Children's Home, Residential special school run by Kisimul Group Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 1 SC044562 Registered provider: Kisimul Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned service is registered as a children’s home and a residential special school. The inspectors only inspected the social care provision. The setting currently cares for 26 disabled children and young people.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered manager in post, who is suitably qualified.

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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: 23 November 2022

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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: SC044562 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/11/2022 Full Good 09/06/2021 Full Good 26/11/2019 Full Good 26/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff speak with passion and knowledge about each child. The team celebrates all children’s successes, no matter how small. Staff are committed to ensuring that each child has the best life chances and outcomes possible. Staff focus on children’s strengths and abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children’s needs, which supports them to be able to build trusting relationships. Staff have positive relationships with each child. Together, they create a family feel in the home. Children grow in self-confidence and self-esteem because of the consistent care and support given by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is inclusive and diverse, meeting each child’s bespoke needs. Where children are not yet ready to go into the school, sensitive steps are taken to encourage their attendance or education is delivered in the home. Leaders and managers are aware of the need for more consistency in this approach.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to reach their full potential. They are encouraged to explore their individual interests and take part in enjoyable, stimulating and new activities, including taking care of the school’s animals. Children excel regardless of their disabilities and health conditions. Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks and benefit from having new experiences. As a result, they grow in confidence and self-belief.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a variety of opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings. There are also regular consultations provided by an independent advocacy service, whose advocates visit children regularly to gather their views. Children have support from speech and language therapy services. However, in some areas of their care, there is little evidence of the use of alternative communication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Arrangements are in place to support children to spend time with their families. Staff promote and support children having family time. Staff work with parents and carers wherever possible and appropriate. One parent said: ‘I call it a miracle to see him now from what he was at home; he’s grown up into a lovely young man.’ Communication with parents is strong, and staff understand the importance of this. This supports children to be happy and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are prepared very well for their move into the home. Children are welcomed in a planned and sensitive way. Consideration is given from all people involved and all are kept up to date about the child’s admission. Children’s wishes and feelings are given priority. Children are equally supported when moving on. They have individual tailored plans to ensure their stability in their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is currently being modernised and redecorated with new furniture. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. The use of the living areas has improved to Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 4 reflect the needs of the children. The manager has plans for further sensory areas to be developed to ensure that the home is a warm and homely place for children to live, learn and play safely .

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

Staff are familiar with and confident in the use of safeguarding processes should they witness poor practice of another staff member. There has been one allegation that was reported promptly and appropriately. Managers liaised appropriately with the local authority designated officer, and this was thoroughly investigated. As a result, children are safeguarded effectively.

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

Staff use physical interventions, although these are reducing. This is to prevent children from placing themselves and others at risk of serious harm. Records show that interventions are necessary, proportionate and effective. Reflection and learning are completed and implemented after any incidents of physical intervention.

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

All staff have completed mandatory training in key areas, such as safeguarding and how to keep the home safe and free from hazards. However, not all staff have completed specific training to meet children’s individual needs, for example in particular eating disorders, attachment and trauma, and in relation to how staff should support children with swallowing difficulties. The manager acknowledged the delay and the increased risks this presented. She took prompt action during the inspection to provide online training to staff ahead of planned face-to-face training taking place.

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

Medication systems and process are safe and managed well. Staff receive the necessary training and assessments to ensure that they are confident and competent in this area. Medicine administration is sensitive to children’s individual needs. Staff support children in a calm and planned manner. As a result, there have not been any errors and lessons are learned from near misses.

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

The environment is well maintained. Recent improvements are evident, and plans are in place to further develop the interior and exterior of the environment. The external fence has been raised to support children being safe. Staff are quick to respond to children exploring in the grounds to ensure that they are safe.

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

The home has relied on the use of agency staff. Agency staff are appropriately and safely recruited. Staff who are trained in safer recruitment ensure that all checks are in place for all staff before they attend the home. This ensures that staff who work at the home are safe to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is committed and dedicated to the children. She is highly ambitious for children and staff. She leads by example and is an integral part of the home and its success. Staff are motivated because of this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 5 Staff report being happy and supported at work. They are invested in the children’s care and have confidence in leaders and managers. There is a positive safeguarding culture, where staff can raise concerns and issues are addressed and dealt with by leaders. Staff receive training and regular supervision meetings with their manager. A staff member said: ‘I love the kids.’ Staff reported some staffing challenges. However, they say the positive days and the outcomes for children outweigh these challenges.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

At times, children’s behaviours have been challenging for staff. In these instances, they receive daily support and guidance from leaders and each other. The staff team is cohesive and has a shared focus on positive outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External scrutiny from the home’s own independent person supports the manager in the monthly review of the home. The current visitor is insightful in identifying the strengths and areas for improvements. In addition, there has been further external scrutiny which highlights positive experiences and progress for children at this home. This level of scrutiny is openly welcomed by the manager. The manager has a clear understanding of the home’s strengths and areas of development. As a result, plans are in place to ensure continual improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has faced challenges in recruiting staff. This has led to some staff shortages. Staff consistently reported to inspectors what they would change about the service is to have more staff. Leaders acknowledge the recruitment difficulties and have been creative in their approach to recruitment. Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 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, 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 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

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

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers ensuring that the home has sufficient staffing. It also relates to staff having the required training to meet children’s individual needs. 10 July 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home works in partnership with relevant people as appropriate to ensure that each child is provided with support (appropriate to their age and understanding) to communicate their views, wishes and feelings and participate as fully as possible in all aspects of their care planning and daily care. This may include the use of and support to use communication aids, equipment and/or any necessary language support. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.6)  Just as regulation 8(2)(a)(vi) seeks to ensure partnership between the education provider and the home, where these are offered together the registered person should ensure that there is a mutually supportive and reinforcing approach between the two aspects of provision that is centred around the child. The two aspects of provision should be able to challenge each other where necessary. The

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Recommendations

Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 7 home should have processes in place to ensure that this is the case. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.20)

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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: SC044562 8

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Children’s home details

Provision sub-type: Residential special school

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Kisimul School, The Old Vicarage, High Street, Swinderby, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN6 9LU

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Inspectors

Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC044562 9 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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