Children's Home run by Action for Children in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is part of a national charity and commissioned by a local authority to provide a residential short-break service for up to seven children with learning or physical disabilities.

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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: 2538785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children were enjoying their short break during the inspection. There are 52 children on roll. Currently, only 23 children are receiving a short break.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children love their short-break stays. They access a range of on- and off-site activities. Staff capture memories of children’s enjoyable experiences through photographs that are kept in albums as reminders of their good times.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are relaxed and have fun during their stay. Staff help children have a seamless transition in and out of the home. Children access a range of activities that help their development and are relevant to their outcomes and care plans. As a result, children make progress in small steps that help aid their life skills at a pace that is suitable for each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work with the cook to ensure that children receive balanced, wholesome meals that reflect their dietary and health requirements. For example, one child needs his food cut up into small pieces to avoid him choking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s care plans reflect all their needs and are kept up to date. Staff know and understand each child’s needs and detailed staff handovers between shifts ensure that all valuable information is shared prior to children beginning their stay. This helps staff to plan and promote children’s positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s progress is tracked against their set targets. For example, one child needed to be encouraged to spend less time on his electronic devices. During the inspection, staff were encouraging the child to play in the sensory room with cars and toys. As a result, the child used more verbal communication to engage with his activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming and kept to a good standard. Staff carefully prepare each child’s bedroom for their stay. Children bring items with them that help them to settle and, because of this, children are eager to come to the home.

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

Children are safe and happy during their short-break stay. Staff know the children well. Staff are kind, considerate and attentive. This helps children thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.

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

Children who have complex health and learning needs enjoy their short breaks because knowledgeable and skilled staff protect them. Staff work collaboratively with parents, family members and professionals to mitigate risks and ensure children are supported. Consequently, staff are aware of safeguarding risks and respond to them promptly. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 4 Children are matched well with other children with similar needs. Children have positive experiences with others, despite the challenges they face. As a result, children rarely need to be restrained.

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

Staff understand each child’s vulnerabilities. The staff are subtle in their approach. They implement clear boundaries that are effective in helping children manage their behaviour and emotions. This helps children to remain calm and to be redirected easily when they become distressed.

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

Current staffing arrangements are suitable. Children do not go missing from the home. However, care is taken to ensure that pen pictures are available with information about children if they go missing.

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

When allegations occur, managers take appropriate action to refer and investigate concerns. This keeps children safe and protected from harm.

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

Staff are trained to understand safeguarding and child protection. In addition, staff receive training to carry out invasive care procedures and the safe administration of medication. This comprehensive training helps to ensure that children’s health needs are met effectively.

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

Children understand what to do when there is a fire alarm. Routine drills and alarm tests help children to become familiar with sounds that show an evacuation. Staff are sensitive to children’s needs and carefully plan fire drills that cause the least disruption or anxiety for the children.

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

Recruitment is safe. The manager ensures that all applicants are subject to thorough recruitment checks before they begin working in the home. This keeps children safe from unsuitable people having access to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been without a registered manager since August 2022. An interim manager is in post, and they are working hard to make improvements to the care provided to children. The interim manager is highly motivated, aspirational, dedicated and passionate in raising standards and delivering positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual has been proactive in supporting both the interim manager and staff. As a result, staff and the manager feel supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring and review by the manager are highly effective. Records are streamlined and clearly track monitoring and progress. Shortfalls are found and action plans are put in place. This continued monitoring and review ensures that the service continues to provide children with positive short-break experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 5 Since the last inspection, many staff have left. The manager reviewed the service and reduced the service offer. This has helped the service to remain open, and continues to offer overnight stays to the most vulnerable children in the first instance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is a real strength. The managers and staff work well together and share good practice with parents and schools. This improves children’s experiences and development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive good supervision, training and induction. This ensures that they continue to develop their skills and knowledge while supplying good-quality care. However, not all staff have received an annual appraisal about their performance. This has the potential to impact their development for the coming year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and the staff team go above and beyond to ensure that children and their families receive help through short-break stays. They offer an extended arm to help parents when difficulties arise, for example supplying essential equipment to families in need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met the requirements from the previous inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 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 must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 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: 2538785 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Action for Children, 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Inspector

Michelle Spruce, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 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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