Children's home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Ashford

Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 1 SC037327 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to eight children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is run by a registered charity.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2012 and is suitably qualified. There is an interim manager at the home while the registered manager is away for a period of time. The interim manager has submitted an application to Ofsted to be registered.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/05/2021 Full Outstanding 24/09/2019 Full Outstanding 09/10/2018 Full Outstanding 09/01/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm, nurturing and spacious environment for children to grow up in. There are ample toys and games for children to play with and the garden has a vast play area and woodland for the children to explore.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A comprehensive care planning review is undertaken by managers when new children move into the home. Children are supported with a thorough transition, including visits and overnight stays before moving in. The views of the children currently living in the home are considered during this process.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All the children are making progress in their education. There is excellent communication between the adults at the home and children’s schools. Learning continues in the home, where children are helped with homework and tutoring sessions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The adults ensure that the children’s health needs are met. This is especially evident for children with additional health needs. Arrangements and care planning are carefully considered for one child’s health needs and dignity. The management of this between adults in the home and school staff is excellent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happy and having fun, and share kind, nurturing relationships with the adults. Care planning is extremely child-focused and sensitive to children’s difficulties. This includes children writing their plans together with their key worker, in a way they can understand.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When there are plans for children to move on from the home to independent living, plans are made to ensure that children have the skills and resilience to make the transition a success.

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improvement to be good

The adults have built strong relationships with the children. This has led to a decrease in incidents. When a child may need to be held to keep them safe, this is done sensitively and as a last resort. However, records do not consistently capture the discussions with the child following the intervention, or the discussion with staff to review the intervention and its appropriateness.

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improvement to be good

There are shortfalls in the registered provider’s action planning following required fire and health and safety audits. Managers are unable to demonstrate that the necessary remedial works identified in the assessments have been undertaken. Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 4 Some adults have not always followed good practice or the home’s safeguarding policy when a child has made an allegation. While managers have taken action to address the concern and no child has been harmed, they have not considered the shortfalls in practice and provided learning opportunities to address the shortfalls with the adults involved.

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improvement to be good

The managers work quickly to address any concerning risks for children. For example, a child who used cannabis was supported extensively by the adults, including an early intervention referral and collaborative work with the social worker. This educated the child on the dangers of substance misuse and prevented any further misuse.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels well supported by her senior leaders, and equally the adults working in the home feel well supported by the manager. There is regular reflective and therapeutic supervision and support for all the adults. New adults go through a comprehensive induction when they first join the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has plans for the development of the home and some of this work is underway. Where appropriate, children have contributed their views about the future of the home, such as the decoration and outdoor spaces being developed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External feedback from children’s placing authorities is positive. It reflects the progress children have made and how they are being supported to plan for their futures.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders have worked collaboratively with other professionals. For example, when a child moved on from the home, they worked with the new provider to ensure the transition was as seamless as possible for the child. Similarly, when they have felt that a placing authority is not making effective decisions relating to the child, they have escalated this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Allegations made by children have been referred to the local authority designated officer and children’s social workers. However, not all allegations have been reported to the regulator as required. This inhibits the regulator’s oversight of the provider and their response to such incidents. Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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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;

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vii)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that adults understand safeguarding polices and implement them when needed.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that any actions identified in relation to fire and health and safety reviews are carried out. 28 April 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 31 May 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 6 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 25 (3)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children and adults are spoken to following a physical intervention and that the restraint is reviewed by the manager.

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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

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that allegations are reported to Ofsted. 28 April 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: SC037327 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC037327 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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