Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report for children’s home: SC065517 1 SC065517 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited 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 provider. It can offer support for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home has a suitably qualified and experienced manager in place.

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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: SC065517 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2022 Full Good 10/03/2020 Full Good 26/02/2019 Full Good 19/03/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC065517 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel safe and happy. They know how to make a complaint if they have any worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers and professionals say that children are making progress and are well supported. They say that when incidents or challenges occur, these are well managed and swiftly addressed. They say that children are safe and that staff show compassion and nurture children, especially through challenging times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are in education and have individual plans to help them to achieve academic success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see their family in line with their care plan. One child’s grandmother commented that staff are very supportive and the effort they put in means that the child can spend quality time with her brothers and sisters.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children when they are ready to move out. Staff use key-work sessions to help children to discuss their fears and worries. One child was supported to make a list of questions for her new foster carers.

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

Children are protected from exploitation and self-harm. When incidents occur, these are well managed and recorded. Children are given sensitive and nurturing support to explore risks and to learn how to keep themselves safe. For example, one child has been given a ‘distraction box’ containing sensory toys to help them manage their emotions.

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

Children are supported to take part in restorative work with each other and staff to repair relationships when they have been negatively affected by harmful behaviours.

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

Staff carry out targeted work around areas of exploitation and online safety with children. Staff monitor children’s use of social media to ensure that risks are carefully managed.

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

Staff use a range of rewards and consequences to encourage children to develop positive behaviours and routines. Rewards are used to develop positive routines and self-care tasks such as completing laundry and tidying bedrooms.

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

Children are encouraged to build positive relationships and to recognise relationships that are not healthy or respectful. When children are receiving therapeutic support, it is planned and reviewed by the staff, their social worker, and the organisation’s therapist. This provides children with a holistic approach to addressing their trauma. Inspection report for children’s home: SC065517 4 Significant incidents and safeguarding concerns are well managed. Swift action is taken to ensure that children remain safe. Police and social workers are routinely informed and involved in planning and decision-making when appropriate. However, incidents are not always reported to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably experienced and qualified manager. She knows the children and the challenges staff face while caring for them. She is ambitious for every child in reaching their potential.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides good advocacy for children and will offer challenge when she feels others are not acting in the child’s best interests. One child experienced significant delay in their local authority care plan being agreed. The manager was proactive in seeking updates and challenging other professionals on behalf of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a good range of training. This includes a comprehensive induction programme. Staff are trained in child exploitation and online protection, self-harm, child sexual exploitation and first aid.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and valued by the manager. They feel they can approach her for advice and support, and she is available to them when needed. However, staff do not receive regular monthly supervision in line with the home’s policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Compatibility assessments when children move into the home do not consider how children’s needs and risks could affect each other. Plans are not always updated following significant incidents of aggressive behaviour and property damage. Therefore, the current needs and risks for children are not always reflected in their plans. Inspection report for children’s home: SC065517 5

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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 ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that staff receive supervision in line with the home’s policy. 1 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that compatibility assessments when children move into the home consider how children’s needs and risks can affect other children. This also relates to ensuring that children’s plans are updated following a significant incident. 1 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)) 1 May 2023

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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: SC065517 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspector

Tom McGhee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC065517 7 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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