Children's Home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd in Bexley

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 1 Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities. There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 15 September 2022. This is the home’s first inspection.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children settle well into the home and make good progress from their starting points. They make and sustain meaningful relationships with a consistent staff team. These relationships are warm and nurturing. For example, a child who experienced difficulties at a previous placement is now settled and making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well. They have completed appropriate communication training and can read children’s verbal and physical gestures to ascertain the mood and well-being of each child. Children feel empowered by their routines and can vocalise when they are unhappy with potential changes. Staff understand children well and are alert to any changes in their behaviour, which are immediately identified and addressed by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The provider takes a careful and thorough approach when considering new children moving into the home. Preparations for children’s moves are detailed and include the participation of those children already settled in the home. This helps children to settle quickly and develop feelings of inclusion and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote positive relationships between the children and their families, who play a part in helping children to make progress. Staff arrange family visits to the home, tailored to the needs and circumstances of the children. They have also helped one child to rebuild their relationship with their mother. Staff maintain close communication with families and include them in important events.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. Children attend all their routine health appointments. Specialists’ help and support is sought when necessary. Staff work closely with health professionals to ensure that children receive the appropriate support to meet their health and development needs. However, medication records were not signed by staff on two occasions when medication was administered to a child and when another child refused to take their medication. This did not impact on children’s health and well-being and was addressed appropriately by the manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage well in education and make good progress. Staff support children to attend school, and they work closely with teachers to provide additional support when needed. They take effective action when children are not in school and talk with education professionals to ensure that children access their formal education. One child who had not been in school before moving into the home is now receiving online tuition. They are also working with the staff to identify an appropriate school provision near the home to enable them to return to education. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 3

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

Children say that they feel safe. They can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have any worries or concerns. The stable and consistent home environment, together with the warmth and confidence of the staff, help children to feel safe and secure.

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

Children’s risk assessments are robust and identify known and potential risks to children. Risk assessments include clear plans and actions for staff to take to support children and mitigate the risks. Safeguarding practice is further strengthened by the training provided to staff to help them understand and recognise risks to children.

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

Children are supported to understand risks. Staff use pictures, gestures and verbal prompts to support communication. However, key-work sessions do not consistently discuss children’s individual risks. This is a missed opportunity to help children to learn how to keep themselves safe.

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

Children receive appropriate help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings. Positive behaviour is encouraged with positive reinforcement and praise, which children respond to appropriately. Children are provided with positive experiences of care, and this is demonstrated by the fact that there have been no incidents at the home since it was registered.

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

Safeguarding practice is strong. Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing procedures. They work closely with other agencies to ensure that appropriate action is taken to keep children safe. This increases children’s safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led and managed by a committed and experienced registered manager. The manager and staff know the children well and hold high aspirations for them. Feedback from children, professionals and parents about the leaders, managers and staff is overwhelmingly positive .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work proactively with other professionals and build positive relationships with parents. For example, staff have worked closely with one child’s school to complete their communication passport to maintain consistency in the care and support provided. Professionals and parents receive regular updates about the progress and experiences of children. This results in a shared approach to providing children with good-quality care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by leaders and managers. Staff are suitably qualified and receive regular training and development opportunities. However, there have been occasions when children have been cared for by new staff who are not suitably trained in restraint practice. This potentially places children and staff at risk. Additionally, team meetings are not held regularly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 4 Some children’s case records do not include important information from their placing local authorities, such as copies of children’s education and health care plans. Children’s daily records do not include sufficient details about their experiences, such as what they have done each day. This reduces the manager’s and staff’s understanding of children’s needs and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s physical environment is well maintained and safe for children. The home is warm and welcoming and has a family atmosphere. Children are proud of their home. They are supported to decorate their bedrooms and have a say in how the home is redecorated. This helps them to feel valued and comfortable in their home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff are suitably trained and are offered regular team meetings to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children. Furthermore, children’s records should include details of their day-to-day experiences for effective monitoring and review of the quality of care provided to them. 7 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 31 January 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 6 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that all children’s files contain up-to-date local authority plans.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should keep records of the administration of all medication, which include occasions when prescribed medication is refused. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: 2692918 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Cyrinus House, 18 Hatherley Road, Sidcup DA14 4BG

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Inspector

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2692918 8 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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