Children's home run by James Kids Home Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2547637 1 Registered provider: James Kids Home Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children’s home provides medium- to long-term care for up to three children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2019.

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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: 2547637 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/07/2022 Full Good 10/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2547637 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The overall quality of care planning and its impact on children’s progress and experience are good. Children’s individual placement plans are informed by specialist assessments and reports. Specialist support is available to children and their individual needs are monitored and reviewed monthly by multi-agency professionals. This ensures a timely and effective response to emerging need and risk.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive consistent and nurturing care from a stable workforce that has an extensive range of experience and skills. This ensures that children can build trusting and secure relationships with adults who care for them. All staff are suitably trained and qualified to meet the children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by ambitious staff to develop independence skills through creative outcome-focused plans. One child, who arrived at the home with very limited personal care skills, has made significant progress towards independence in this area. This is testament to the skills of the nurturing and aspirational staff, who are passionate about good outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are sensitively helped to understand their day-to-day arrangements through individualised weekly planners and plans for school holidays that describe, in picture visuals, a range of activities that children will participate in. As a result, children understand their routines, which reduces the impact of uncertainty.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s weekly meetings and key-work sessions provide opportunities for children to influence their plans and decisions about their care, such as recreational activities and menu choices. Children are supported to engage in a wide range of leisure and recreational activities overseen by a dedicated coordinator. This promotes children’s social development and community participation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have family time. However, children’s plans need updating to reflect any changes in these arrangements.

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

Children receive effective help and support from staff who clearly understand their needs. Children are protected in the home and have individualised risk assessments that are updated to reflect emerging risk and need. Children are helped to regulate their behaviour through staff providing consistent boundaries, routines and intervention strategies. This reduces uncertainty, anxiety and escalating behaviours that may be harmful.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Staff understand children’s triggers for behaviour and what is required to de-escalate situations effectively. This avoids the use of physical restraint. There have been no physical restraints since 2021. Staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2547637 4 understand their child protection roles and responsibilities. They know who they need to speak with should they have any concerns. This includes referrals to the local authority designated officer.

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

Staff are responsive to children’s needs when they supervise family time and will intervene if they identify potential risk to children. Staff seek appropriate consents from parents and local authority social workers for children to access health services when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children living at this home are cared for by skilled staff who are passionate about the quality of care that they provide. This is encouraged and supported by an experienced, efficient and skilled manager, who is a strong advocate for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and children’s key workers attend a range of multi-agency meetings to share information about the children’s needs to inform their plans. This ensures that children receive effective and timely support when needs change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children enjoy stability and consistency of care due to the very stable staff team. This promotes trusting and reliable relationships that support children to share their wishes and feelings freely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff induction programme and learning opportunities are comprehensive and ensure that staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to care for the children effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are provided with monthly supervision that focuses on children’s experiences as well as providing opportunities for staff to reflect on their work and learning needs. Staff receive annual appraisals and career progression is encouraged when staff achieve their Level 3 and Level 5 qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Robust recruitment processes ensure that only suitable people are employed to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff provide a welcoming environment. However, the children’s lounge and communal areas require some general maintenance to address wear and tear and worn carpets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, external feedback from professionals about the care provided to children is positive. One professional told the inspector that a child had made significant progress since living at the home, commenting, ‘They are very settled and his range of words and verbal communication skills are increasing.’ One parent said, ‘Everything they do, I’m happy with.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2547637 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing, supportive and safe environment. In particular, attend to the general wear and tear of the internal walls and worn carpets. ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children’s placement plans are amended to reflect changes to family-time arrangements. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.15)

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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: 2547637 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: James Kids Home Ltd

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Inspector

Nicki Shaw, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2547637 7 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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