Children's home run by Ivie Lodge Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 1 Registered provider: Ivie Lodge Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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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: 2483881 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Good 19/10/2021 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 18/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide the children with a very good level of care. Staff recognise and promote the individuality of each child. They ensure that children’s specific needs are met. This has enabled children to develop their own personalities and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The arrangements for new children moving into the home are a real strength. The manager works hard to ensure that all information is known about a child before they move in. Initially, children can meet staff who will be caring for them. They also visit the home to make sure that the home will be comfortable for them. These measures assist and support a smooth transition process. When the move takes place, children receive the reassurance they need to begin to settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proactive in their approach to individual key-work sessions with children. Sessions are planned for each month and these focus on specific issues impacting on each child. Staff recognise the changing needs of children and unplanned sessions are also carried out when required. These sessions give the child an opportunity to safely explore any worries they may have and receive the support and advice they need.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are attending education in some form, and they are making progress. The stability of school is recognised for one child who travels a considerable distance to attend. Staff and professionals advocated on behalf of the child, who said they would rather travel than change schools. Another child who has recently moved to the home is yet to be allocated a school place. However, a timetable of work has already been established and staff will be supporting the child to undertake educational work pending a school place being offered. Staff are proactive about children’s education and this benefits children. The children are supported to learn and increase their skills and knowledge.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are generally healthy. Staff make necessary health appointments and will support children to attend. All the children have specific views about the food they eat. Therefore, it can be difficult to make one meal that all the children will eat. Staff adapt to these needs and coordinate the menu so that the children eat food that they enjoy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are many opportunities for children to express their views. They know that staff listen to them. When children have submitted complaints, they have been responded to. The manager has taken prompt action to resolve issues. This makes children feel that they matter and, if they speak up, staff respond, to ensure that children remain happy living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children live in a large home and good use is made of the space available. The children can make their views known about how they want their bedrooms to look. Staff do all they can to achieve this. Children arrange their rooms according to their Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 4 wishes and staff are respectful of this. However, the home’s decor looks tired in places. For the environment to feel more homely, some areas require updating.

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

When there are incidents, staff manage these well. Detailed records receive good managerial oversight. At times, the manager recommends follow up-action after incidents to assist the children’s understanding of what happened. The manager assures herself that the actions are completed before the review of the incident is concluded. This proactive oversight ensures that children receive any support they require after incidents.

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

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort for children who are in crisis. There is detailed recording of incidents and how staff tried to de-escalate situations before resorting to physical intervention. However, practice regarding children being offered a debrief after incidents is not yet consistent. Debriefs assist the children to explore what happened. They can discuss the impact of their behaviour and ways in which they could better manage it in the future.

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

If children go missing from care, the staff follow procedures and work with external professionals to try and locate the child. When the child returns, an independent interview is not always carried out. This is a missed opportunity to allow children the opportunity to talk about specific issues around going missing and could be important to their ongoing care.

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

At times, there has been some tension between two children living in the home. Staff have been very aware of the impact on both children. They have ensured that both children have been supported. Staff have listened to both children and advocated for them to try and resolve any existing issues. When possible, there have been joint meetings with the children and staff to try and resolve any conflict. The staff promote talking to restore the children’s relationship. This is an important life skill as the children learn the value of talking to resolve issues.

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

The children have detailed risk assessments covering many aspects of their daily life. These help staff to respond and support children appropriately. The assessments are amended and updated as required. Staff would benefit from reading the updates as this equips them with the most up-to-date information regarding children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has been through a period of change in the staff team, with several staff leaving and new staff starting. Recruitment is continuing and currently there are sufficient staff to meet the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New starters receive an induction and complete necessary training to equip them to undertake the work. Staff have been recruited who have a variety of knowledge and skills. This has benefited the children and been enriching for them, as they are supported by staff with different life experiences. The staff work well together. They Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 5 are dedicated to meeting the children’s needs. The manager is committed to the children in her care. She is focused on the children receiving a good standard of care and the necessary support from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective and efficient processes in place to support the staff in their roles. All the information pertinent to the children is presented in a logical way. This makes it easier for staff to find the information that they need when working with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular professional supervision. Time is allowed for reflection. This provides staff with an opportunity to consider their practice and what changes they can make to improve their approach with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a solid understanding of the home’s strengths and what needs to improve. She uses external and internal monitoring systems alongside children’s views to inform service development. This means this home is on a very good trajectory to achieve successful outcomes for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 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 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 promotes their welfare.

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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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place that ensure the staff read and sign all relevant documents. 11 September

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy ("the missing child policy") setting out—

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Requirement Due date

the steps taken, and to be taken, to prevent children from being absent without permission; and

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Requirement Due date

the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. (Regulation 34 (4)(a)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring independent return home interviews are arranged following a child being missing from the home. 11 September Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 7

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children, and is a homely, domestic environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2483881 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, 9 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE

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Inspector

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2483881 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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