Children's Home, Residential special school run by Cotswold Chine School in Gloucestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC030367 1 SC030367

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This independent charitable school is also registered as a children’s home. It is registered to provide care for up to 42 children. The accommodation for children is provided across eight houses located at or near to the school. At the time of the inspection, 33 children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision.

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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: SC030367 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

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff who know them well. Children enjoy choosing who to spend time with. Children seek assurance from familiar adults to help them navigate any challenges they might face. Children say they enjoy living in the home.

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The care of children

Staff regularly seek children’s views. Staff want to know how children would like to spend their time and what their interests are. Following school holidays, staff seek feedback to find out what children enjoyed or would like to be different about holiday activities in the future.

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The safety of children

Children say that they feel safe in the home. They can identify someone who they would talk to if they had any worries. Because staff know children well, they manage the dynamics in the houses to best meet children’s needs and ensure their safety.

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The safety of children

Staff identify and respond to concerns as they arise in the home. The safeguarding lead maintains records of incidents. Information about safeguarding concerns is now available to staff meaning that they are better able to keep children safe. When children go missing, staff follow their plans and liaise with other agencies if necessary.

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The safety of children

Restraint is used in this home. Leaders and managers meet regularly to review incidents of restraint with an aim to reduce the prevalence. These meetings explore children’s needs. However, leaders and managers recognise that there are opportunities for further scrutiny of actions taken by staff during restraints.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Leaders and managers have taken steps to develop systems of recording and monitoring in the home. These are in the process of being embedded. However, there has already been immediate positive impact from these developments. Staff can now share information easily, and quality assurance processes for managers have improved. Staff speak positively about working in the home. They say the improvements made to recording systems help them to do their jobs more effectively. This is because they now have access to relevant information about the children who they support. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC030367 3 Children receive support from knowledgeable and skilled staff. Staff receive regular supervision, which helps them to reflect on their practice. Leaders and managers have provided staff with training to promote the use of language which avoids institutional terms in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

All requirements made at the full inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC030367 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 03/11/2021 Full Good 21/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/02/2019 Full Outstanding Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC030367 5

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Inspectors

Clare Nixson, Social Care Inspector Kerry Fell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC030367 6 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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