Children's Home run by The Ryes College Limited in Suffolk

Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 1 SC429702 Registered provider: The Ryes College Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children with a combination of needs, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2012.

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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: SC429702 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2022 Full Good 06/12/2021 Full Good 04/12/2019 Full Good 16/05/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There was one child living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child moved to a long-term residential placement last July. Another child stayed for eight days in September 2022. Since that time, one child has lived at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have built trusted and secure relationships with the child. The staff know the child well and are proud of the progress the child has made. These relationships and the positive progress the child has made have contributed to the child’s self- esteem improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff implement clear plans to support the child’s independence. Plans are made in consultation with the child, and therefore the child knows what is expected of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff are creative in encouraging the child to attend medical appointments. The staff work closely with the child’s family to achieve this. As a result, the child is now registered with services closer to their family and their health needs are being met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There have been no changes in the staff team for over a year. This stability helps the child receive predictable care from staff they know well. Staff ensure that boundaries are consistent. When necessary, the staff use scripts with the child. This steady care supports the child to feel safe and learn how to regulate their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is very strong emphasis on working collectively with the people who are important to the child. The home is integral to this and staff meet with family and external professionals on a regular basis to review and plan the child’s care. This helps the child to receive consistent approaches from all the adults around them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a passion for playing guitar. The staff have fostered this passion. The staff take the child to lessons every week, they sit with the child every day, encourage them and compliment them on their progress. The provider has sought extra funding so that the child can take part in a music project which includes time in a recording studio.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has not been at school for some time. Leaders and managers have advocated strongly to find the child some form of education. However, there is no educational routine in place for the child. As a result, the child lacks a structure to their day. This does not help to prepare the child to return to education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is undergoing maintenance and there are areas throughout the house that require work. There is an agreed plan of works in place. Some of the rooms have been decorated and have a homely feel. However, not all parts of the house are currently decorated to an acceptable standard. Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 4

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

The staff have built secure relationships with the child. The risks that the child experiences have decreased and the child feels safer at the home. There have been no incidents of the child going missing since last September, which is significant progress.

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

The staff benefit from clear strategies that provide them with direction on the best ways to help the child if they are feeling upset. These strategies are informed by an understanding of the causes of the child’s behaviours. This helps staff offer the child well-informed care that can help to address those causes.

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

There have been a small number of physical interventions since the last inspection. When these have been necessary, they are well recorded. Leaders and managers monitor incidents. They ensure that the voice of the child is clearly captured and that staff debriefs are carried out consistently. This careful overview of physical interventions helps to ensure that interventions are safe and proportionate.

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

The manager and staff have positive risk management strategies in place. These enable the child to take risks that are appropriate for their age. For example, the child has built up time on their own in the community. The psychologist working with the child complimented the staff and said that they are flexible and able to adapt rules appropriately to meet the child’s individual needs.

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

Staff understand the risks that using the internet may pose. They have worked with professionals to develop a staged plan to support the child to use the internet safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and holds a level 5 diploma. She is passionate about her role and has a clear vision for the home. The manager and the deputy manager work well together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager applies theory to practice well and shares this with the team. The manager uses this knowledge to track children’s progress. This is used particularly well to monitor children’s emotional well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager builds effective working relationships with parents, social workers and other professionals. She advocates on behalf of children when services fall short. For example, she has assisted one child’s mother to write a letter to her local MP. This tenacious challenge on behalf of children helps them receive the services they are entitled to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides staff with many training opportunities, including creative, specialist training courses as well as training during staff meetings. These opportunities to learn and develop help to enhance staff knowledge and understanding. Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 5 The manager also uses team meetings to help develop resilience in the staff team. The manager recognises the emotional impact the role can have on staff. This combination of empathy and support helps the stability of the staff team. Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of its children and is a homely, domestic environment. In particular, make sure all parts of the house are decorated to an acceptable standard to enhance the homely feel throughout. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when children placed in the home are not participating in education that the child is supported to sustain or regain their confidence in education and be engaged in suitable activities. In particular, create a structured educational offer for the child each day. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: SC429702 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Ryes College Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Queensway, Halesowen B63 4AH

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Inspector

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC429702 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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Inspector

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