Children's home run by Seva Childcare Ltd Assurance visit report: 2548794 9

Inspection report for children’s home: 2548794 1 Registered provider: Seva Childcare Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to five children with autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2020. The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023.

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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: 2548794 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/06/2022 Full Good 10/01/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 07/06/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2548794 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The quality of care provided to the children continues to improve. Leaders and managers have addressed the concerns raised at the last monitoring visit. They work closely with children’s professional networks to provide individualised care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children now enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff. Staff use appropriate methods of communication, such as visual aids and short stories that describe social situations, to help children to express their views and feelings. However, there is no evidence that children are involved in updating their records and their views are not always documented. This reduces understanding of children’s wishes and views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the value of children maintaining family relationships. Children are sensitively supported to spend time with their families and others who are important to them. The manager and staff support children and families to overcome any difficulties in their relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities that are specific to their interests and talents. They benefit from good routines and structure and have good opportunities for new experiences in the home and in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in education and make good progress. Staff support children to attend school, and they work closely with teachers to provide additional support when needed. One child, who had not been in school for two years before moving into the home, now attends full-time education and is making good academic progress.

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

There have been two monitoring visits since the last full inspection. These followed serious allegations being made against members of staff. Investigations have now concluded, and the staff concerned no longer work in the home.

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

Safeguarding practice has improved since the last inspection. New leaders and managers work in line with children’s plans and make safe decisions about the care provided. Placing authorities and the local authority designated officer give positive feedback about children’s safety.

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

Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing policies and safeguarding procedures. Allegations or suspicion of harm are dealt with immediately and notified to the relevant agencies. This increases children’s safety in the home.

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

Known and potential risks to the children are well understood by managers and Inspection report for children’s home: 2548794 4 staff. Risk assessments are clear and detailed. They are informed by the children’s professional networks and help staff to take the appropriate action when required. However, one child’s risk assessment included incorrect details of another child.

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

Behaviour management strategies are effective. Staff recognise when children are becoming unsettled, and they use alternative strategies to support them well. This helps to reduce the severity of incidents and has reduced the need for physical intervention. This has created a more positive environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers now work proactively with other agencies and families. They take on board feedback from stakeholders and respond quickly when required. Feedback from placing social workers and parents is positive, which provides further evidence that children now receive well-rounded and consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children. They advocate for children and challenge placing authorities when their plans do not meet their needs. This ensures that children receive individualised care and support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff now receive relevant safeguarding training in line with the home’s policies. They also receive training that is specific to the needs of the children in their care. However, there have been occasions when children have been cared for by staff who are not suitably trained in restraint practice. This potentially placed children and staff at risk. In addition, some new members of staff have not completed all their mandatory training and their induction programme is not always monitored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular and effective supervision which focuses on children’s needs, experiences and plans. Safeguarding issues and staff development needs are discussed. This demonstrates effective management oversight of staff practice and development and supports the progress children are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have failed to follow all the recommendations from a fire risk assessment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2548794 5

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s risk assessments include information about all known risks. Leaders and managers must ensure that actions from the health and safety checks of the home are carried out promptly, such as repair of the fire doors, to keep the home environment safe for children. 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 28 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2548794 6 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must monitor staff’s induction progress and ensure that they are suitably trained. They must ensure that there are effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided to children and take action to address any shortfalls identified.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should encourage children to regularly contribute to their records in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)

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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: 2548794 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Seva Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 to 75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ

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Inspectors

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Amena Begum, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2548794 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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