Children's Home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since April 2021. They are currently away from the home and a temporary manager is in post.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 10 November 2021

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/11/2021 Full Good 03/12/2019 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/04/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have continued to accommodate only one child in a home that is registered for three. This means that the child has plenty of space to develop physically and emotionally. The home is warm and inviting and the child is surrounded by photos of themselves and positive messages. This model of individual care ensures that the child makes good progress in several areas of their life.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child well cared for by staff, who provide nurture and warmth. There is a calm atmosphere, where successes are celebrated. Staff want the very best for children. When children have a particular interest or hobby, staff ensure that this is encouraged, and provide opportunities to develop. The child is having weekly singing lessons. This has meant they have had the confidence to sing on a stage in front of an audience, which helps to improve their sense of self-worth and self- esteem.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers have ensured that the child’s social, emotional and health needs are met. A healthy lifestyle is encouraged, and the child has tried boxing, swimming and workouts at the gym. However, the child smokes cigarettes, and has a healthy amount of social media use. Positive mental health is supported through a therapist and the child and adolescent mental health services when needed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living at the home continues to be engaged and positive about their education and learning. Although there are challenges, they are thinking about their future, and choosing courses to help them achieve their ambition of working in psychology.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child uses inappropriate language in the home, staff are not consistent in the way they challenge this. This means that children who currently live on their own may not learn how to interact appropriately with others when outside the home and in social situations. This is particularly important, as the child is making plans to move to a more independent living arrangement.

p.3

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

Children’s risks reduce over time. The child currently living in the home is becoming increasingly safe. Areas of risk are monitored and managed by risk assessments. Due to the fluctuating nature of the child’s risks, reviews and adaptations to assessments are regular and effective.

p.3

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

Managers ensure that members of the staff team understand their safeguarding role. Staff are confident to whistle-blow any concern they have about children’s safety and well-being. Detailed risk assessments guide staff to the measures they must take to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 4 The staff have not had to intervene physically to prevent incidents since the last inspection. As a result, the home is calm, and the child is helped to resolve their frustrations before they escalate. The manager is a physical intervention instructor, and therefore can provide immediate advice and guidance on how best to support children in the least restrictive way.

p.3

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

Children have gone missing when living at this home and been at considerable risk of exploitation. However, responses by staff have been robust. Staff actively look for children. They share information with the police and contact family and friends. When children return home, they are met with a caring and compassionate response from staff. Direct work is undertaken with children to discuss how to keep safer. Changes are made to children’s risk assessments when required. Due to this robust response, children go missing less.

p.4

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

Managers and stakeholders work effectively together to meet the needs of children with high-risk behaviours. Regular meetings mean that progress and concerns are shared without delay. Social workers say that communication with the home is good and that the child is settled.

p.4

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

The child knows how to make a complaint. There are several opportunities available to them, including completing a complaints form. Complaints are always taken seriously. Managers ensure that all complaints are fully investigated, and a detailed response is provided and shared with children. Managers ensure that children’s voices are heard at this home.

p.4

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

Bedroom checks have not always been effective in identifying all safety concerns. The child has been found to have had several cigarette lighters in their room. This has increased the likelihood of a fire starting either accidently or otherwise. However, all staff and the child take part in regular fire evacuation drills in case they need to leave the building in the event of a fire.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is currently away from the home. A temporary manager is leading a small, motivated staff team. They are committed and motivated to make a positive difference to children’s lives. After a period of instability, staffing is now more settled, creating a positive and supportive atmosphere.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are dedicated to their work. They attend important celebrations for children even when not in work. The new manager has high expectations of the children and staff team. Staff report that they are well supported by the manager. Senior staff have had the opportunity to develop into deputy manager roles and enrol on higher-level qualifications.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The members of the staff team have varied skills and experiences. Skills are developed through a wide range of training courses, online and face to face. Some staff get the opportunity to become trainers themselves, meaning that they can be Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 5 an important source of advice and guidance, and deliver on-site training to the staff team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff have regular supervision meetings with their manager. This supervision is effective, and competence and knowledge are tested on how to safeguard children, the practicalities of daily practice, and procedures staff must follow if they are concerned about the safety of children. Supervision at this home is supportive and used as a tool for continuing development.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff meet as a team each month. The meetings enable staff to share information about children, and to review what has gone well and what could improve. Due to children planning to move on to an independent living arrangement, discussions have taken place about increasing their cooking skills, family contact and spending time with friends. Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This relates to cigarette lighters found in a child’s bedroom, and monitoring checks not being effective. 30 March 2023

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered manager should ensure that staff understand factors that affect children’s motivation to behave in a socially acceptable way. Staff should encourage an enthusiasm for positive behaviour with positive behaviour strategies in line with the children’s relevant plans. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.13)

p.6

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: 2490999 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35–37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

p.7

Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2490999 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8