Children's home run by Channels and Choices Limited in Dover

Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 1 SC434517 Registered provider: Channels and Choices Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2019 and is suitably qualified.

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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: SC434517 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2022 Full Outstanding 09/07/2019 Full Outstanding 22/01/2019 Full Outstanding 23/11/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection. The managers and staff know the children well and talk about them warmly. Professionals and family members said that they are pleased with the care that staff provide. Staff are experienced and confident. They are keen to support the children’s interests and introduce them to new experiences. As a result, the children’s lives have been enriched.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved in. Thorough matching assessments were completed for each child and introductions to the home were sensitively planned, to minimise, as much as possible, any disruption to children already living at the home. Celebration parties are planned for children when they move on. Photo books and teddies, with recorded voice messages, capture and remind the children of all their achievements. These positive endings let the children know they are loved and cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who did not previously attend school or found their school environment challenging are now attending school and making progress with their education. Managers have engaged with education professionals to identify the right education provision and teaching support for the children. Children are included in the decision-making process and are given options of the school they would like to attend. One child, who had previously been out of school for a considerable amount of time, has caught up academically in a matter of months. Another child now walks to school independently each day. Good support with education helps lessen children’s anxieties and helps them to achieve things that they are proud of.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage positive relationships between the children. The children enjoy the family atmosphere that the managers and staff have created. They are listened to and respected and are involved in making decisions about the running of the home. There are photos of the children displayed throughout the home. This helps the children to feel that they belong, and that the house is their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and homely. The large, bright lounge also incorporates a new library corner. A newly fitted kitchen and extensive renovations in the garden have been completed, taking the children’s interests into account. The turfed mini football pitch and trampoline have made the garden a fun and stimulating area for the children to enjoy.

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improvement to be good

Safeguarding children is a priority for this home. However, the judgement of requires improvement in help and protection reflects specific shortfalls relating to safeguarding procedures not being followed. On one occasion, staff failed to explore Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 4 unexplained bruises noticed on a child in a prompt and thorough manner. On a second occasion, staff did not follow safeguarding reporting procedures when a child made an allegation about staff. These shortfalls fail to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively and protected from the risk of harm.

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improvement to be good

On one occasion, the responsible individual failed to notify Ofsted of a safeguarding concern. During the inspection, the notification was made. However, such delays reduce Ofsted’s capacity to monitor safeguarding arrangements at the home.

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improvement to be good

Physical interventions, when used, are reasonable and proportionate. Children’s views are recorded, and staff are provided with debriefs. Records are thorough, but on some records staff’s handwriting is difficult to read. The manager was able to decipher the handwriting. However, this limits the opportunity for external scrutiny and monitoring of these records.

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improvement to be good

Children’s individual risk assessments and positive support plans provide clear strategies and guidance for staff to follow. Detailed plans help staff to feel confident in their approach and to be consistent in their responses.

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improvement to be good

Staff use incentives, rewards and verbal praise to recognise when children do something well or when they have shown kindness and respect to each other and staff. Staff are consistent in their expectations of children’s behaviour. As a result, incidents at this home are consistently well managed. Consequences are proportionate. There is good management oversight of incidents, which helps to identify any lessons that can be learned to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a clear understanding of the progress that children are making. They are a highly visible presence. As managers are available on shift, they act as positive role models to the staff and establish trusted relationships with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children enjoy spending time with the managers and feel able to approach them for help, knowing that they will respond to them. Children’s meetings are held daily, and children are encouraged to talk about the home and other areas of their lives. The manager responds to the children’s requests in writing. The children know that the things they raise will be acted on by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced managers lead a stable and committed staff team. The staff cover additional shifts and support each other to make sure that there is always the required number of staff available. Children benefit from consistent and familiar staff at the home each day. This helps children to feel safe and secure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aware of staff’s strengths and the areas in which they need support to develop. Staff receive regular supervision sessions and performance management reviews. Staff say that they feel well supported and valued by the managers. They enjoy working at the home. This helps to provide children with a positive atmosphere. Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 5 Safe recruitment processes are comprehensively carried out to ensure that staff are suitable to work with children. New staff receive a thorough induction which includes a range of training and shadow shifts with experienced staff. Good induction, support and training help staff to meet children’s needs and provide continuity of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established excellent working relationships with professionals and family members. They are positive about the communication and working relationship with her. Concerns for children have been escalated by the manager when a multi-agency response is needed. Children benefit from knowing that everyone is working together to meet their needs. Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 6

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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

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that managers and staff understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that managers and staff respond effectively and take appropriate action when a child makes an allegation. 20 April 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

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious . (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 20 April 2023 Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. In particular, ensure that staff’s handwriting on children’s records is legible, and signatures are identifiable. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC434517 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Channels and Choices Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 44 The Pantiles, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TN

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Inspector

Rachel Watkinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC434517 9 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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