Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 1263673 1 Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services 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 and managed by a private provider. It was registered in September 2017 to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2021.

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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: 11 January 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: 1263673 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2022 Full Good 04/02/2020 Full Good 04/09/2018 Full Good 09/01/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1263673 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure that children have positive experiences while living in the home. Children enjoy their time with staff during activities, caravan holidays and time in the home watching films. This helps children to form positive attachments and provides them with a secure base.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have meaningful relationships with children and know them well. Staff know when children are sad, and they act without delay, providing children with the right support that they need to make them feel happy. This provides children with affection, helping them to trust staff who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are a priority to staff. New children moving into the home are registered with a dentist, a doctor and a local optician so that their health needs are swiftly dealt with. This allows children to live a healthy lifestyle and encourages their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children struggle with education, the registered manager works with education staff to discuss individualised plans. These plans are designed to build children’s resilience, with an end goal of having them attend full-time education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise that children want to see their friends and family. Suitable arrangements are made for them to do so. This reinforces to children that staff will do what they can so that children do not miss out on valuable time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moving out of a home can be difficult for children. However, when this happens, staff personalise their approach to the needs of the child. Staff are attentive to the issues that may make the child feel anxious, and they do their upmost to help the child to feel at ease in their new home.

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

Behavior support plans in place are detailed and work in line with children’s statutory plans. These plans provide staff with up-to-date and essential information about children and any triggers that may make children feel sad or angry. This means that staff can mitigate the escalation of any unwanted behaviour.

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

The manager ensures that missing-from-home incidents receive a multi-agency response. Following the child’s return, the child is welcomed back by the nurturing staff who talk to the child about going missing. This gives the child an opportunity to talk about what has happened with staff. Nevertheless, on some occasions, children do not receive a return home interview by an independent person. This is a missed opportunity for the child to further discuss any worries that they may have. Inspection report for children's home: 1263673 4 The registered manager implements procedures that reduce risk to children. Staff show curiosity and want to know and meet children’s friends and their parents. This forming of relationships provides staff with additional insight around potential risks. It also acts as a safeguard, as these people are contacted for information should a child be missing from the home.

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

Leaders and managers have implemented improved paperwork to document physical interventions. This means that any type of intervention will include a debrief with the child and staff, and will have management oversight. This means that all involved will have the opportunity to reflect on and learn from the incident.

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

Some consequences for children’s behaviours are not child-friendly and are punitive. This approach does not have the child’s best interest at heart. Leaders and managers acknowledged this and acted swiftly by implementing a consequence guidance sheet for staff that is in line with the company’s model of care, which is for staff to have a restorative approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced in his role and is supported by the acting deputy manager. Together, they are widely respected by staff and other professionals. They both lead by example, which determines the nurturing ethos of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children receive consistent care from staff, who collectively have the knowledge, experience and skills to provide high standards of care. Although the home has had staffing vacancies, the team works together to ensure that this does not impact on the children. This maintains children’s progress and positive relationships with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager ensures that his staff are aware of the risks posed by exploitation. The close working relationships with other professionals, such as the police and specialist agencies, mean that plans are implemented to manage and reduce risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good oversight of the home through internal and external monitoring. He responds to recommendations made by the independent visitor and has a development plan in place for the home. This ensures that the home continues to develop and move forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager holds reflective and regular supervision and team meetings. This supports staff development and gives staff a chance to share practice and learn new skills. Leaders and managers have oversight of staff training. This is monitored during supervision and is a standalone topic. Consequently, staff are up to date with their training. Inspection report for children's home: 1263673 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)  The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. The home should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in

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Recommendations

place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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: 1263673 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspectors

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Miriam Dolman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1263673 7 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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