Children's home run by Gracewells Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 1 Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children of the same gender who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection three children were living in the home. They all spoke to the inspector about their experiences living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has recently withdrawn his application to register with Ofsted.

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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: 30 January 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home are happy. They have built trusting and secure relationships with the staff who are looking after them. Staff spend time with children and know them well. As a result, children develop a sense of permanence and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend school and are learning and making good progress. The manager and staff are ambitious and have high aspirations for children. Staff support children to do well in their education and they work closely with schools. As a result, children’s attendance levels have significantly improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are being helped to improve their health. They are all registered with local health services and all appointments are up to date. One child had not visited the dentist for some time and needed a significant amount of treatment. Staff supported the child to attend the dentist and overcome any worries they had. As a result of this, the child’s dental health has now significantly improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home provides therapeutic care and support. The staff are guided and supported by a qualified and experienced therapist. The staff receive training and monthly consultation with the home’s linked therapist. Children also have weekly therapy sessions that are focused on each individual child’s needs. As a result of this, children are being helped to better understand their feelings and emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are well kept. Staff support children to take care of their bedrooms and this helps to promote their independence. However, staff do not regularly check that children’s bedroom window restrictors are in working order. Also, children have not been given the opportunity to personalise their bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individual internal care plans. These reflect children’s everyday lives and are reviewed regularly. However, they do not fully incorporate children’s educational targets and it is unclear how children will be supported to achieve these.

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

Children can name a trusted adult that they can talk to about any worries or concerns they may have. Children know how to make a complaint and know who to complain to if they were to ever have any concerns.

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

The manager and staff know the children’s risks and understand them. The manager ensures that there are individualised risk management plans in place for children. These plans identify children’s vulnerabilities and provide staff with clear strategies to manage the risks. Risks are well managed and, because of this, children’s risks are reducing. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 4 Children are supported to manage their behaviours and feelings safely. When children struggle with their feelings and emotions, staff support them and use effective de-escalation strategies. As a result of this, conflict is managed effectively. When incidents occur, these are managed by staff and the records are detailed. However, not all incidents are reviewed by the manager.

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

There is a consequence and reward system in place. Staff use this to discourage negative behaviours, to help children recognise the impact of the behaviour on themselves and others. However, the manager does not regularly review the records of these. As a result, they are not subject to scrutiny to ensure that their use is restorative in nature and that they are fair.

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

The home is maintained to a high standard. It meets the needs of the children. The manager ensures that routine checks and fire drills are carried out, which helps to keep the building safe for children. However, fire doors are regularly held open using restrictive door wedges.

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

Staff use bedroom door alarms to manage and reduce risk in the home. Consent for their use has been obtained from each child’s placing authority. However, there is no evidence to suggest that the manager has considered or reviewed the use of the door alarms and how this may affect children’s right to privacy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team is undergoing a period of transition. The current manager, who is not registered with Ofsted, is stepping down into a different role in the home. A new manager has been appointed but is not currently in post. The responsible individual has recently joined the organisation. She is a visible presence in the home and is ambitious for children. The manager now receives a high level of support and guidance from the responsible individual. As result of this, the monitoring and oversight in the home have significantly improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is stable and consistent. Staff are clear about their responsibilities and accountabilities. They are child-focused and have a sense of shared ownership of their practice. Staff feel valued and supported by the management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that supervisions take place regularly and in line with the home’s statement of purpose. The manager provides staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and the care that they provide to children. Regular team meetings also take place. These are reflective and provide staff with opportunities to appropriately challenge practice and discuss the individual needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that all staff are provided with opportunities to undertake training. Staff receive a combination of mandatory and additional training, in line with children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children’s relevant plans are accessible to staff and they are kept up to date. However, placing authority education and care plans are out of Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 5 date for some children. This limits opportunities for the manager to ensure that children’s identified needs are incorporated into their day-to-day plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 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, The 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 care planning standard is that children receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed;

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Requirement Due date

that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. (Regulation 14 (1)(a) (2)(c)(f))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that the internal care plans in place for children include information about children’s educational targets and achievements. In addition, that there are up-to-date records on file relating to children’s care, education and health. 8 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when using bedroom door surveillance alarms, there are suitable 8 June 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 7 risk assessments in place that clearly identify the risks and reasons for their use.

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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

In particular, the registered person must ensure that when behaviour management measures are imposed, they are evaluated to review their effectiveness. They must also ensure that children are spoken to about the measure and that their views are considered. 8 June 2023

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Requirement Due date

After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

take adequate precautions against the risk of fire, including the provision of suitable fire equipment in the children’s home. (Regulation 25 (1)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that fire doors are not held open with door wedges. 8 June 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are provided with opportunities to personalise their bedrooms. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.19)  The registered person should ensure that when children have displayed behaviours of concern, the records of these incidents are reviewed to ensure that any possible learning outcomes are identified. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.23) Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 8  The registered person should ensure that when window restrictors are fitted, they are regularly checked to ensure that they are secure and have not been tampered with. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2655408 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 21 Jubilee House, East Beach, Lytham, Lancashire FY8 5FT

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Inspector

Kimmy Feeley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 10 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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