Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 1 Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It was registered in October 2022 to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children have lived at the home since it opened. Two children live at the home currently. The third child was discharged after a short stay, because despite the staff team’s best efforts, it could not keep the child safe. Specifically, the local authority had failed to provide all the necessary information to ensure a safe and suitable match. Despite the abrupt ending, the management of the child leaving the home was handled with the utmost sensitivity to protect the child from feeling rejected.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff team makes children feel welcome when they move into the home. Children receive information about the home in communication styles that are tailored to suit their needs. This helps them to understand how they will be cared for.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled. They treat the home as their own and enjoy living there. The staff have a good understanding of each child’s needs. Staff provide very good, individualised and nurturing care, which has enabled the children to thrive. Children like the staff and the staff speak fondly about the children, which has led to some secure and trusting relationships. One professional described the home as being ‘the best thing that has ever happened’ to the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a warm and nurturing environment that is furnished and decorated to a high standard, which helps the children to feel valued. Children have helped to decorate and personalise their rooms to suit their interests. Staff provide opportunities for children to develop independence skills. This helps the children to learn valuable life skills that will benefit them in the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s involvement in making decisions about the home has helped them to feel like they belong. Key-work sessions with children help them to talk about a range of topics that focus on their care, safety and well-being. The staff ensure that children are heard, and their wishes and feelings are listened to and considered.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the children’s education and celebrate their achievements. Children’s good attendance in school and their educational progress are indicative of their motivation to learn and aspire. The positive communication between the staff and education providers counters any barriers to the children’s learning.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health. Staff support the children to attend medical appointments and refer them on to specialist health services when necessary. Staff provide good emotional support to children, which helps to soothe and reassure them when they feel sad. Staff promote healthy eating, exercise and a positive self- image with the children, which enables them to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a diverse range of activities that enrich their experiences and provide them with good memories of their life at the home. Staff support the children to Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 4 engage in both group and independent activities. This includes attending football matches and taking part in sports, going on day trips, local walks and gaming. One child is involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and they are embarking on an activity holiday with their school, which they are looking forward to.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to spend time with their loved ones, which has included family members spending time at the home. This promotes the children’s identity and sense of belonging.

p.4

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

The staff team is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for the children by maintaining consistent routines and boundaries. This is in keeping with the values of a good parent. The staff are trained in safeguarding children, so they know how to respond to any concerns. Keeping children safe is also discussed in staff supervision and team meetings and through learning resources, which supports the staff to maintain their knowledge and expertise.

p.4

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

Children are safeguarded from bullying and other forms of abuse, including exploitation and radicalisation. The children’s risk assessments are clear and reviewed regularly. They include all the information necessary for staff to mitigate the risks. Staff and other agencies work together. They talk to the children about risks, such as online safety. Consequently, children can understand the potential risks and their safety online is monitored by the staff.

p.4

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

Children are supported to manage their emotions and behaviour effectively. The staff respond with care and nurture, in line with the model of care for the home. They use restorative practices and promote rewards. The registered manager and staff understand the children’s behaviour, and they use their positive relationships to defuse incidents. However, due to the lack of information provided about a child, the staff were not able to manage their behaviour effectively. This resulted in the staff calling for police assistance to keep everyone safe. The decision was made to end the child’s placement because of their highly risky behaviour and attempts to cause serious harm to themselves.

p.4

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

Physical interventions have been used to protect children and others from significant harm. Staff physically intervened to prevent a child in crisis from placing themselves in imminent danger. This resulted in some physical interventions that do not align with the approved training, but they were used to safeguard the child from immediate harm. While these measures were recorded, and monitored by the registered manager, the records were not completed in accordance with the regulations relating to physical intervention. Despite there being no known harm to children, this practice does not assure that the measures used are safe, transparent and proportionate.

p.4

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

The number of times that children have gone missing from the home is very low. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 5 However, the missing-from-care policy does not clearly specify what action staff should take when a missing child returns home. Despite this recording gap, staff handle missing-from-care incidents appropriately.

p.4

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

Safe recruitment checks carried out by the provider ensure that children are not exposed to unsuitable adults.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively. The registered manager is very child-focused, as well as being visible and approachable. She is ably supported by the deputy manager, staff and senior managers who show a keen interest in the children and their outcomes.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager knows the children very well, and her aspirations for the children and staff are high. Staff have been given opportunities to develop their skills and practice, which has led to some promotions within the team. The staff who were consulted during the inspection enjoy caring for the children. They confirm that they feel well supported by the registered manager and team colleagues.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff team have worked hard to overcome challenges that have arisen in recent months due to the group dynamics. Despite the difficulties, the staff team has emerged from the experience intact. Through reflective supervision, thorough debriefs and team meetings, staff can reflect on their practice and strengthen their resilience. No staff have left the home since it was registered with Ofsted. This provides children with consistent care from staff who take an active role in their development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff induction, training and other learning opportunities ensure that staff are prepared well to care for the children. Staff appraisals ensure that their performance is monitored, supported and kept under review.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has implemented monitoring systems to ensure that continuous improvements are made that are in the children’s best interests. Visits by the independent visitor are taking place and the children’s views are consistently reported on. Although the reports present a positive impression of the home, they do not evidence any consultations with parents and the staff. This does not make it clear how the visitor has used these people’s views to consider how the staff team safeguard children effectively and promote their well-being.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The positive feedback from parents and professionals indicates that the staff team communicates with them effectively and the children are thriving.

p.5

Statutory requirements

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 6 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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (“the user”), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 31 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 7 When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

p.6

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))

p.7

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the provider must ensure that the independent person interviews and reports on the consultations that they have with the staff and parents. 31 January 2023

p.7

Recommendation

 The registered person should specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission, and how staff should support the child on return to the home. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that the guidance in the missing-from-care protocol describes the action that staff should take when children return after a missing incident. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 45, paragraph 9.28) Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 8

p.7

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: 2692022 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Victoria Street, Greetland, Halifax HX4 8DF

p.9

Inspectors

Jacqueline Malcolm, Social Care Inspector Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2692022 10 inspects 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.

p.9

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10