Children's Home run by Discovered Limited in West Northamptonshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 1 Registered provider: Discovered Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children have good relationships with staff, who they trust. Children are comfortable spending time with staff. They say that they like the staff and the manager, and staff speak very highly of the children, saying that they are ‘lovely’. As a result, children are happy living here.

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The care of children

Children’s care plans are detailed. They are reviewed and updated weekly. Records are child centred, and are written to the child. They clearly inform staff of the needs of the child. This ensures that staff know each child’s specific plans and how to care for children and keep them safe.

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The care of children

Children’s health needs are well met. Children access health services, such as doctor, dentist and optician practices, as well as specialist help when required. Concerns for one child regarding hygiene is acknowledged and understood by the manager and the staff. A psychologist at a local hospital has a long-standing relationship with the child. Frequent support sessions help the child with her mental health. Therefore, children are receiving the help that they need to make progress and stay healthy.

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The care of children

Children have regular one-to-one key-work sessions with staff. These cover a wide range of topics that are individual to each child. Children’s meetings also take place frequently. This helps children to be involved with their care and have their wishes and feelings heard and acted on.

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The care of children

Children’s moves to and from the home are managed very well by managers and staff. The arrangements for one child were exceptional, with intensive planning and a high level of support in a new placement. This continued when the placement ended, and the child moved back to the home. The child’s social worker said, ‘I couldn’t have asked for anything more, they set to work repairing and restabilising. They worked really, really hard. I haven’t come across a setting before that would put in that amount, I’m very grateful.’

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The safety of children

Children’s assessments of risk are clear and detailed. They are live documents that are reviewed and updated whenever changes to risk are identified. Triggers for certain behaviours are recorded as well as indicators and how staff should respond. This has helped staff to recognise behaviours and manage situations well.

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The safety of children

The manager has handled allegations appropriately. Practice that put children at risk was reacted to quickly. Children have been listened to and their concerns acted on. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 3 Social workers and other safeguarding professionals have been involved where necessary. Therefore, action has been taken to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Children receive regular support from psychologists and occupational therapists. One-to-one sessions are arranged to help children with specific needs. Care plans and risk assessments are reviewed weekly by a holistic care manager to ensure that they address the help and protection of children. This ensures that the staff know how to work in ways to keep children safe.

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The safety of children

Staff receive effective training with regards to safeguarding children. This is in their induction and refreshed regularly. In addition, the manager has created a presentation that informs staff of how to recognise and respond to situations that may affect the safety of children. Safeguarding is addressed in all team meetings and staff supervisions. This has developed staff’s understanding of safeguarding and how to respond to situations that may put a child at risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

All the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. The manager was able to demonstrate how practice has improved in each of these areas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager knows the children very well. He has a very child-centred approach and speaks highly of the children. He is ambitious for each child and proud of the progress that children have made. This ethos is reflected in staff practice. A social worker said, ‘Things changed so much with the new management. [Manager’s name] has a full grip of everything going on around the home. There has been a positive change with the staff group as a result.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager’s monitoring of the home is good. There is a comprehensive quality assurance tool that is completed by the manager monthly, and is reviewed by the responsible individual. The manager also uses daily observation to monitor practice. He values the monthly independent visit and finds the recommendations helpful. This ensures that the manager has a good understanding of staff practice and how children’s needs are being met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager ensures that all staff receive support individually and as a group. This includes regular supervision and team meetings. Staff say that they are extremely well supported by the manager. The manager also feels well supported by the responsible individual. This has helped to develop a stable staff team who enjoy their work.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager needs to improve his review of the quality of care. This does not meet the standard. It must be completed at least every six months. It needs to be more evaluative and include feedback from children about the home. This will improve the monitoring and analysis of the experience and progress of children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/04/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 30/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/05/2021 Full Inadequate 30/12/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 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 registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

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Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (“the quality of care review report”).

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. 30 April 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 6 (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This particularly refers to ensuring that reports are completed at least every six months, following the guidance in the regulation for the content, and are sent to HMCI within 28 days. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4-4a Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 1HD

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2545027 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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