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

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 1 SC064081

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Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to seven children. It is part of a charity that has other homes and a school in the local area. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision. The staff in the home are referred to as ‘adults’.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since June 2022 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2022

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

The children told inspectors they are happy living at the home, that the adults who care for them are kind and they get to do lots of enjoyable things together, such as community activities, holidays and attend cadets.

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The care of children

The adults support children to understand their identity. This includes visiting their birth county and establishing local connections. This is carefully linked to the children’s life-story work.

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The care of children

Children continue to do well at school and remain in good health. All children are engaged in therapy. Additionally, the in-house therapist provides learning and development for the adults to support the children holistically.

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The care of children

The home is a welcoming and warm environment. Home improvements are being undertaken to further improve areas of the home. However, maintenance equipment is not always stored appropriately and was found left within reach of the children.

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The safety of children

The children in the home are settled and have good relationships with the adults. This means that incidents are rare, and children are rarely held by staff to keep them safe. When this does occur, there is sufficient oversight and discussions with children and adults following these incidents.

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The safety of children

There are bespoke, child-friendly safety plans in place to help staff inform their work with children and understand how to respond to any behaviours that may arise. However, some adults do not read the children’s plans when they are updated. This is a missed opportunity to ensure that adults are providing the most appropriate support to children.

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The safety of children

Senior leaders have shared information with adults regarding their responsibilities to safeguard children and provided training on this topic. However, not all the adults are able to confidently demonstrate their knowledge of the safeguarding policy and the actions they would take should a child make an allegation. Senior leaders took immediate action to review this during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The adults are supported by managers, and the team is well established. All adults have had their annual appraisal and are receiving regular supervision. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 3 The adults ensure that children understand their care plans by creating child-friendly versions with the child. There are more comprehensive plans to guide adults on how to support children, and these are discussed at regular meetings with the adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Any concerns regarding the adults’ practice have been swiftly addressed and advice sought from the local authority safeguarding team to ensure best practice. Additional training has been arranged for managers with the local authority safeguarding team. This is to refresh managers on their safeguarding responsibilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The requirement regarding safer recruitment has been met. Additionally, adults who are required to undertake the relevant qualification have been enrolled on the course. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 02/03/2022 Full Outstanding 15/01/2020 Full Outstanding 14/02/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities. 28 April 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their children. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation and, in particular, ensure that maintenance equipment is safely stored and inaccessible to children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should support staff to be ambitious for every child in the home and to gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. To ensure that staff understand and can meet each child’s needs, in line with their responsibilities, the registered person themselves will need to have a high level of understanding of the needs of the children in their care. In particular, staff should be able to demonstrate they have read and understood children’s written plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards, page 52, paragraph 10.5) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 6

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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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Inspectors

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Jules Harrild, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC064081 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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