Children's home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Thanet

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC478616 1 SC478616

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Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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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 four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, and who may experience difficulties in forming and sustaining relationships. The home is operated by a private organisation. The company also has a school, which the children may attend.

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Information about this children’s home

There is no registered manager at the home. The post has been vacant since 27 May 2022.

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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 this inspection, 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: SC478616 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

Since the full inspection carried out in May 2022, the quality of care that the children receive has significantly improved. The staff have been supported to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to caring for traumatised children. Consequently, they have a better understanding of how the children express their anxieties and emotional distress. This has resulted in staff being able to develop trusting relationships with the children.

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The care of children

The children now engage positively with the staff in a wide range of activities, both at the home and in the local community. The individual work that the staff now carry out with the children in key-work sessions is meaningful and focused on the needs of the child. There has been a positive response to any child experiencing mental health difficulties, and specialist support has been arranged where this would benefit the child.

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The care of children

The children are encouraged to express their views and influence decisions regarding the day-to-day running of the home. However, the children are yet to receive sufficient information regarding independent advocacy services and how these can be accessed. There has also been one occasion when a child’s negative comments were not treated as a complaint, and consequently there was no investigation.

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The care of children

Although there has been a positive response to most of the requirements made at the last inspection, no action has been taken in respect of the communal lounge being used as a staff sleep-in room. Consequently, the children’s access to this room is restricted during the night.

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The safety of children

Safeguarding practice has significantly improved. The children’s vulnerabilities and associated risks are clearly identified and addressed in their individual risk assessments. The strategies within the risk assessments are being implemented in practice and this is keeping the children safer. For example, the interventions with one child have resulted in a significant decrease in the child’s missing-from-home episodes.

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The safety of children

There has been a focus on educating the children on how they can keep themselves safe. The staff have taken a creative approach and accessed resources to support the children’s understanding of the risks associated with any unsafe behaviours. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC478616 3 Complex and sensitive issues, such as knife crime, have been addressed in the children’s key-work sessions.

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The safety of children

The staff now have a clearer understanding of the actions they need to take when they become concerned about a child’s welfare. Their knowledge is explored and evaluated in supervision meetings and in staff team meetings. Consequently, any emerging safeguarding issues are identified quickly and responded to appropriately.

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The safety of children

Sufficient action has not been taken to safeguard the children’s privacy when they are in their bedrooms, as there is the potential for nearby neighbours to see into the children’s rooms. A recommendation regarding this matter was made at the last inspection. Although measures to protect the children’s privacy have been identified, these have not been implemented in a timely way.

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The safety of children

There has been an overall improvement in the standard of the children’s behaviour support plans. These now provide the staff with clear guidance on how they can best support a child whose anxieties and associated behaviours are becoming unsafe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager post became vacant in May 2022. Since then, there have been two interim managers at the home. The second of these has now applied to become registered with Ofsted and the application is being processed. The manager has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving standards at the home and has been successful in many respects.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There are now highly effective systems in place for monitoring the quality of care. These ensure that the work that needs to be carried out with the children is completed in a timely way. The progress that the children make is being recorded and their placement plans are amended accordingly. Staff’s performance and their development needs are being closely monitored and any shortfalls in staff practice are being addressed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

An effective improvement plan was implemented following the last inspection. Action has been taken to address most of the requirements made at the last inspection effectively. There has been a strong focus on providing staff training that is relevant to the shortfalls that were identified. The staff now feel well supported by the manager, and the team is working more collaboratively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have taken action to improve the quality of the accommodation. The children’s games room has been refurbished and greater attention has been given to ensuring that the home provides a comfortable and welcoming environment. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC478616 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/09/2021 Full Good 17/06/2019 Full Good 14/02/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC478616 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is necessary and proportionate. (Regulation 21(a)(b)(c)(ii)) 31 March 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39 (3)) 31 March 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that staff work in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. This is with specific reference to ensuring that the staff promote independent advocacy services. ('Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 22 paragraph 4.6) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC478616 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 73 And 74 Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate CT12 5GD

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Inspector

Stephen Collett, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC478616 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 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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