Children's Home run by Solace for Children Limited in Worcestershire

Inspection report for children's home: 2651823 1 Registered provider: Solace for Children Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is owned by a small private company. It is registered to care for three children who may have social and emotional needs as a result of their childhood experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered with Ofsted in October 2021. The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered and is currently working towards the required qualification.

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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: 2651823 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2651823 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good and, in some areas of their development, exceptional progress. All the children have progressed significantly in their confidence and self- esteem. This is because those caring for them are nurturing. Staff go out of their way to spend time with the children and to build trusting relationships. They work closely with children to help them to share their thoughts and feelings. As a result, all the children have built positive relationships with those caring for them. One child said, ‘[Name of manager] feels like a second dad to me.’ Another said, ‘Anyone who lives here will be treated with love and respect and will always be looked after.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly attend school and college and are progressing well in their education. One child who was at risk of exclusion before moving into the home is now attending school full time and meeting expected academic levels. His teacher felt this is largely down to the good support and collaborative work of staff in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff encourage them to eat healthily and to engage in a variety of activities, such as playing football and going to the gym. Children feel comfortable to invite their friends into their home and family members are welcomed. This helps promote children’s identity and encourages positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are clear transition plans in place for when children move into the home. These include children visiting the home before they move in. This helps reduce children’s fears of the unknown and helps them to settle quickly into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff support children well to develop their independence. The organisation purchased a moped for one child to support him in getting to work independently. Staff work closely with children to develop age-appropriate life skills. This supports them in gaining the independence needed for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a warm and welcoming place for children to live. The decor and furnishings are to a high standard. There are photos throughout the home of staff and children engaging in various activities. A group photo of staff and children in the kitchen diner typifies the family ethos of the home. Children’s bedrooms are of a good size and personalised to their individual tastes. Consequently, children have a good sense of belonging and feel that this is their home.

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

Staff understand the risks to children and respond quickly to any concerns that arise. This is reinforced by a range of risk assessments to ensure that children are safeguarded. However, the review of the home’s location risk assessment is not Inspection report for children's home: 2651823 4 thorough, as it does not include the pond in the garden of the home or all risks associated with the nearby town.

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

On the rare occasions children go missing, staff have taken swift and decisive action to ensure their safety. They follow missing-from-home protocols and work with other professionals to ensure their safe return.

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

There have been no incidents requiring restraint and little use of consequences to bring about required behaviour. This is because staff spend time developing mutually trusting relationships with the children they care for. Effective use of positive rewards and incentives also helps to ensure that positive behaviour is reinforced.

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

Staff recruitment procedures are thorough. This helps to ensure that staff working at the home are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have experienced significant challenges over the last year due to changes in the senior management team. Although these were unsettling at the time, the changes that have taken place have had a positive impact on both staff and children. There is now an effective operational structure to ensure oversight of the home by senior managers. Managers and the staff team are child-focused and share a clear ethos for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the running of the home. This ensures that he knows and understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses well, taking effective action when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are motivated and receive a wide range of training opportunities to meet the needs of the children. The manager also makes good use of team meetings to further support staff practice. However, staff do not receive training in water safety, despite the home being near a pond. This has the potential to compromise children’s safety if they were to go missing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and receive a good level of supervision that supports their development. However, the records of the registered manager’s supervision are not accessible. This could compromise effective oversight into the management of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff team have developed good and effective working relationships with placing social workers and other external professionals. Social workers and other professionals are overwhelmingly positive about the home and the quality of care given to the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2651823 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home are reviewed at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)  The registered person should ensure that staff’s safeguarding skills include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and that staff support children with strategies to manage and reduce any risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  The registered person should ensure that a record of supervision is kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes

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Recommendations

Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: 2651823 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solace for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tadcaster House, Kempton Road, Pershore, Worcestershire WR10 2TA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Howard Woolfenden

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Inspector

Suzanne Young, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2651823 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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