Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 1 SC039056 Registered provider: Leicester City Council 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 operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children under short-break arrangements and a further four children under longer- term arrangements.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered and suitably qualified and experienced.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 2 February 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/02/2022 Full Outstanding 13/08/2019 Full Outstanding 05/02/2019 Full Outstanding 13/11/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 3

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outstanding

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home under permanent arrangements. In addition, the home offers short-break stays for children. The home environment is warm and welcoming. It has been adapted to meet the complex needs of children who visit and live in the home.

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outstanding

Children have continued to receive thoughtful and individualised care from staff who are enthusiastic about their well-being. Staff go above and beyond to offer children new experiences and opportunities that they would not otherwise have access to. For example, one child has been supported to go indoor skydiving and snowboarding. Staff took two other children to a Christmas attraction in London as a surprise outing. Staff find creative ways to support children to access activities despite children’s complex health, social and mobility challenges. Staff do not see disability as a barrier to children having new and exciting experiences.

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outstanding

The registered manager and the team of deputy managers make measured decisions about children accessing the short-break provision. Staff recognise that it is important that children feel comfortable in an unfamiliar environment and get to know staff. The staff team collaborates closely with professionals and families to ensure that children’s transitions into the home are successful. As a result, children’s stays are well considered, and children enjoy their time at the home.

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outstanding

Staff have high aspirations for children and provide attuned, thoughtful care to children. For some children with significant challenges, staff concentrate on providing children with opportunities that will improve their quality of life. Staff are exceptionally skilled in communicating with children. Staff understand children’s verbal and non-verbal communication. As a result, children make their views known and adults meet their needs promptly to an extremely high standard.

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outstanding

Two children who live at the home told the inspector that they are happy and feel safe, that they get on well with staff, and that they have everything they need. Both children had holidays planned that they are looking forward to.

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outstanding

Parents also report positively about the support provided to them and their children. One parent told the inspector: ‘I don’t think people realise how valuable the short- break support is. I feel privileged to have the support they offer.’

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outstanding

Children’s individual needs are exceptionally well catered for by staff. They know about every aspect of children’s needs and work collaboratively with families and other professionals. This helps to ensure that children’s short-break stays develop them socially and emotionally. The excellent progress children make is not, however, consistently captured in children’s records. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 4

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

Clear support plans and risk assessments implemented by the manager and staff keep children safe. Managers talk to parents, colleagues in school and other professionals to make sure they fully understand children’s needs. As a result, staff fully understand how to support children to enjoy their short-break stays safely.

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

Incidents of aggression from children are low. On the rare occasion that staff have to hold children to keep them safe, this is for the shortest period of time. Staff know children well. Staff are highly attuned and identify even slight changes in children’s behaviours quickly and adjust their approach with them accordingly. The calm and caring response from staff means that children feel safe.

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

Managers take swift action if they have any safeguarding concerns. Staff consult with relevant professionals and are strong advocates for children to ensure that any concerns identified are taken seriously and promptly addressed. Staff have a robust understanding of children’s vulnerabilities and their safeguarding responsibilities.

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

When recruiting new staff, managers carefully consider candidates’ suitability to work in the home in terms of their drive and commitment to support vulnerable children. However, on occasion, managers have not verbally verified the reasons why some new staff have left previous posts working with children or vulnerable adults. This oversight has not placed children at risk as all other safer recruitment checks are completed. This is an area for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since 2013. She is suitably qualified and experienced. She is well respected by the staff team. Together with the team of assistant managers, they provide nurturing, dedicated care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team creates a warm, loving and nurturing environment where children are safe and well cared for. Children are central to everything that the staff do. The staff team ensures that children have enjoyable, positive experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Parents and professionals think highly of the managers and staff team and have faith in the care that they provide. The managers and staff team have developed strong relationships with all relevant professionals and parents. As a result, there is effective communication between them, which promotes children’s welfare. Managers challenge other professionals appropriately when they feel there are shortfalls in terms of what children need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported in their roles and there is an ardent team ethos at the home. Not all staff, however, have received regular supervision and some do not attend monthly team meetings. This is an area that could be improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a comprehensive range of training opportunities, including essential courses such as safeguarding and first aid. Not all staff have completed all elements Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 5 of mandatory training. In addition, the registered manager has not yet developed a workforce development plan for the home. This has not had an impact on the quality of care provided to children as most staff are very experienced and understand children’s needs exceptionally well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager regularly produces detailed reviews of the care that children receive. These could be improved further by capturing feedback from children, families, staff and professionals to inform these reviews.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite the shortfalls identified, staff have continued to deliver outstanding care to children and invaluable support to families. Children experience high-quality child- centred, individualised care. This was evident throughout inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 6

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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 recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

the individual is of integrity and good character;

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Requirement Due date

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform;

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Requirement Due date

the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1)(2)(a)(b) (3)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that full recruitment checks are completed for new staff. 22 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 22 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 7 This specifically relates to ensuring that all staff receive regular supervision. In addition, this also relates to ensuring that all staff complete mandatory training, and any other training required for their roles.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce development plan that meets the requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should, as part of the review of the quality of care, consult with children, families and stakeholders. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 15.2)

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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: SC039056 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Leicester City Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

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Inspector

Debbie Holder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC039056 9 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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