Children's home run by Enabling Futures Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 1 SC426751 Registered provider: Enabling Futures Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private organisation and provides care for up to six children who may have learning or physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced and registered manager.

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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 outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/03/2022 Full Outstanding 18/02/2020 Full Good 13/12/2018 Full Good 14/12/2017 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 3

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outstanding

The experiences and progress of children living in this home are exceptional. All the children have lived at the home for a long time. This level of stability creates a real sense of belonging. This has been significant in allowing children to build secure and meaningful relationships with staff who they know, trust and rely on.

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outstanding

Staff place a strong emphasis on supporting children to have fun, try new experiences and lead a happy life. Children excel regardless of their disabilities and complex needs. Staff go to great lengths to create social stories, pictures, photos and scrapbooks with collections of photos to provide happy memories for the children and their families when they move on. This supports children to grow in self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities.

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outstanding

Children communicate their wishes and feelings through a variety of creative ways. Staff have a detailed understanding of each child’s expressions and methods of communication. They involve children in all aspects of the home and always act on what they say, if possible. The skill of really listening to children is a core feature of this outstanding home.

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outstanding

Well-established routines mean that children are well prepared for the school day. Staff go above and beyond to support children to travel to their education provision. Children have very positive educational experiences because staff work creatively with schools to ensure a consistent approach. As a result, children engage with education and make very good progress.

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outstanding

Children’s contact with their families is encouraged and supported when this is in children’s best interests. There is excellent communication between managers and staff, family members and other external professionals. Staff understand the value for children of these important relationships. This enables children to maintain positive relationships with people who support them.

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outstanding

Staff are very diligent. This ensures that the potential risks to children are understood and minimised. Risk assessments are extremely thorough. They provide clear and concise information about how children need to be supported. Staff know and understand the underlying causes to more difficult behaviours that children can present. As a result, children are assured that staff will do everything they can to keep them safe.

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outstanding

Staff support children to develop their independence. This includes taking age- appropriate and managed risks. Staff are confident in helping children to access Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 4 community facilities and have new experiences that are unique to the child. This encourages children to explore their interests and take part in enjoyable, stimulating activities.

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outstanding

The managers and staff understand the children’s risks and vulnerabilities extremely well. The managers go to great lengths to understand how best to aid and assist children to grow and develop. For example, one manager has studied research- informed approaches and adapted these for the practice in the home. As a result, plans for children are very supportive and very effective.

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outstanding

Staff received good quality safeguarding training. As a result, they have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have. Safeguarding incidents are exceptionally rare. When they do occur, staff know how to respond and keep children safe.

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outstanding

Behaviour management systems are very strong. De-escalation strategies are so effective that staff can distract and avoid incidents. The impact of known behaviours is reduced because staff can pre-empt the behaviour through observations and knowing the children so well. Staff resort to physical intervention only when necessary to keep the child and others safe. This reduces risk and improves children’s safety.

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outstanding

The recruitment of new staff and agency staff is robust and managed very well. It is designed to safeguard children. Safe recruitment practices and protocols are followed. This means that new staff or agency staff are only employed subject to clear vetting processes. This reduces the risk of unsuitable adults working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership and management of the home are highly effective. The manager is an exceptionally strong and experienced manager. She has used her knowledge, skills and experience to promote positive outcomes for children. She leads a strong and dedicated staff team. The manager constantly reflects on the strengths and areas for further development in the home. She is continually striving to achieve more for children and the staff. As a result, she is a highly valued manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A key strength of the home is the way that the manager and staff continually work with external key partner agencies. The advice, support and guidance from professionals help staff to focus on children’s strengths and abilities. Equally, the manager is an exceptionally strong advocate for all children in her care. This is particularly evident in those children that are preparing to move on from the home. This is central to the outstanding care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Teamwork is fundamental in providing children with the best possible care and support. There is a high level of empathy and understanding towards the children. The staff team displays constant flexibility when dealing with what can be frequent physical challenges. Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 5 Staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities. This enhances the quality and effectiveness of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff experience an excellent level of support through regular one-to-one meetings and team meetings. These are reflective and mean that staff can learn lessons and adapt their own practice. They also receive daily support and guidance from the management team and each other. As a result, staff feel they have a voice in influencing the high-quality care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The committed manager strives to promote the development of the staff team. Staff are supported to develop and grow. They access a range of bespoke training essential to the individual needs of the children. Research-informed practice underpins the work with children in this home. Consequently, children receive care from a highly skilled, reflective and knowledgeable team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 6

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Recommendation

 The responsible individual should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of the children. In most cases, they will be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation, such as alarms, food hygiene etc. However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic environment and ensure decoration is maintained to a good standard. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: SC426751 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Enabling Futures Ltd

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC426751 8 inspects 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. 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

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Inspector

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 .

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Inspector

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Inspector

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

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