Children's home run by Happy Group (UK) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 1 Registered provider: Happy Group (UK) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 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: 1270393 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2022 Full Good 28/09/2021 Full Good 11/02/2020 Full Good 26/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children appear to be happy and relaxed in this home. They build positive, trusting relationships with staff. Staff know the children well and are aware when they need additional support. One child said, ‘It is great living in the home.’ There have been few changes in the staff team, and this contributes to the nurturing, family feel of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to access education and staff communicate with schools and colleges to help children to overcome obstacles to learning. Professionals said that staff keep them updated and advocate for children to ensure that their needs are being met. One child has been supported to find employment and to complete a motorcycle test.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care is taken before children move in. The manager considers the views of children already living in the home and how the needs of the new children will be met. Children are provided with all the information that they need in a child-friendly guide. This helps them to understand what living in the home will be like. Children know how to complain, and their views are reflected in choices of menu, decor and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop their hobbies and interests, ranging from dancing, bowling and paintballing to animal care. Children go on trips and holidays. Special occasions and achievements are captured in photographs. These are compiled into a book so that each child has a visual record to take with them when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to take age-appropriate responsibility for their health. Staff link with specialist services when children need additional help. If there have been delays in services or documentation being available, the manager has challenged appropriately on behalf of the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff to rebuild family relationships, where it is safe to do so. Recent changes to family-time arrangements are not fully reflected in children’s plans. However, staff know what steps they need to take to help children to spend time with people who are important to them. The staff work with children and their families to rebuild safe relationships. Gaps in contact have meant that feedback from families has not been available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard. Children are supported to personalise their rooms through their choice of furniture and bedding, and by displaying their photographs and artwork. Two of the children are reluctant to allow staff to assist them in maintaining their rooms. Their rooms are, as a result, less welcoming than could be achieved as dirty laundry accumulates and minor repairs are not completed. These children would each benefit from additional guidance by Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 4 staff to ensure that their laundry and any signs of wear and tear are dealt with in a timely manner. This would ensure that their rooms better reflect the standards across the home.

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

Children’s plans are updated as their needs change or new risks emerge. Staff follow these plans to help children to be safe. Work is done with children to help them to use social media safely. Where children are vulnerable, they work alongside staff to use their devices safely. When concerns arise, staff link with the appropriate agencies to protect children.

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

Children are supported to overcome their individual vulnerabilities to safely gain independence. For one child, this has meant becoming confident in using public transport and learning to shop for groceries.

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

Staff use their skills to de-escalate situations and children are rarely held. Where restraint has been necessary to keep a child safe, children and staff are spoken to and supported to reflect on what has happened. The manager evaluates the measures used. However, this is not always within timescales. In addition, on one occasion, the manager reviewed a use of restraint in which they had been involved.

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

Positive behaviour is supported through the use of incentives. Consequences for unwanted behaviour have only been used twice since the last inspection. These were properly evaluated by the manager.

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

When one child was missing from the home, staff followed plans to assist in their prompt return to the home. This included talking to family members and the police. The child was spoken to about their experience when they returned.

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

Staff use their knowledge of the children’s experiences and emotional presentation to help children be safe. If there are worries that a child might self-harm, potential hazards are removed from their bedroom. Staff undertake additional welfare checks if children are struggling with their emotions, or present as being under the influence of substances or alcohol. This helps children to be safe. However, staff do not consistently record the additional steps that they have taken to monitor children when concerns about well-being increase.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager lead by example. They are committed to providing the children with a caring home and have high aspirations for them. Staff feel supported and deliver care in line with the provider’s preferred model.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager ensure that safe recruitment practices are followed for permanent staff. Reflective supervision takes place regularly. This is also offered to agency staff who work regularly at the home. Staff said that supervision sessions, alongside the additional learning that is available to them, help to develop Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 5 their practice. However, records of supervision do not include clear timeframes for identified tasks. This reduces the manager’s ability to monitor progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have an annual appraisal. Plans for addressing staff performance do not provide measurable outcomes. This means that staff are not always clear as to what is expected of them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children have detailed plans which help staff to understand their needs and routines. Although children are involved in their plans, this is not always evident from their records. The written language that is used is not consistently helpful to children. This is a missed opportunity to evidence how the wishes and feelings of children have been taken into account.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s records are stored electronically. The manager is able to identify patterns, which are used to track children’s progress and to monitor trends. The manager has effective systems to ensure that staff are aware of any changes to children’s plans. Team meetings are used as an opportunity to reflect on each child’s needs and any adjustments that might be required to their support plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 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

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)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that records are evaluated within timescales and that any incidents in which they are involved are reviewed by another person, who has the appropriate knowledge and experience. 29 May 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s plans reflect changes to family time and that they are written in a way that is helpful to children. Records should evidence the voice of the child and be written in child-friendly language. Staff should consistently record the steps that they have taken to support children in line with their plans, such as checking social media and mobile phone content. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 14.3 to 14.5)  The registered person should ensure that, when tasks for staff are agreed within supervision sessions, the records include timescales for their completion. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)  The registered person should ensure that, when steps to improve performance are identified within staff appraisals, there is a clear plan as to how measurable

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Recommendations

progress is to be achieved. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 7  The registered person should ensure that children’s bedrooms are welcoming, and that staff provide children with additional support to maintain their rooms to the best standard that they are able to achieve. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: 1270393 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Happy Group (UK) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Walk House, 99 Princess Road East, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 7LF

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Inspector

Laura Grundy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1270393 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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