Children's Home run by SW Education & Care Ltd in Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 1 Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of social care and was registered on 9 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children. At the time of this inspection, one child lived in the home.

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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: 7 December 2021

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, one child has moved on from the home. The significant progress that they made while living in the home, alongside a supported transition plan, has helped them to move on successfully. They provided very positive feedback to the inspector about their experience of living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home has made substantial progress. Their developmental needs, including engagement in education, sense of identity, and family and social relationships, have improved. They are achieving positive outcomes in many areas of their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care is underpinned by a nurturing approach and strong relationships. Staff understand the child’s needs, and trusting relationships are built. Staff are skilled in responding to the child’s specific needs. During this inspection, interactions between staff and the child demonstrated supportive and warm relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is about to reach adulthood. They are supported to develop skills needed for independence. Where possible, early planning would provide the child with more opportunities to grapple with the responsibilities of adulthood, such as learning how to manage and administer their own medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Despite attempts from staff to help the child develop a healthy diet, this has not been achieved. Managers identify that this is linked to the child’s underlying emotional needs. If not addressed, serious implications for the child’s health are likely to occur. Further work is required to help the child develop coping skills that promote their well-being effectively.

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

The child has made significant progress in reducing their self-harming behaviour. They have gained a sense of safety. During this inspection, it was evident that staff are transparent in their communication with the child about risks, interventions and progress. The child is proud of their progress and referred to some previous behaviours as ‘non-existent’.

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

Staff understand the support the child needs to keep safe. When incidents do occur in the home, staff respond promptly and effectively. Incident records are detailed. The manager’s oversight is well recorded and informs actions to support the child.

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

Staff have succeeded in allowing the child to take age-appropriate risks. The child’s time spent in the community has increased safely. They now feel confident to meet friends and travel to college independently. The child trusts staff and seeks support when this is needed. This has helped them to develop their self-identity and relationships with others. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 4 Plans that provide information about risk and guidance to staff do not reflect all areas of risk and strategies discussed by managers and staff. Approaches to support the child to develop coping skills linked to their emotional needs and diet are not included in plans or across daily records to ensure that a comprehensive approach is implemented.

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

Recruitment procedures and induction activities are thorough to ensure that the child is cared for safely. There is a positive team culture in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively. Succession planning for a new manager is in place. Leaders and managers have a wealth of experience and are suitably qualified to lead the home. They involve the child in all aspects of the home’s development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have made a child-centred decision to not move any new children into the home. This is to ensure that the child’s progress is not disrupted. They remain at the centre of care in the home, which will help them to move on successfully in adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

For various reasons, some staff members have left the home after a long period of stability in staffing arrangements. New staff have been recruited to the home. The provider recruits high-calibre staff to ensure that children’s specific needs, including around self-harming behaviour, are understood, and met in line with the home’s ethos.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with training in line with the child’s needs. They receive regular, formal supervision and support from external professionals. However, formal supervision records lack the reflection and challenge needed for professional development that drives the highest quality of care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and

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Requirement Due date

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being.

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that strategies are used effectively to help the child develop coping skills that promote a healthy lifestyle and diet. 11 March 2023

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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. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that the child’s plans provide clear information and strategies to respond to the child and reduce risk. 11 April 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 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: 2578677 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tir Na N’og, Fitzhead, Taunton TA4 3LA

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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 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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