Children's Home run by SV Care Services Limited in Havering

Inspection report for children’s home: 2720618 1 Registered provider: SV Care Services Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2720618 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a happy and welcoming home. They enjoy spending time with the friendly and nurturing staff team. Staff’s enthusiasm to support and encourage the children at the same time as protecting them is evident. Staff help children to plan their individual transitions into the home based on their timescales and choices. This helps them to settle quickly into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On arrival at the home, staff encourage children to complete a ‘getting to know you’ record. This helps staff to understand the children’s wishes and feelings and arrange their care and support to suit their individual preferences. A further introduction to the home includes a handwritten invitation to join a ‘movie night with popcorn’. This makes children feel valued and part of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where children are not in education, staff ensure that they maintain a daily routine. Children and staff design personalised ‘structured school day’ timetables. These incorporate a breakfast club, daily exercise, core curriculum studies and online tutoring. Children embrace further relevant research and learning opportunities and deliver slide presentations to staff alongside designing voluntary charity projects. Children and staff have created a ‘library corner’ for the children. Children regularly sit and read, enhancing their reading skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is no shortage of extracurricular and community activities on offer in the home. Children’s choices range from meals out, trips to the seaside, baking, home spa sessions and ‘cook’ nights. Children and staff enjoy karaoke together. Staff ensure that children’s particular activity requests are actioned. These include horse- riding, youth and football clubs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make noticeable progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff support children to set their own goals and how to achieve them. Children build meaningful and trusting relationships with staff, which helps them to grow in confidence and self- esteem. A member of staff said that they ‘adore working in the home’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a voice in the home. They feel heard and valued. They complete regular feedback forms and a weekly ‘voice for the week’ record. This helps children reflect on their week’s achievements, what support they may need and raise any concerns. Leaders and managers review the children’s feedback and action requests accordingly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This newly opened home is maintained to a high standard. The children have been busy creating fruit and vegetable plots in the garden. Children’s contribution to their care includes plans to personalise their bedrooms and bespoke hallway decorations. A social worker describes the home as a ‘home from home’, while a placing officer commented that, ‘The home’s ethos is totally child centred and that everything they do is in the best interests of the child.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2720618 3

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

Staff understand and manage the children’s risks very well. Their targeted one-to- one work with children helps children to understand their risks and increases their safety. Staff’s resourceful use of technology and access to suitable online advice and seminars helps children recognise risks such as exploitation and internet safety. As a result, children’s risks decrease.

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

Staff are quick to respond appropriately to children’s risky behaviours. This includes staff’s successful de-escalation techniques alongside children’s access to their chosen bespoke tools, which help them to calm and settle.

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

Leaders and managers take complaints seriously. The registered manager is quick to investigate complaints and children receive written confirmation of the outcome. Since the home opened, there have been no reports of children being missing from care, bullying or safeguarding concerns. Children say that they feel safe living in the home.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged and rewarded in the home. Children contribute to their behaviour support plans. They participate in the weekly individual positive behaviour target and reward system. This is effective and children enjoy spending their reward points money on special treats or extra activities.

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

The children’s guide sets out the general boundaries and rules in the home. The home’s rules and boundaries are clear and consistent, and children understand and largely comply with them. Consequences for pushing boundaries are rarely used. Children say that the consequences, such as loss of laptop time, are fair.

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

Staff ensure that children maintain their important family relationships. They support children with their family time arrangements, including overnight family visits where possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have an ambitious vision for the home and high aspirations for the children. This newly registered children’s home is managed by an experienced registered manager. The new staff team shares her knowledge, enthusiasm, creativity and desire to help children have memorable care experiences and make progress in their lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although recently registered, the responsible individual and manager continue to seek ways to further develop the service. They have invested in bespoke educational packages for the children, including learning materials for children with special educational needs and child-friendly software learning packages.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff recruitment is safe. Leaders and managers invest time and resources in developing the staff team. Staff undertake a comprehensive package of training. Inspection report for children’s home: 2720618 4 This provides staff with the skills to meet the needs of the children as set out in the home’s statement of purpose.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, as the service is developing, a changeover in the home’s software recording system has resulted in some recording gaps and errors in the records. These include records undated or without an author alongside omissions in supervision and training records. These shortfalls have not impacted on the care and safety of the children. The registered manager recognises these shortfalls and is taking immediate steps to address these. Inspection report for children’s home: 2720618 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that case records are kept up to date and signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)  The registered person should ensure that the workforce plan is updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff, and is used to record ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from a suitably qualified and experienced professional. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2720618 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SV Care Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 0TY

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2720618 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 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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