Children's home run by T-Junction Children’s Services

Inspection report for children’s home: 2642570 1 Registered provider: T-Junction Children’s Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. It is one of three homes owned by the provider.

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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: 15 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: 2642570 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2642570 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Overall, experiences and progress for children are good. Staff develop strong relationships with children and understand their needs well. A social worker said, ‘[Name of child] seems to be happy and settled and receiving lots of nurture from staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff review the progress children are making. Individual and realistic targets are set for children, for example helping children to express their wishes and feelings by talking to staff rather than shouting in frustration. Staff support children’s emotional well-being by using the PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) model of care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. One child has achieved 100% attendance at school this year. When children are not in full-time education, staff provide educational activities to support their development. The manager works effectively with external professionals to find alternative provisions. Staff promote children’s progress, achievements and learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm, welcoming and decorated well. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests. Photos of the children and their family are displayed around the home, which adds to the homely feel. A social worker said, ‘It feels like a home and a family.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities and experiences in the home and the community. Activities include exploring nature, swimming and a variety of physical activities. Staff promote hobbies for children and celebrate their achievements. Children have a great sense of fun, and laughter fills the home. Children develop their social skills, interests and hobbies.

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

Physical intervention is only used by staff as a last resort. On most occasions, staff spend time with the child after an intervention and support them to understand what happened. Staff use the PACE model of care with children. A member of staff said to a child, ‘I wonder what I could do to help if you are struggling.’ This helps children to identify how staff can support them to manage their feelings safely.

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

The manager ensures that staff keep a record of children’s positive behaviours throughout the day in ‘positive books’, even on the most challenging days. The manager said, ‘It is important for the children to have a focus on the positive elements of the day, even when the day might have been challenging. There is always something positive.’ Children enjoy looking at books with staff. This makes children feel valued and impacts positively on their self-esteem. Inspection report for children’s home: 2642570 4 Training is effective in helping staff understand how early childhood experiences may impact on a child’s behaviour. A member of staff said, ‘PACE and trauma and attachment training were outstanding face-to-face sessions, and I use what I learned from these days on a daily basis.’ Staff are well informed about the impact of children’s experiences on their emotional development.

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

Individual risk assessments and behaviour support plans are sufficiently detailed. These help the staff understand how to keep the children safe. Staff do not always follow the risk assessments. This increases the risk of an incident occurring and escalating. The manager said that there are incidents which could have been prevented from escalating.

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

The manager ensures that allegations made by children are investigated promptly and relevant professionals informed. However, it is not always clear how a conclusion is made following an investigation. The manager has taken action to ensure that investigations are thorough, but this is not yet embedded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are enthusiastic about providing the best care to children and supporting positive progress. The manager and staff know the children well. They spend time with the children and talk proudly about their progress and achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supportive of staff. They benefit from quality team meetings and supervision. The manager ensures that staff reflect critically on their practice. One member of staff said, ‘Debriefs are really helpful. They are supportive of what you have done right and anything that could have been done differently.’ This ensures that children receive good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are effective. Staff are encouraged to share ideas about ways children can be helped to progress. One member of staff said, ‘We work well as a team to provide a warm, safe, supportive and friendly family environment for the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has oversight of the care provided to children. The manager makes effective use of the internal monitoring to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home. The manager carries out a quality of care review; however, it is not clear how consultation with children, staff, professionals and key stakeholders influences the development of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2642570 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to staff adhering to plans that identify children’s needs and ensuring that staff are consistent in addressing children’s behaviour. 20 April 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: 2642570 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: T-Junction Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 27 The Pastures, Narborough, Leicester LE19 3DS

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Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2642570 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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