Children's Home run by Rite Directions Limited in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2616704 1 Registered provider: Rite Directions Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since September 2022.

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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

Date of last inspection: 11 October 2022

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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: 2616704 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/10/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 12/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2616704 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are genuinely committed to caring for and supporting children. This has been critical in enabling children to begin to build secure and meaningful relationships with a team of staff they know, trust and rely on. Positive relationships between the children and staff are evident. Trusting relationships with staff help children to settle into the home, and they begin to make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported in their education and they have good attendance. Staff work with the children’s education placements and social workers to ensure that the children are supported to achieve their targets. As children become older, staff help them to prepare for adult life. For example, one child has been successful in gaining employment. This positive environment encourages children to achieve and make academic progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Maintaining contact between children and their families is encouraged and supported. Effective arrangements are in place for children to spend time with people who matter to them, even those who live some distance from the home. There is good communication between the staff, family members and external professionals. Staff understand the value and importance of these relationships for children. This contributes to the stability of the children’s placements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well understood by staff. Staff encourage children to lead a healthy lifestyle. Children’s health needs are well considered and met by staff. Staff work closely with a variety of health services. They support children to attend healthcare appointments and to be physically active. This helps to maintain children’s physical and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support children to have fun and try new experiences. Children are beginning to access a range of activities locally. For example, one child recently went bowling for the first time. This helps to develop children’s confidence and self- esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move into the home, the manager and staff ensure they are well prepared and have effective plans ready for moving in. This provides clarity for the home in being well prepared to meet the child’s individual needs. Before a child moves in, staff visit them and begin to build relationships with them and their family. This is because they understand the gravity of such life-changing moves.

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

Children enjoy the trusting relationships built with the manager and staff. Children know that they are listened to. They can share their worries or concerns and these will be taken seriously. This reflects the staff’s ability to manage and support Inspection report for children's home: 2616704 4 children to work through their worries. This supports children to feel safe and secure.

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

Staff complete the mandatory training required. They discuss safeguarding issues in team meetings. This gives them opportunities to discuss and reflect more on specific safeguarding issues. The team requires further training in relation to meeting the specific of the needs of the children living at the home, to support staff to understand the children better and provide them with consistent care.

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

Staff have a clear understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. Safeguarding is routinely discussed in one-to-one meetings. Staff know how to report any concerns they may have. When safeguarding incidents have occurred, the manager and staff reflect on their practice. Because of this, safeguarding practice is adapted in line with the changing needs of each child.

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

Children know how to make a complaint. Managers respond promptly and appropriately if children raise concerns or issues. The manager took prompt action in response to an allegation made by a child against a member of staff. This safeguarded the child while an investigation was carried out.

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

The home needs further redecoration and refurbishment. Although there have been some improvements to the home, the quality of the general environment remains poor and there is still work to be done. Repairs and improvements are not completed in a timely manner. As a result, the environment does not promote the well-being of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following the last inspection, the home went through a period of instability. The manager has begun to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of care provided and establish new systems and processes. They have worked hard to turn things around and develop the home to become a positive and engaging environment for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership and management of the home are effective. The manager has begun to create a positive culture in the home. When there are difficulties, the manager makes sure that these are addressed and resolved in a timely manner. This supports the continuous development and progress of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited a diverse team, which enriches the quality of care provided to children. Staff are supported by managers in their roles. They receive daily support and guidance. Some members of the team are new. The manager is working hard to embed a positive ethos and working environment in the home. This is helping to make sure that care is consistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular team meetings where they focus on children’s strengths and abilities. Teamwork is fundamental in providing children with the best possible care and support. Staff are motivated and feel that they have a voice in influencing the positive care provided to children. Inspection report for children's home: 2616704 5 Quality assurance and monitoring systems are effective. The manager monitors and reviews all aspects of each child’s care. Monitoring systems are thorough. Reflective practice for staff is strong, and the manager uses what they learn from monitoring the care provided to continuously improve. This contributes to providing consistent, positive and child-centred care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported in their roles and day-to-day practice. The manager is visible and approachable. The staff and manager work well together and staff morale is now positive. Because of this, the manager and team have creative plans to improve the outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership work with external agencies is very positive. During this inspection, professionals commended the manager and staff on the good communication and the good quality of care provided. A common thread in the feedback provided by stakeholders is the positive communication, the progress children make and how happy they are living at the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2616704 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This is specifically in relation to the refurbishment and redecoration of rooms in the home. 2 October 2023

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Recommendation

 The registered person should have a workforce plan that includes any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home and is used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff, including the manager. There is a need to identify and deliver training that will support staff to better meet children’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2616704 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Rite Directions Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Tan Y Marian, Constitution Hill, Penmaenmawr LL34 6BA

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Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2616704 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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