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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC023645 1 SC023645 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately operated home is part of a larger organisation which has several homes in the area. The home provides care and accommodation for up to seven children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 11 March 2021.

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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: 9 November 2021

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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: SC023645 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/11/2021 Full Good 19/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 21/05/2019 Full Good 19/02/2019 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: SC023645 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well prepared and supported to move on from the home. Staff work collaboratively with placing authorities to ensure that plans come to fruition, and children’s views are central to decision-making. One child said, ‘Staff helped me so much.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences moving into the home. Staff make children feel welcome and take the time to build trusting relationships with them. Staff encourage children to decorate their bedrooms to their liking, and purchase items that help children settle in comfortably and feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress relevant to their experiences and time living in the home. Staff provide a range of positive and first-time experiences for children, such as holidays, regular clubs and activities. These life-enriching opportunities expand children’s experiences and instal positive childhood memories. One child thanked staff for the best Christmas they had ever had.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend education provision in accordance with their relevant plans. Staff are clear on the importance of children attending school and college. This is embedded and accepted as part of the routine of living in the home. Subsequently, children achieve their educational targets, GCSEs, an increased attendance and improved attitudes towards learning. As a result, children develop improved self- esteem, confidence and improve their life chances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Until recently, some children received therapies and support from an in-house health and well-being team. This came to a natural end for children leaving the home. Since then, the registered manager outsourced individual therapies for children. This has been successful, and children positively engage in regular sessions. Senior leaders are in the process of updating the home’s statement of purpose, in conjunction with the registered manager, to reflect these changes

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

Children feel safe and protected from harm. Children have trusting adults they can talk to about any worries or fears they have, and staff listen.

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

Staff understand the risks that using the internet poses for children. Staff have well- developed strategies in place and support children sensitively to understand how they can keep themselves safe. Children complete online training to further aid their knowledge and understanding around their presenting needs and risks.

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

Staff understand children’s vulnerabilities and support them further to explore what healthy relationships are. Staff are passionate about how children view themselves, Inspection report for children’s home: SC023645 4 and there is an emphasis on self-love and respect. This promotes a culture where children feel empowered to make healthier lifestyle choices.

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

Staff store children’s medication appropriately, including controlled medications. Records for the administering of children’s medications are accurate and there are clear auditing processes in place. There have been no medication errors since the last full inspection.

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

All children’s bedroom doors are alarmed, and staff remove children’s televisions before they go to sleep. This practice was originally put in place to safeguard children and help them to achieve a good night’s sleep. However, managers have not reviewed this for children. This means children have not been given the opportunity to demonstrate that they have made progress in some of their historical risk-taking behaviours. The registered manager was receptive of this, and informed the inspector she would review this with children and their allocated social workers following this inspection.

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

The registered manager facilitates researched-based team meetings with staff around pertinent issues for children. This is creative and helps staff to understand the functions and motivations for children’s past and present behaviours. This contributes to the progress and outcomes for children, such as the reunification with brothers and sisters. However, some of this research, workshops and webinars for staff have not transferred over to the manager’s training matrix. Furthermore, some staff have not received all the relevant trainings in meeting children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders notified Ofsted of the registered manager’s planned maternity leave. The deputy manager filled in for the registered manager during this arrangement. Feedback from external professionals and senior leaders within the organisation are unanimous in the exceptional job, and efforts, of the deputy manager within this time. The registered manager returned to the home in January 2023.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is qualified, experienced and passionate about driving positive outcomes for children. This, paired with the ambitious and highly organised deputy manager, means the home is managed to a good standard, and records are well documented. The strength of leadership inspires a culture where staff are focused and committed to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Investigations are carried out properly. Concerns are well triangulated and relevant safeguarding professionals are notified and kept updated throughout. Children and staff receive appropriate support following safeguarding concerns and this is well reflected in recorded documentation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safeguarding logs are highly organised. Chronologies are clear in the steps that managers have taken to safeguard children. Conclusions formulate good action planning, and managers monitor and record well the subsequent outcomes. Since the registered manager has returned from maternity leave, she has completed Inspection report for children’s home: SC023645 5 additional reviews on all safeguarding incidents in the home. This demonstrates a commitment to her oversight in ensuring that all regulatory responsibilities and outcomes for children and staff have been achieved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior leaders have sourced researched-informed training for managers in September 2023. This demonstrates the emphasis senior leaders place on upskilling managers in understanding contextualised and safeguarding risks for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and deputy manager have met the requirement and recommendations from the last full inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023645 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications, and skills to meet the needs of each child and;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff receive necessary training to meet children’s needs and have clear oversight of training and development of staff. 1 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the use of door alarms and measures for removing televisions from children’s bedrooms are reviewed in accordance with children’s individual plans and known risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.13)

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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: SC023645 7

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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

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC023645 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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