Children's Home run by Strive and Succeed Ltd in Luton

Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 1 Registered provider: Strive and Succeed Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately owned home provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in January 2023. A new manager was appointed in March 2023 and has applied to become registered 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

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: 2693124 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Children’s experiences and progress at the home have greatly improved since the last inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s engagement in education has improved. Staff’s understanding of the importance of educational engagement has increased. Although neither child is attending education full time, staff are now providing children with a meaningful daily structure when they are not in education. Children’s engagement in activities when they are not in education is variable, however, this is not due to lack of staff encouragement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are happier in the home. One child who wished to leave the home at the time of the last inspection has changed her mind and now wants to stay long term. This is due to staff establishing trusting relationships with the child. Another child who was not comfortable interacting with staff and mainly staying in his room, is now mixing with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said they are happy at the home and have staff that they can share concerns with.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from varied activities both in the community and the home. They have enjoyed activities such as horse riding, forest walks, baking, cultural nights and quizzes hosted by the staff. Taking part in such activities increases children’s social experiences and builds on their confidence to engage in a variety of pursuits.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with nutritious home-cooked meals and do not use processed foods or sauces. Children benefit from drinking freshly pressed juice each morning. This is a healthy and nutritious way for children to start their day.

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

The frequency with which children go missing from the home has reduced substantially. When children do go missing, staff ensure that they follow the child’s missing person protocol. On one occasion, a staff member did not follow the protocol. This was immediately and effectively identified by the manager. Additional guidance was provided to this staff member and the wider team. The manager stressed to staff the importance of adhering to children’s plans. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home since April 2023.

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

There have been no restraints, complaints, consequences or child protection concerns since the last inspection. The children have become increasingly settled. Children are responding positively to the new ethos and expectations put in place by the new manager. Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 4 Staff have provided children with important safety messages about keeping safe online. They have used a variety of creative resources to ensure that discussions about internet safety are fun and engaging. This increases children’s understanding of dangers online and helps to keep children safe.

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

A clinical psychologist has recently been appointed by the manager. Staff have benefited from sessions led by the clinical psychologist that focus on trauma and attachment. Consequently, staff have a greater understanding of children’s behaviours and what underpins them. This enriches the experiences of children as they are supported more effectively by the staff team.

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

The staff are not risk averse. Risk assessments are reviewed and amended in accordance with risk. This has led to appropriate safeguards being implemented and greater freedoms given to children, depending on their level of risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made good progress since the last inspection. She knows the home and children well. Five out of six shortfalls identified at the last inspection have been addressed. The changes made have improved the experiences and outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s progress is monitored effectively. The manager has clear expectations for improving children’s outcomes. Risk assessments and action plans are now more detailed and tailored to children’s individual needs. Staff have good knowledge of the children’s behaviour and interests. Children receive good-quality care from an informed staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has improved oversight of staff recruitment and development since the last inspection. The staff have, or are enrolled on, the relevant qualifications to work in a children’s home. Staff training records are now more closely monitored. Bespoke training to meet the children’s needs is being sourced. The manager has good oversight of staff practice and can identify areas for development. The manager provides regular supervision to staff, which they say is supportive and meaningful. She is building a positive culture in the staff team and, as a result, staff’s relationships with children are improving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The ethos of the home has been improved by the manager since she joined the home in March 2023. Staff praise the changes the manager has made and feel exceptionally well supported by her. She is described as approachable, supportive and proactive. Social workers are pleased with children’s progress since the last inspection. Educational engagement has improved, and children’s wishes are listened to by staff. Social workers feel the manager has made a positive difference to children’s well-being. Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 5 The home and garden are well maintained. Children enjoy play equipment such as ball games a basketball hoop, chalk walls and games. These are freely accessible to children both inside and outside the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made substantial improvements in record-keeping. Overall, records are up to date and reflective of the children’s needs. However, there is insufficient record of how the staff meet the cultural needs of one child. Additionally, plans prepared by the children’s placing authorities are not available at the home. Failure to ensure these are obtained from the placing authority means that staff are not aware of the outcomes to work towards for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, recruitment checks are appropriately undertaken by leaders and managers. However, for one member of staff, there was insufficient oversight of pre- employment recruitment checks. Gaps in this staff member’s employment history had not been suitably explored. There is no written record to account for these gaps. These recruitment checks took place before the current manager was in post. The format for recruitment applications has since been amended, making it easier to see gaps in employment history. Without this information, children may not be safeguarded effectively. Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 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 registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, obtain a copy of any plan for the care of the child prepared by the child’s placing authority and ensure information related to the cultural needs of children is recorded.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 28 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 28 July 2023 Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 7 In particular, ensure a full employment history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, is recorded for all staff.

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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: 2693124 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Strive and Succeed Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit F, Whiteacres, Whetstone, Leicester LE8 6ZG

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Inspectors

Lianne Bradford, Social Care Inspector Rebecca Hannell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2693124 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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