Children's home run by Gims Care Solution LTD

Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 1 Registered provider: GIMS Care Solution Limited 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 run by a local organisation. The home provides care for one child who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022.

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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 children’s home: 2705299 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected. Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. The child moved in to the home quickly. Despite this, the manager spoke to people involved in the child’s life to gather information. The manager used this information to make certain that staff had the correct skills and experience to support the child. A social worker said, ‘This has been the longest period of stability for [child] in a number of years.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of building and maintaining a relationship with the child. Staff are consistent in how they talk and respond to the child. Staff prioritise spending their time with the child. They use praise and organise activities that they know the child will enjoy. Staff encourage the child to talk to them about their feelings and memories. This has helped the child to experience positive relationships and learn to trust the responses of adults.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child had not been in education for three years before living at the home. The manager organised a tutor to attend the home. Staff and the tutor encourage the child to engage, with success. The child’s attendance in lessons is good. The child has made progress and will move up a key stage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly meet with the child to discuss different topics. Staff use these meetings to help the child to learn about social skills and how to interact with others. At times, the child finds these conversations difficult. Staff know the child well. They use patience and approaches that work best for the child. As a result, the child has learned to use more appropriate language and make friends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child with their hobbies and interests. The child has a keen interest in caring for and riding horses. Staff have organised opportunities for the child to help at local stables and to loan horses. The child is a competent cook. They enjoy styling food to enhance its presentation. Staff celebrate this by taking photos of the meals prepared and using praise. Staff encourage the child to grow their own vegetables and create their own menus and meals. Staff understand that the child needs opportunities to socialise. Staff have organised sessions at a trampoline club and shopping in the local community. Staff help the child to build self-esteem and confidence while having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to see their parents. They take the child long distances to ensure that these meetings are face to face. Staff understand that these meetings can be a positive experience for the child but also cause the child to worry. Staff listen to the child and share any concerns with the child’s social worker. The child’s wishes and feelings remain a priority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise the child’s health. Appointments and referrals are made to specialist services. With support from staff, the child has started to attend therapy. This is noted by all professionals as significant progress in the child’s life. Additionally, there Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 4 has been a significant reduction in self-harm incidents because of staff’s approach. One external professional said, ‘The manager was persistent in contacting us. They wanted the child to have the correct support. They had [child’s] voice in the referral, which made it more powerful.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff record the child’s daily activities and experiences. However, at times, the language used is child-blaming and institutionalised. This means that if the child chooses to read their file, they may feel a sense of shame and guilt.

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

The child feels safe living at the home. The child said, ‘When I am feeling upset, the staff support me.’ Staff know the child’s vulnerabilities and how to support them. This is because the child’s plan is well written and includes detailed information and the child’s preferences.

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

Risk assessments are comprehensive. Clear guidance for staff helps them to identify, assess and reduce risks. Historical information about the child is included. This helps staff to understand why the child may make unhealthy choices. One external professional was very positive about how much progress the child has made. This progress means that plans can be reviewed to decrease the supervision of and restrictions on the child.

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

Managers and staff respond to any concerns about the safety of the child. They take their safeguarding roles and responsibilities seriously. The manager liaises with external professionals to share information. This ensures that there is external scrutiny of safeguarding measures at the home.

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

Since the home registered with Ofsted, the child has not left the home without permission. This is because staff consistently follow the child’s plans and understand how to keep them safe.

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

Staff regularly review the child’s behaviour plan. The plan helps staff to use proactive strategies consistently. There has been a reduction in behavioural incidents because of staff’s approach. Nevertheless, some information is missing. This means that staff have been unable to prevent some behaviours or provide the child with alternative ways to communicate their feelings.

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

Consequences are used to help the child to learn from their mistakes and make better choices. However, recording is inconsistent, the duration of the consequence is not recorded, and there is no manager’s oversight. This means that there is limited scrutiny of the effectiveness and proportionality of the consequences.

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

Physical restraint is only used when necessary to protect the child and staff from harm. All staff are trained in the home’s agreed positive behaviour approach. Records evidence the strategies used before using a hold. The child and staff are met with after incidents. This provides the opportunity for the child to share their experience and for staff to reflect on their practice. However, the duration of holds is Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 5 not consistently recorded. This means that it is unclear if the hold was only used for a minimum amount of time.

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

The child lives in a well-decorated home. The child has plans to improve the garden, and has been involved in decorating the lounge and their bedroom. The child has access to the spare bedroom. A blind cord was broken, and this had not been reported to the home’s property team. The loose cord creates a risk of harm to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and is working towards a relevant level 5 qualification. A deputy manager supports the manager. Both managers have high expectations of staff and high aspirations for the child. Staff said that they feel supported by the managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Monitoring systems help the manager to have oversight of the quality of care provided. The manager uses this information to identify strengths and areas for development. The manager and staff use a specific model of care to monitor the progress of the child. The child is also involved in this process. This helps the child and staff to reflect on achievements and plan targets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular team meetings and supervision, which are focused on the child’s needs. This helps staff to review progress and discuss any concerns. The manager is effective in challenging staff practice that falls below expectations. The well-being of staff is also discussed. This is because the manager recognises that staff well-being is important to the child and to the care that staff provide.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child benefits from a small but stable staff team. This helps the child to build trusting relationships with people who are consistent in their lives. One member of staff said, ‘The best thing about my job is seeing how much [child] has progressed.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the importance of providing staff with the knowledge and skills that they need to provide consistent care. Staff are regularly trained to make certain that they can meet the child’s needs. The child has access to the same training as staff. This has helped the child to learn new skills. All staff are working towards a relevant level 3 diploma within the agreed timescales.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work through a detailed induction and probation period. Managers meet with staff regularly to assess their competency. This ensures that staff have been fully considered to be suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A safety check for a reference had not been completed. This means that the suitability of that staff member was not fully considered by the manager. Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, repair the broken blind cord in the second bedroom. 12 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

a description of the measure and its duration.

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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 signed the record to confirm it is accurate. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iv)(b)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, record the duration of any consequence and the duration of any physical intervention used. The manager should sign the record and evaluate the effectiveness of the consequences. 12 May 2023

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour. 19 May 2023 Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(b) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the child’s behaviour plan includes all relevant information.

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Recommendations

 The registered person is responsible for maintaining good employment practice. They should 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)  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. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘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 children’s home: 2705299 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: GIMS Care Solution Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 10, The Old Courthouse, Orsett Road, Grays, Essex RM17 5DD

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Inspector

Mandy Start, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2705299 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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