Children's Home run by 5ab Care Ltd in Derby

Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 1 Registered provider: 5ab Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties or have mild learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager.

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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 outstanding

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. It is well maintained and finished to a high standard. Children enjoy spending time with staff in the large living area. This helps to create a family feel where activities such as cooking and eating are enjoyed together. Children can personalise their bedrooms. This helps children to feel valued and have a sense of belonging. As a result, children are happy and settled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have meaningful and trusting relationships with staff. Children have fun doing enjoyable activities with staff, such as swimming and going to the gym. They also like performing dances and making entertaining videos together. Staff provide genuine emotional warmth and care. Staff connect with children through their likes and interests. This helps children to feel loved and cared for. Therefore, children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to do well at school. They understand the barriers to learning and support children to overcome them. One child who felt unable to go to school now enjoys attending regularly. Another child is being supported to return to full-time education. Children who are not able to attend school are well supported by staff. Staff are creative in their approach to home learning. They help children to engage in learning through interesting and enjoyable activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met by staff. Children are supported to attend their health appointments. Staff know the children well and have a good understanding of their needs. They are skilled at supporting children’s emotional well-being. Staff have regular one-to-one discussions with children. Children feel able to talk about their difficulties. These discussions are meaningful and help children to feel heard and understood. They also help children to work through their feelings and emotions. This helps to build children’s resilience and supports their emotional well- being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to keep in touch with people who are important to them. Staff are strong advocates for children. They ensure children’s wishes and feelings in relation to family time are heard. Staff have shown commitment and flexibility in helping children to keep relationships with people who live far away from them. This helps children feel connected and minimises feelings of loss. It also supports their identity and sense of belonging.

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

Risk assessments are detailed and informative. They outline how staff can work with children to minimise the risks they are exposed to. Risk assessments are reviewed regularly and after every incident. This ensures staff have the key information they need to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 4 Children are helped to understand and follow rules and boundaries. Staff implement these effectively and firmly with warmth and nurture. One professional said, ‘Understanding boundaries has been massive progress for [name of child].’ Personalised incentives are also used. These help children to make good choices. Staff know the children well and are effective in managing behaviours. This means that staff do not need to use physical intervention. Children therefore feel safe and secure. Some of children’s unsafe behaviours have significantly reduced. For example, children do not go missing from home any more.

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

Children enjoy using their phones and tablets and are kept safe online. Staff help children to learn about the risks they are exposed to. Effective measures are in place to safeguard children with their use of electronic devices. Concerns about online safety are promptly identified and are managed effectively.

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

Staff have been recruited safely. Thorough inductions for new staff are in place. All new starters complete a comprehensive development plan prior to passing probation. This ensures they have understood their learning and are competent in their role. All staff are up to date with mandatory training such as safeguarding. They have also undertaken additional training to meet each child’s individual needs. This ensures staff have the necessary knowledge and skills to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is passionate, dedicated and inspirational. She is an exceptional leader who is skilled in developing her staff team. She leads by example and inspires her team to progress. One staff member stated: ‘She pushes you to bring out the best in you.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has a warm and nurturing approach. She has excellent relationships with staff. They admire and respect her management style. She challenges her team effectively and makes it the best it can be. Issues of poor practice are dealt with promptly and effectively, and with appropriate support. This enables staff to progress and deliver high standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent monitoring and quality assurance systems in place. She always makes it her business to know what is going on at the home. Outstanding actions are quickly identified and are dealt with promptly. One professional said, ‘The manager goes above and beyond.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy working at the home, and team morale is excellent. This in turn provides a happy and harmonious environment for children. Team meetings take place regularly. The agency’s therapist attends to provide trauma-informed reflective practice discussions. These sessions promote staff’s understanding of children’s behaviours. This helps staff to gain a deeper insight into children’s needs. It also promotes coordinated care and is an opportunity for teambuilding. Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 5 The team undertakes research-based practice. This is carefully considered and informs practice. For example, a therapeutic approach has been researched and carefully considered. Plans are in place for this to be implemented in the home. Other research-based practice has had an impact on the use of language, helping staff to use more child-friendly language and terminology. The manager has made

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

several improvements in the development and well-being of staff. These enhancements allow her to identify and track staff’s strengths and weaknesses easily. They also help her to monitor staff development and identify their support needs. Such developments continually raise the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed extremely positive relationships with other professionals. One professional said, ‘The manager’s communication is fantastic.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 6

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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: 2706341 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Jones Hunt Ltd, 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0TY

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Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2706341 8 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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