Children's home run by Ilea Palm Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2718097 1 Registered provider: Ilea Palm Care 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 two directors. It is registered to care for up to three children with a variety of complex needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is experienced and is qualified to level 5 in health and social care management.

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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: 2718097 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered on 24 March 2023, two children have moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager met the children before they moved into the home. He supported them to visit the home, so he could confirm that he could meet their needs. Children’s arrivals at the home are well planned and involve input from relevant professionals, staff and the children. One child talked about how supportive the registered manager and staff were in her moving her and her three hamsters into the home and how important this was to her.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both the children are not currently enrolled at a school. The registered manager is working in close partnership with social workers and the headteacher of the virtual school to address this by identifying suitable education provisions as soon as possible. Interim arrangements have been reviewed to ensure that, while the children are waiting, staff are supporting them to maintain a learning routine. This will help them to make a smooth transition into their new schools once places are found.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are supporting the children to take part in a wide range of activities. The children are enjoying exploring parks and amenities in the local area. Staff encourage the children to pursue specific interests. One child goes horse riding during the week and at weekends goes on two-hour hacks. Recent photos show how much she enjoys these activities. One photo has been made into a canvas and is ready to go up on the sitting room wall.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are supporting the children to gradually develop age-appropriate routines and independence skills. For example, nutritious meals are prepared with fresh ingredients, healthy sleep routines are in place and electronic screen time is being reduced. Staff act as role models and encourage the children to take part in household chores and routines, such as opening and closing bedroom curtains, making their beds and sorting laundry. One of the children is enjoying some free time without staff supervision. This is being appropriately monitored and encouraged by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with parents to help them maintain positive relationships with their children. Parents and social workers are kept informed of their child’s progress and are involved in conversations with the registered manager and staff to keep their child focused and safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and very homely. As the children are settling in, it is becoming increasingly personalised. Both children are very happy with their bedrooms. They described how the staff are continually helping them purchase items, and the plans they have to decorate their rooms further. Both children said Inspection report for children's home: 2718097 3 they liked the fact that the home did not have rooms that only staff could access. For example, the home does not have a staff office.

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

The registered manager and staff ensure that the children are safe. They understand the children’s vulnerabilities and the importance of having safeguarding measures and good parenting in place to reduce the likelihood of incidents. The children are encouraged to make safe decisions to manage risk, through discussions with staff and educational conversations.

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

Children are developing positive relationships with the staff, who are getting to know them well. Because of these relationships, staff can appropriately influence the children’s decision-making at times when they are upset. As a result, there have been no physical interventions. Consequences are not used and there is good emphasis on positive regard for children.

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

Staff are well equipped to support the children to manage their emotions and feel safe. They receive a range of appropriate training from the registered manager, who is accredited to deliver key courses.

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

The registered manager makes prompt referrals to partnership agencies if there are safeguarding concerns. When necessary, he follows up with professionals to ensure appropriate actions are taken. There has been one complaint. It has been investigated and appropriate processes followed. Relevant parties have been informed of the outcome.

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

Staff have managed low-level concerns well. Particular work is being undertaken to support the children to understand e-safety and the safe and healthy use of mobile phones. Children are supported to put their phones on charge out of their bedrooms at night. Staff undertake checks of the phones’ content in the mornings, before the children use their phones again. If inappropriate use of the phone is identified, the children do not have them returned until a discussion and learning take place. Although there are records of such action, it is currently not easy for the child or registered manager to see the frequency and outcomes of those actions and discussions and any learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and passionate about the service he is establishing. The responsible individual and registered manager have a good overview of the progress and operation of the service and outcomes for children, as well as areas for further development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since registration, the registered manager has been working on shift. This has enabled him to model to the staff the ethos and values he wants to promote in the home. The imminent appointment of two new senior staff will free the registered manager to also develop other aspects of this new service. The responsible individual Inspection report for children's home: 2718097 4 and registered manager are successfully using weekly supervisions to ensure ongoing oversight of the service and inform a working action plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This is a very new and still developing staff team. Staff say that team meetings and supervision sessions are regular and reflective. They feel that the registered manager provides good support and talk positively about the direction of the service. They are proud of the children’s achievements so far.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

However, the registered manager is aware that team dynamics are not yet resulting in a cohesive staff team and a confident and consistent team approach. He has put clear plans in place that include individual and team-building initiatives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of mandatory, online and face-to-face training. This training is relevant to their roles and ensures practice is informed by the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has good relationships with external agencies. He uses the expertise of external agencies to improve the care the children receive, for example, sourcing and paying for a child to receive therapeutic support. Engaging outside agencies helps the children to build positive relationships and understand where to seek independent support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This service has made good progress within a short time frame. The responsible individual and registered manager are constantly reflecting on how they will realise their vision for this service and ensure the best outcomes for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2718097 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support staff to be ambitious for every child in the home and to gain skills and experience that enable them to actively support each child to achieve their potential. This specifically relates to building a team of staff who can work together to achieve these aims. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.5)  The registered person should support staff to be familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non- stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child should always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. This specifically refers to recording if a mobile phone is withheld due to the need for a discussion to take place. (‘Guide to the Children’s

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Recommendations

Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 14.5)

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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: 2718097 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ilea Palm Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 55 Belvidere Road, Shrewsbury SY2 5LY

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Inspector

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2718097 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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