Children's home run by Acheron Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 1 Registered provider: Acheron Care Limited Full inspection 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. The home provides care for up to three children who have experienced social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a permanent registered manager, who is suitably experienced and qualified.

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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: 16 February 2022

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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: 2638470 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are currently two children living at the home. One child has lived at the home since it opened in May 2021. Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home. The experiences of children moving on from the home are mixed. One child’s needs could not be safely managed at the home. The manager took prompt action and escalated her concerns to partner agencies. Another child who moved on wrote to each staff member to say thank you for caring for her during her time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with good-quality care, based on their individual needs. Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests and attend clubs, for example football training and dance classes. The children enjoy a bowling activity together, which takes place each week and is not reward-based. As a result, children have developed a good relationship with each other and enjoy spending time together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have good relationships with staff and are relaxed in their company. One child told the inspector that she likes her key worker and enjoys spending time with them. Equally, staff speak fondly of children and delight in their progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school and education is a high priority at the home. The manager has been a strong advocate to ensure that one child can sit her exams. Staff are creative in promoting children’s education. For example, one staff member has attended training to invigilate exams for the child. The manager and staff are aspirational for children’s futures. Children have the resources they need to complete their homework.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s health needs. Children attend their health appointments. When this is a difficulty for children, staff make alternative arrangements, such as using video links. As a result, children access care for their physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their views and make choices every day. Children enjoy sharing their views through house meetings. The manager provides feedback on all their comments. As a result, children have a strong voice in the home.

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

Both children currently living at the home said that they feel safe living there and can identify someone at the home to talk to if they are worried about anything.

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

Children have well-established routines in place. Staff provide clear boundaries and guidance to children. As a result, children know what is expected of them. Self- injurious behaviour is a significant risk for one child. Measures in place are discussed Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 4 with her, so she is fully aware of what action is being taken to safeguard her. There are structured agreements in place for how and when measures can be reduced.

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

Staff know and understand risks for children. Plans clearly set out actions staff must take to manage children’s risks. Plans are reviewed and revised to ensure that actions are keeping children safe.

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

Staff are proactive in considering safeguarding risks and focus on prevention of incidents. Staff are responsive and intervene in a timely way to support children. Use of physical intervention is low, and the least-restrictive options are used, and only as a last resort.

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

The manager undertakes a detailed review of all incidents to identify any learning. Alongside this, staff, often key workers, complete direct work with children. This is often revisited several times to reinforce learning. As a result, children are increasing their understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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

One child goes missing from the home and there have been a small number of serious incidents related to this. Staff know the actions they need to take to reduce the risk of her being missing and to respond to her going missing.

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

The manager has worked in partnership with other agencies around the management of children’s risk-taking behaviours. The manager has led on safety- planning, and proposed plans are shared and agreed with other agencies, such as mental health services and the police.

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

The home is set in a rural location in a remote part of a country estate. The manager does not always take children’s individual vulnerabilities into account when reassessing the location of the home. This reduces the opportunity to identify and minimise hazards in the local area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from an experienced registered manager. The manager is aided by a deputy manager and several senior members of staff. Staff reported that they are well supported by the management team. The manager always ensures that there are enough staff to supervise and care for the children. This keeps children safe and makes sure their needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager carried out a thorough investigation when there was a concern relating to staff conduct. This ensured that a staff member who was no longer suitable to work with children was dismissed. Any staff development issues are addressed in a supportive and positive way. This ensures that staff are competent to provide good-quality care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have good working relationships with partner agencies. Professionals provided positive feedback around the level of communication from the home. Children have experienced several changes of external professionals involved Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 5 with their care. This creates challenges in partnership working. The manager escalates her communication to senior managers in organisations when necessary. This ensures that the relevant agencies are part of important decision-making and care-planning for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction programme for new staff provides a robust introduction to the home. Children have prepared a virtual introduction from themselves for new staff. The staff are well trained in a wide range of topics. Staff and managers are provided with regular supervision. As a result, they are equipped with the knowledge and skills to care for the children at the home. The organisation promotes staff development through opportunities for enhanced training and qualifications. This creates a strong staff team that is keen and willing to develop and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The organisation’s psychologist and therapist work alongside the staff team. They provide a reflective space for staff and support them to plan approaches for children’s care. The therapeutic model outlined in the home’s statement of purpose is not fully embedded at the home. Furthermore, the statement of purpose does not clearly outline the purpose of surveillance at the home in relation to children. This could impact care-planning for children, particularly when considering prospective children moving into the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 6

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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 registered person must compile in relation to the children’s home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the home’s ethos and approach, the experience and qualifications of current staff, and the home’s approach to the monitoring and surveillance of children. 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purposes of the children’s home at least once in each calendar year taking into account the requirement in regulation 12 (2)(c) (the protection of children standard).

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Requirement Due date

When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Regulation 46 (1) (2))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to taking into account any new risks as these are identified. 31 March 2023

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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: 2638470 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acheron Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 117 Draycott Old Road, Forsbrook, Stoke-on-Trent ST11 9AL

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Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638470 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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