Children's home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 1 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to two children between the ages of six and 16. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 2016. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 18 January 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/01/2022 Full Outstanding 18/11/2019 Full Outstanding 12/09/2018 Full Outstanding 03/01/2018 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 3

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outstanding

Children with a range of complex histories and needs make and sustain exceptional progress as a result of the stable and secure care they receive in this home. One social worker reported: ‘The child has made excellent progress since coming to live in the home. Staff have supported him through lots of significant changes in his life. I have more confidence for his plans for the future.’

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outstanding

Children are supported to participate in education. Children benefit from excellent attendance and participation in school. One child has had a planned, phased reintroduction to school. Before moving to this home, he was not in an education setting for some time. He has settled well, making significant progress in developing positive friendships and catching up academically. When children are anxious about changes in school, staff have daily handovers with school staff to support children’s attendance and progress.

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outstanding

Staff know about children’s health needs, and they continue to assess and address these well. Consistent rewards and positive reinforcement support children to make changes that improve their health. Children have been helped to improve their sleep routines and benefit from healthy diets. Staff creatively use play and visual aids to encourage children to develop positive routines. Staff liaise with specialist health services. One child has recently benefited from an assessment resulting in a specific support plan. This is the result of the manager being persistent in advocating for the child with the relevant services.

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outstanding

Staff ensure that each child’s voice is captured and listened to about care planning and in their daily care. Staff have trusting relationships with children and skilfully encourage them to share views and feelings using play.

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outstanding

Staff create books of daily positive memories and daily motivating statements. The books are given to children every month. The books include photos and record achievements, special occasions and positive feedback for children. Children say that they value and look after these records.

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outstanding

Managers are tenacious in seeking a range of information about children when they are referred to the home. This ensures that children’s needs are known and considered alongside those of children already living in the home. Staff carefully plan and prepare for each child moving into the home.

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outstanding

One child has moved to live with foster carers since the last inspection. There was a detailed, agreed plan of visits and overnight stays. There has been support and advice provided from staff since the child moved. This has been a successful transition for a child who had lived in this home for a number of years. Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 4 Staff support children to maintain relationships with significant family members, carers and friends. Staff work well with social workers and family to ensure that this time is planned, positive and safe.

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outstanding

Children experience clear boundaries and expectations, and consistent nurturing responses to their behaviour from staff. Children say that they feel safe in this home.

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outstanding

Staff use a range of therapeutic parenting approaches. Staff have received training relevant to the needs of the children living in the home. Staff benefit from consultation about each child with a child and adolescent psychotherapist. Safety plans are reviewed and advice about what is working well, to support each child’s needs being met, is shared and updated.

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outstanding

Children are helped to communicate their feelings and moods. Staff know the children’s needs well and anticipate when children feel anxious or worried about changes or planned events. They liaise carefully with other professionals and family and agree strategies to reduce and manage these worries.

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outstanding

There are very few incidents of aggressive behaviours or of children harming themselves and there are very few incidents of the use of restraint. Staff use de- escalation and distracting strategies well. Children’s concerning behaviours reduce significantly or cease because of consistent care and effective interventions.

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outstanding

When there are concerns about behaviours, staff complete detailed records that include talking to the child and capturing a debrief for the member of staff. Staff maintain purposeful chronologies of incidents, significant events and direct work undertaken with children. This supports the evaluation of children’s needs and progress.

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outstanding

Records are child-centred and thoughtful. Child-friendly and appropriate records are shared with children.

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outstanding

Professionals report that children are kept safe and are making exceptional progress from their starting points as a result of the nurturing care they receive in this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a stable staff group with a low turnover of staff. All but one recently seconded member of staff holds the relevant care qualification. The senior care staff are undertaking or already hold the relevant management qualification. This demonstrates excellent staff development opportunities and succession planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive supervision, participate in regular team meetings and attend training. Staff say this adds value to their practice and development. Staff appraisals Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 5 incorporate feedback from children. Staff report that the manager responds to their suggestions for training and for development of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from reflective practice sessions with the commissioned psychotherapist every two weeks. This is a safe space for staff to discuss their practice and their feelings. This also supports staff to grow in confidence and resilience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff advocate for and champion the children in their care. The manager has ensured that plans for one child’s transition to adult services are being considered as early as possible due to the child’s individual needs, to ensure that the most appropriate services are in place. Staff are ambitious for children, promote activities and new experiences and celebrate achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are effective systems in place to support the monitoring of the quality of care the home provides and to ensure that the ethos of the home and the service it provides fit with the statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager undertakes analysis and evaluation of incidents to identify patterns or themes and ensures that there are plans and actions to respond to them. She also completes regular audits to identify any areas for development. In this way, the manager recognises where to focus targets and support for children and staff. The manager responds promptly to recommendations from the independent visitor.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Monitoring and quality assurance inform the home’s development plan. Children are regularly consulted about the service, and they have their own plan outlining their contribution to the development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All professionals report that there is excellent communication with the home’s staff and that staff are proactive at seeking and sharing information to benefit children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One school leader said that there is excellent partnership working with the manager and staff and that ‘the manager challenges and holds agencies to account if there are delays in children receiving appropriate services.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 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: 1241752 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

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Inspector

Cathey Moriarty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1241752 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 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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