Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 1 Registered provider: Caldecott Foundation 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 five children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a charitable organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager who has been in post since August 2019.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2022 Full Good 19/08/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 09/05/2018 Full Good 19/12/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a large and well-decorated home where they flourish. Children are allowed to be themselves. Staff understand that, at times, children will try to push boundaries, but staff are consistent in their response. As a result, children know what is expected of them and this helps them to relax and enjoy their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work collaboratively with external professionals for the benefit of the children. There is a definite sense of the team being around the child, with everyone working collaboratively. This coordinated response allows for any issues to be resolved quickly and the focus remains on addressing the needs of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children continue to make progress in all areas of their development. The staff undertake individual direct-work sessions with children, and these are reflected in daily recordings. Weekly progress reports also highlight specific areas of progress. This enables all professionals and staff involved with the child to see what is working well. Equally, it can highlight where further support may be needed to ensure that positive outcomes are achieved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are attending daily education. When children are reluctant to go to school, staff encourage attendance. Staff know that educational attainment is linked to better outcomes for children later in their lives. Staff want the children to do their best in all areas and want the children to be aspirational for their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to participate in activities of their choice. These are locally based or further afield. Each week, the children say what they would like to do in the following week. Staff work hard to enable the children to undertake the activities of choice. Therefore, children continue to develop skills or have new experiences. These can assist them in building their self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an established protocol in place to help new children to move in to the home. Part of this process involves the manager providing key information to the staff about the child’s journey. This equips staff with essential information about the child and provides a useful insight into their previous experiences. Having an appreciation of the child’s journey offers an explanation as to why they may present with certain behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of maintaining the children’s family links. This is achieved through phone calls, or they will support face-to-face family time. The staff understand how crucial it is for children to maintain these links, as they reinforce their identity and sense of self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A psychotherapist regularly meets with the team to explore any issues relating to the needs of the children. This provides staff with the opportunity to explore the Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 4 impact of working with the children, time for reflection and discussion on ways to improve their support and responses to the children.

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

The staff have worked hard to form trusting relationships with the children and this has provided children with a feeling of being safe. The children say that they feel safe and cared for by staff. This is crucial for the children as they have a place where they know that they are always protected and supported.

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

Children are not involved in any criminal activity and they do not go missing from care. This is a result of the care and support that staff provide the children with. Children willingly hand over any items that may be considered unsafe as the children know they should not have brought these items into the home. Through the individual sessions with the children, staff explore different aspects of how children can keep themselves safe. This equips the children with essential knowledge that they can use now and in the future.

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

Children have access to the internet, but this is managed in a proactive and safe way. Staff regularly work with the children and ensure that they know how to keep themselves safe online. Phone checks are undertaken. Should any issues arise, staff are proactive in their response. Staff spend valuable time with the children revisiting key information.

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

More-concerning incidents have steadily declined, and physical interventions are only used as a last resort. When any incident has occurred, both the child and staff are spoken with to determine what lessons can be learned.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and capture the needs of the children and how they should be supported. Staff read these key documents whenever they are updated. This enables staff to consistently respond to the children, and this reinforces routines and boundaries. These are key and add to the children feeling safe as they know what to expect from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is proactive in her role, and she truly cares for the children. The manager is responsive to the staff and children and always has time for them. Children often seek her out when they return from school, so they can update her about their day.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and her team are aspirational for the children and want them to experience a childhood that is the same as any other child. As far as possible, the home replicates a family environment as the manager is aware that this is what all the children wish for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a joined-up approach relating to the care planning for the children. The manager works closely with external agencies. They collaborate and share the same Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 5 goals. The manager is clear about the longer-term plans for the children. She works hard to ensure that her team understands that the children may not always be in their care. Therefore, they harness every opportunity that they can to help the children to grow and become more resilient.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recently, a new computer system was introduced. It is in its transitional phase and is taking time to become fully embedded. Social workers for the children have been given access to this system to support better information exchange. Consequently, social workers remain up to date about the children, and this supports partnership working.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, good-quality supervision, and appraisals are completed each year. Training is seen as a key part of the staff’s role as this upskills the staff. Where needed, specific training is commissioned to ensure that a child’s needs are understood and met. Professional feedback is overwhelmingly positive about the manager and team. A social workers said, ‘I wish all my children could live in that home.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 6

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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: 1244117 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, ASHFORD, Kent TN25 6SP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

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Inspector

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1244117 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 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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