Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Somerset

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489223 1 SC489223 Registered provider: Idem Living Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is registered to provide care for two children. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home, having moved there in January 2023. A different child lived in the home during August to December 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since December 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

Date of last inspection: 6 December 2022

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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: SC489223 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/12/2022 Full Good 16/03/2022 Interim Declined in effectiveness 03/11/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC489223 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child who used to live in this home had to move in an unplanned way, despite staff’s extensive efforts to keep them safe. The senior leadership team undertook a learning review of this event to help guide future decision-making. This has led to a positive impact on the child now living in the home in terms of their experiences, and on morale in the home, which is positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have been successful in building a positive relationship with the child now living in the home. The child has developed trust in the adults who care for him. The child and his parents speak positively about all the staff, describing them as fair and easy to talk to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

After experiencing several disruptions, the child now has a secure base from where he can develop. The number of times that he has gone missing has substantially reduced since moving in to this placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

After being out of school for a significant period, the child is starting to successfully reintegrate back into education with a bespoke package of learning based on his interests. This is significant progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen carefully to the child’s views and are respectful of his wishes, which are used to guide the running of the home. The staff encourage the child to lead a healthier and more active lifestyle. This includes modelling daily health routines, so that he benefits from regular healthcare, including routine dental care. While this is still a work in progress, staff’s clear recording enables this to be monitored effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage the child to try out a wide range of good-quality activities in the community. They have creatively involved friends and family to support his engagement. This is helping to build his self-worth, and he has fun. Staff actively promote family time and help the child to use this time safely. This helps to enhance a positive sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The consistent kind approach, with clear boundaries, provided by staff has helped the child to settle. The child reports that they like living in this home and that the staff take good care of him. The home is warm and welcoming, but more could be done with the garden to provide a safe and inviting environment for the child, which would encourage them to enjoy outdoor pastimes, such as football.

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

The manager and staff proactively work to keep children safe. When potential safeguarding concerns arise, incidents are fully considered by all staff. Team meetings are used well for staff to review and reflect on lessons learned from these events.

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

Staff are supported well to keep children safe in the home. Staff receive regular safeguarding training.

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

Proactive behaviour support strategies used by staff are largely effective. High levels of praise, emotional warmth, and clear, consistent boundaries from staff have supported some Inspection report for children’s home: SC489223 4 helpful changes for the child. The positive, caring relationships that staff have with the child provide him with a sense of safety and security.

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

Staff regularly undertake direct work with the child in relation to specific vulnerabilities to enhance his safety, well-being and social development. Examples of such work include, how to engage in education successfully and reflecting on the benefits of safe boundaries and expectations. This supports the child to learn techniques to effectively self-regulate his own behaviours.

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

Detailed and regularly updated risk assessments with risk management plans are implemented by staff to keep the child safe. Although the child had a significant history of going missing and of being at risk of exploitation, as positive relationships develop, incidents of going missing have significantly reduced. This has resulted in reduced risks for the child.

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

Thorough checks and scrutiny of any new prospective employees help to ensure that only adults who are suitable to work with children are employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The experienced registered manager is a highly effective leader for the home. He is well respected by staff and other professionals. Staff feel supported by their manager. He leads by example and provides staff with appropriate direction and challenge to improve the outcomes for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced deputy manager has brought additional support to the team. The manager and deputy are aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They have persevered to ensure that the necessary services are in place for the child. For example, they have pursued and put in place additional educational arrangements and emotional well-being support. This has been effective in helping the child to start to make sense of their past experiences and form more-positive relationships with others. When the child raises issues, managers take them seriously and seek to resolve them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff like working in the home. Although staff say that they feel well supported by managers, the quality of formal supervision for staff is variable. On a few occasions, it has lacked reflection, clear goals or a resolution to the issues discussed. Staff have benefited from a range of mandatory and additional training, but more is needed for newer members of staff to have the skills required to meet the needs of children who live in this home. This includes training on gang affiliation, criminal exploitation, and county lines.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is strong. Professionals who were spoken to during the inspection were unanimously positive about the levels of communication between them and the manager and staff. For example, social workers and other key professionals are provided with regular updates on the child’s progress. The social worker commented, ‘Their focus on building lasting and trusting relationships is fantastic. They have approached me for consultation on all decisions they have made.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and the senior leadership team effectively advocate for the child’s best interests. They are not afraid to challenge other professionals if the child’s plan is not progressing as it should be. This effective partnership working helps to ensure that the child’s plan is updated and that the child makes progress. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489223 5 A range of monitoring systems effectively track the progress that the child makes. The manager quickly responds to any learning or recommendations to improve the service, including the requirements from the previous inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489223 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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the garden provides a safe and welcoming environment for the child to play football. 1 July 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: SC489223 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Stable Court Business Centre, Water Lane, Tarbock Green, Prescot L35 1RD

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Inspector

Joy Howick, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489223 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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