Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 1 Registered provider: Channels & Choices Kent LLP 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 and provides care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2021.

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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: 2624222 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they feel safe and protected from harm. They say staff listen to them and respond to their needs and wishes. Children feel comfortable with staff, and the staff know the children’s individual personalities and talents. Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated with peers and staff. This creates a feeling of community in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are consulted about the care that they want to receive and how best they can be supported. Staff consult with children to complete their positive behaviour plans. These explore what staff can do for children when they feel sad or worried. Children’s views inform the actions staff should take to keep them safe and support them during difficult times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a high standard. There are pictures on the walls of children and staff together during activities, and handprints of children who have moved on from the home. There is a large canvas portrait of the children currently living in the home in the entrance hall. Children’s rooms are individualised with toys and decoration which matches their interests and ages.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with the people who are important to them. Staff support this in the community and take the children when necessary. Children have spent time with their families in the home and they have enjoyed lunch and played together. This creates a connection for children between where they live and their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individual transition plans to support their move to the home. Consultations are held with the therapy team to discuss children’s needs and risks before a possible move. The manager and the therapy team consider the impact a new child will have on the children already living in the home, before agreeing any moves.

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

Children’s individual care plans are regularly reviewed and updated, ensuring that progress is reflected and acknowledged. Children have therapy plans to address their assessed needs. For example, children are supported to understand the links between their physical reactions and their emotional states. This helps them develop emotional literacy, to begin to manage their emotions and behaviours more independently.

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

Professionals and carers say children make progress and that they are well cared for. They say staff are knowledgeable about children and have the skills to support them. One social worker said staff had been able to reduce incidents of violence and aggression since their child moved to the home. Professionals and carers are well Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 4 informed about incidents and kept up to date about children’s progress and well- being.

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

Children are supported to understand how their behaviours affect others. They are given clear boundaries and are supported to develop healthy behaviours and routines. Staff use key-working sessions and rewards and consequences to support children to explore their emotional and behavioural reactions to situations. This allows children to understand risks and take responsibility for their actions.

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

Children are supported to keep safe from risks of exploitation. There are risk assessments in place, which reflect the children’s understanding of risks and their support needs. All the children have signed electronic device and internet use contracts, which explain to them the rules of using the internet. One child carries a mobile phone when she walks independently to school. There are measures in place to support its use and keep her safe. This shows a balanced approach to risk management and her need to develop independence.

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

All the children have risk assessments in relation to the use of door alarms. However, these are generic in nature and do not consider children’s individual needs or risks. There is no consideration of how and when children might move on from the use of this monitoring and restrictive practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good understanding of the children and their needs. He knows the children’s plans and targets, and the support they need to progress and achieve them. He has good insight into the staff team’s strengths, individually and collectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the registered manager. They are able to discuss issues with him in formal supervision and on an ad-hoc basis. Staff have regular monthly supervision. This is used to offer support with professional development and personal matters affecting their work. There is a good focus on development, with one member of staff completing a management course.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Complaints and allegations are well managed. An allegation of harm made against a member of staff was swiftly and appropriately investigated, ensuring that children were kept safe. A child’s complaint was also well managed, and the child was responded to within a day of making the complaint. The child was offered appropriate reassurances about her care and that she would be kept safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers complete regular audits of planning for children and their day-to-day care. Plans are regularly updated to reflect recent events and changes for children. This is reflected in the children’s plans and assessments, which are up to date and relevant to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive appropriate training, which means they understand risks and how to keep children safe. There is a comprehensive induction programme for staff and Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 5 further ongoing training. Staff are confident they have the knowledge and skills to care for children. However, a recommendation by the therapist for staff to undertake attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder training is yet to be implemented. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 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 registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure children have individual plans and assessments in relation to the use of door alarms, and that their use is regularly reviewed in line with a child’s needs. 1 May 2023

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Recommendation

 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, the manager and staff should undertake attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder training, as recommended by the therapy team. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)

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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: 2624222 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Channels & Choices Kent LLP

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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

Tom McGhee, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 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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