager had recognised that the home could not meet the child’s needs. Notice was given to the placing authority, but there was a delay in finding a suitable alternative placement. This delay contributed to the child becoming frustrated and angry.

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The care of children

The children living at the home are making progress with their education. They both have college placements that are equipping them with the vocational skills that will help them to obtain future employment.

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The care of children

Children benefit from regular visits to their family and enjoy spending time with their friends, who are welcome to visit the home. The staff support the children effectively to pursue their hobbies and interests. For example, the staff encourage the children to engage in various sporting activities such as rugby and trampolining. These activities help the children to learn new skills and promote self-esteem and self-confidence.

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The safety of children

Children report that they feel safe living at the home. Safeguarding procedures are robust and comprehensive. The staff are vigilant and know the children well. This means that they are quickly aware of any changes in a child’s behaviour. Staff take swift action to support the children effectively and keep them safe.

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The safety of children

Any incidents that take place at the home are generally well managed. The staff use effective strategies to manage the children’s behaviour. However, on three occasions since the previous inspection, the police were called to support the staff to manage a child’s behaviour.

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The safety of children

The staff understand that the use of physical restraint for a child who has suffered past trauma is not appropriate and do not use restraint to manage a child’s Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 3 behaviour. Risk assessments are comprehensive and offer staff alternative behaviour management strategies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have reflected and learned from incidents where children have had to leave the home in an unplanned way due to the staff not being able to keep them and others safe. In response, a comprehensive admissions impact risk assessment has been created that will help managers to evidence that the staff have the skills and experience to care for a child and their identified needs. This process will be carried out before another child is admitted to the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Following a successful recruitment campaign, the home now has a full and settled staff team. All of the staff team are either qualified or undertaking a childcare qualification. The staff report that there is good moral and that they are well supported and supervised by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager strongly advocates for children and demonstrates that she has high aspirations for them. For example, she recently challenged and made a complaint to a placing authority which was not providing the child with the services that they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home provides the children with a generally homely and well-decorated environment. Some institutional fire prevention equipment and health and safety signage are displayed that detract from the otherwise homely appearance. The children have decorated the home for the planned Christmas celebrations and are proud of their large Christmas tree. Any damage in the home is repaired promptly. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/05/2021 Full Good 11/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/12/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 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 care planning standard is that children —

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that they understand the needs of children before they move into the home and that they ensure the children moving in can live safely alongside the other children. 30 January 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: What’s Out There Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 Marling House, Trinity Way, Minehead, Somerset TA24 6GW

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Inspector

Tina Maddison, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC465120 7 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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Inspector

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