Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 1 Registered provider: Idem Living Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for one child. One child has been living in the home since November 2022. One child lived in the home from February to August 2022.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2021.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home experienced an unsettled period from August to October 2022, which resulted in the manager serving notice on a child’s placement for safety reasons. The senior leadership team carried out an analysis of this event and learned lessons from this child’s experiences. More robust procedures are now in place and staff have had time to learn and reflect. This has had a positive impact. The child now living in the home is well matched and has settled in.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Having experienced significant trauma and placement breakdowns previously, the consistent nurturing care provided by staff has helped the child to feel secure in their home. The child says that they like living in this home and that the staff take good care of them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with education providers to give the child the best opportunity to learn and progress. Prior to moving into the home, the child had a lengthy period of non-attendance at school. The child started attending school shortly after moving in.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff listen carefully to the child’s views, which are central to the running of the home. This provides the child with a sense of value and increases their confidence and self-esteem. The child enjoys trying out a wide range of activities in the community, which results in them making progress emotionally and socially. Staff capture experiences and achievements through photos, which are displayed around the home and in memory books. The child values these books and proudly showed them to the inspector during the inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff welcome the child’s friends into the home. The atmosphere is akin to that of a family home. The child’s family time is well managed and enhances important family relationships. Parents say that they are pleased that their child is so happy living in this home. They report that staff keep in touch with them appropriately.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, staff monitor the child’s targets and achievements more effectively. Written guidance and care planning documentation are more precise. However, the manager has identified that target setting and planning with the child are areas for further improvement.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last visit, staff have improved their daily recording of health routines. This is helping to embed hygiene routines as a positive habit for the child. However, a required specialist mental health assessment for the child has been delayed. The manager needs to challenge other agencies about this to ensure that this assessment takes place without further delay. This action will ensure that the right plan of support can be implemented to address any identified unmet needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 4

p.3

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

The arrangements to safeguard children are good. Staff receive regular safeguarding training. Safeguarding is a standing item at the weekly staff meetings.

p.4

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding protocols. External professionals working with the child, including the social worker, speak positively about how the staff keep the child safe.

p.4

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

Behaviour support plans implemented by staff help the child to manage their emotions and feelings. Managers and staff regularly review and update these plans when new risks emerge or when the child’s needs change. This well-embedded personalised approach has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of times the child has gone missing.

p.4

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

Recourse to physical intervention is rare. Staff only use it as a last resort to keep the child and others safe. It is positive to note that restraint has not been used in this inspection period.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment processes are robust. This ensures that only adults who are suitable to work with children are employed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aspirational and compassionate. She is well supported by likeminded directors who have high aspirations for children. The registered manager leads the home by example, and she is highly respected by the child, her staff team and other professionals.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A recently recruited experienced deputy manager has brought additional structure and management capacity to the team. The manager and deputy are aware of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. They are creative in their thinking as they strive to make constant improvements. This, and regular supervision of all staff, is helping them to develop the insight and skills required to meet the needs of children who live in this home. Staff benefit from a range of mandatory and additional training.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The managers have already implemented a series of improvement actions and have identified realistic areas for further development. These include stronger contingency planning in the event of staff shortages and alternative bespoke education packages to assist children with a return to mainstream school.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working is strong. External professionals say that communication with all staff is highly effective. An educational professional commented, ‘From conversations and meetings with the manager, it is clear that she approaches things from a trauma-informed perspective, and she advocates for the child brilliantly.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations set at the last inspection have been met. One further area for improvement has been identified at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 5 Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

p.6

Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs. (Regulation 5 (b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should take timely action to ensure that the child is provided with suitable mental health support. 1 June 2023

p.6

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: 2572552 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Idem Living Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

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

p.7

Inspector

Joy Howick, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2572552 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8