Children's home run by HeadStart Residential Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2684680 1 Registered provider: Headstart Residential Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to two children with learning disabilities and who experience social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 2022 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 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2684680 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home opened, one child has lived in the home. There was a thorough planning process to ensure that the staff have the skills and experience to meet the child’s initially identified needs. However, due to an escalation in the child’s emotional needs, a more suitable environment is being looked at to support the child’s well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are comprehensive care and risk plans in place to guide staff. These plans are regularly updated following any significant incidents and cascaded to the staff. Some of the essential information relating to the child is not in place. However, the registered manager has continually requested this from the local authority and appropriately escalated this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a close link between the home and the school. For example, when it is not possible for the child to attend school (due to an escalation in risk), the school provides daily tutoring and adapts a timetable to meet the child’s educational needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager has advocated tirelessly for the child’s mental health needs to be met. Any incidents relating to emotional well-being have been dealt with sensitively by staff and risk plans have been followed. However, this means that, to keep this child safer, the environment is not warm or nurturing in some areas. The registered manager recognises this is not sustainable or in the child’s best interests long term.

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

The staff team has remained dedicated and child focused following some very difficult incidents in which some staff have been seriously harmed. Despite this, staff are constantly trying to adapt to different ways of working to meet the child’s needs and ensure that relationships are built and the child’s care needs are met.

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

Safety plans have been reviewed following incidents that have placed the child and staff at risk. The registered manager has advocated for collaborative working with the mental health team when needed. This has ensured that crisis plans are in place when needed.

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

An allegation against a member of staff has been addressed swiftly and the local authority safeguarding team has been consulted. Staff demonstrate that they understand their safeguarding responsibilities and raise any concerns appropriately.

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

The staff only use physical intervention as a last resort and do so sensitively. Equally, consequences are rarely used to support behaviour. However, there are shortfalls in the recording of such incidents to demonstrate that staff and the child Inspection report for children’s home: 2684680 3 are spoken to following any incidents and that the manager has confirmed the accuracy of the event.

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

The arrangements for safer recruitment did not robustly document that staff have been fully vetted. Action was taken during the inspection to rectify this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is very knowledgeable and passionate about the child’s care. He can reflect on the strengths and development areas for the staff and has a vision on how the home will progress as the next children arrive. He has good oversight of the care being provided and regularly scrutinises records.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are skilled and experienced. Additionally, the registered manager has plans to ensure the continued development of the staff team and has sourced training to do this. The staff have supervision and regular debriefs with managers. They are also offered clinical supervision with the provider’s in-house therapist. This provides additional support should staff wish to access this following some of the serious incidents in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff are very child focused and have adapted their ways of working when this has been required. This has ensured that the child receives consistent care, while allowing staff time to recharge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered provider has not updated the home’s statement of purpose since the home registered with Ofsted. For example, it does not contain details of the staff who work in the home along with their skills and qualifications. Inspection report for children’s home: 2684680 4

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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 compile in relation to the children’s home a statement (“the statement of purpose”) which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1.

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Requirement Due date

keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and

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Requirement Due date

notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (1) (3)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider should ensure that staff’s skills and experience are included in the statement of purpose. 31 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(vii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)) 31 May 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2684680 5 In particular, the registered person should ensure that records capture discussions held with staff and children following any measure of control or discipline and that the record has been signed to confirm that it is accurate.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained, as set out in regulations 31 to 33. In particular, they must ensure that recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2684680 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Headstart Residential Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Swanwood Park, Gun Hill, Heathfield TN21 0LL

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Inspector

Sara Stoker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2684680 7 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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