Children's Home run by Supercare Residential Ltd in Redbridge

Inspection report for children's home: 2631179 1 Registered provider: Eams Care 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 four children with learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, there were two children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted on 16 January 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2631179 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make substantial progress in all aspects of their lives. This is because the dynamic staff team encourages each child to reach their full potential. Children learn to socialise with their peers and the adults who care for them. Children establish regular routines, and their sleeping patterns improve. They develop personal care skills and grow in confidence. A health professional said, ‘I am amazed at the progress that [name of child] has made in a short time.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusting relationships with staff. These meaningful relationships help children to participate in many first-time experiences that help them to develop social interests. These can range from outings in the community, such as trips to the funfair, the zoo or restaurants, to joining in birthday party celebrations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s voices are heard, and that the children contribute to their day-to-day care. Children’s likes and interests shape their individualised weekly activity timetables. As a result, there is no shortage of stimulating activities on offer in the home. Children routinely enjoy a wealth of activities, such as trips to the seaside, splash parks, bowling, baking or relaxing in their favourite ‘cat cafe’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before children move in, the staff pay attention to detail and create highly individualised plans to prepare them for their move, at their pace. This includes overnight visits and playtime with the other children who live at the home. Children’s bedrooms are personalised in advance, based on their likes and wishes. This helps children feel valued and they settle quickly into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a large semi-detached property with an extensive garden. Some areas inside the home are showing some wear and tear and would benefit from a regular maintenance programme.

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

Staff understand risk and as a result their strategies to minimise risks to children are effective. Physical intervention is rarely used. Staff are alert to behaviour that they find difficult to manage and use proactive strategies to minimise unwanted behaviours. The staff use distraction techniques very well. They encourage children to make good use of individualised resources, such as sensory and fidget toys.

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

Staff support children with purposeful individual time. Their targeted one-to-one work helps individual children to understand risks and this helps to increase their safety. Examples include teaching children the importance of wearing a seatbelt in the car and encouraging the children to express their choices verbally.

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

Staff are good at meeting children’s health and well-being needs. Children successfully attend their health appointments, sometimes for the first time. A highly Inspection report for children's home: 2631179 3 effective electronic medication recording system reduces the likelihood of medication errors and ensures that children receive any prescribed medication at the correct time.

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

The staff create tailored short stories that describe social situations to help children to prepare for their day. These reflect children’s personalised and preferred communication methods. This careful planning and the attention to detail provides children with stability and helps them to successfully manage their routine and any changes to their day.

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

Staff ensure that children maintain their important family relationships. The staff support children with their family time arrangements and keep families up to date with their child’s progress. Staff ensure that parents receive daily texts and photo updates in relation to their children. Parents praise staff’s detailed and daily communication.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The enthusiastic and committed staff team is led by an equally passionate and experienced registered manager. She runs a well-organised home. One parent described the team as, ‘like a big happy family that care for all of the children that live there’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The highly experienced responsible individual regularly visits the home. Although the home has only recently been registered, the leadership and management team continues to seek ways to further develop the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

With a focus on the children’s needs, the managers have recently employed an in- house clinical psychologist and an occupational therapist. There are plans to improve the home environment by increasing the communal spaces for children, including with a garden sensory room.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers meet monthly to identify future training needs and to ensure staff have the knowledge and skills they need to provide good care. Staff receive an intensive induction which includes core and essential training to help meet the specific needs of children with autism spectrum disorder. A rolling programme helps to ensure that all staff can quickly undertake any training that they may have missed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

As the home has developed, a number of documents require review and amendments. These include the home’s statement of purpose, the children’s guide and recruitment records. These shortfalls have not impacted on the care and safety of the children. The registered manager recognises these shortfalls and is taking steps to address them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feedback is overwhelmingly positive. They praise the leadership and management team’s support. One member of staff said, ‘This is the best children’s home I have ever worked in.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2631179 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the maintenance of the home is ongoing. In particular, the registered person should address the repairs to damaged walls and a loose stair banister cap. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should develop and keep under review a statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). In particular, the registered person should update the list of staff and their qualifications. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should review and update the children’s guide as necessary. In particular, remove references to COVID-19 and the pandemic advice which are no longer applicable. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.23)  The registered person should ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards

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Recommendations

children and minimises potential risks to them. In particular, the registered person should keep an accurate record when employee references are verified. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2631179 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1 Merlewood Close, Bournemouth BH2 6JQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Coleman

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Inspector

Victoria Jones, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2631179 6 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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