Children's Home run by Within Reach Services Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 1 Registered provider: Within Reach Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is managed by a private provider. The home provides care for one child with complex social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023, when this home was also registered. The manager is registered with Ofsted for another children’s home located nearby.

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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: 2722533 2

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Recent inspection history

Not previously inspected Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This is the first inspection of the home. At the time of this inspection, the child had lived at this home for six months. Prior to the child moving here, the senior managers ensured that a full care team was appointed, bespoke training delivered, and the environment was suitable to meet the specific needs of the child. Introductory visits and choosing personal items for the home enabled the child to feel involved in the move to their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child struggled to settle initially and there were several incidents. Through the commitment and persistence of the staff team, boundaries and structure are now embedded. The staff have shown the child that they are here for them, to support them no matter what. As a result, over the past three months, significant progress has been made. A big indicator of the child’s progress is that staff supervision of the child has now reduced.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

After being out of formal education for 18 months, the child started to attend a school almost as soon as they moved into this home. The number of hours of education has slowly increased. The child has a desire to learn and aspirations to take exams. Leaders and managers fully support these aspirations and are advocating for increased hours of learning and a change of school to support the child’s wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

In response to listening to the child’s requests, a pet rabbit is a member of the household. Animals are a passion for the child. They have formed a close relationship with a visiting therapy dog, enjoy regular horse riding and, more recently, have taken on the responsibility of caring for a horse. These activities require a level of maturity and responsibility that the child has demonstrated. Consequently, the adults feel confident in the child’s ability to care for the animals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

To address social isolation, arrangements are made for the child to meet up with other children outside school. This has included activities such as walking dogs, local outings and taking part in a baking competition. The child is supported to keep in touch with the people who are important to them. A close family member said that they can see the progress that has been made. They described how they work well together with the team and feel listened to. Photos of family members and activities are stored in albums, capturing memories of the child’s progress and happy times.

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

As directed by a court, this child is subject to several restrictions, due to the child’s specific needs. Consultation and working in partnership with a network of professionals contribute to effective care planning and the management of risk. Since living at this home, the child has taken part in the network meetings, ensuring that her wishes and feelings are made known to the adults supporting her. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 4 In recent months, due to the positive progress that the child is making, some restrictions have relaxed, an aim that everyone is working towards. These have included a reduction in staffing to supervise the child and access to household items that previously posed a risk of harm when misused. A kettle and hair straighteners no longer need to be locked away and plastic items used at mealtimes are being replaced with what is expected in a family home.

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

Restraint has been used appropriately to ensure that the risk of harm to the child or others is removed. Another indicator of the child feeling more settled and secure is the fact that restraint has not been used for the past three months. A behaviour consultant provides excellent support and advice to the staff team on how to respond effectively to the child and their complex behaviour. In-depth reporting and analysis contribute to a support plan.

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

Through consultation with the child, it has been established what type of behaviour meets a description to be categorised as green, amber and red. Diligent reporting has led to a chart that reflects an overwhelming number of green days in the past three months compared to a high number of red days within the first three months. The child is rightly proud of this achievement and has referred to not wanting to ‘mess up their green days’.

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

There have not been any incidents of this child going missing from the home. This is another indicator of progress and the child feeling safe, as this behaviour did occur in the past. The police have been called to the home in response to some extreme behaviours at times and assaults towards staff. The police presence has been minimal, without needing to take any criminal action. On the contrary, a local police officer has commented on the huge progress that the child has made since living at this home as the officer recalls having to respond numerous times to where the child previously lived.

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

Leaders and managers follow safeguarding procedures and have appropriately referred some allegations against staff members to the local authority and the network of professionals. Action has been taken in response to allegations of poor staff practice, including when appropriate, the dismissal of staff. Ofsted has been notified about such allegations and when serious incidents have occurred. Records confirm that serious incidents are managed well and recorded thoroughly. However, on inspection, two incidents were identified that had not been reported to the regulator.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She divides her time between this home and another children’s home nearby, according to the needs of the children and the staff teams.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers acknowledge that the first three months of operating this home were challenging at times, due to establishing the right staff team – a team Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 5 with effective skills that could respond to the child’s behaviour. Through developing the staff team’s skills and understanding, to provide structure and boundaries to the child, this home now has a committed and skilled team that is passionate to ensure that the child receives good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers address poor practice through discussion, retraining and, ultimately, dismissal if warranted. This has contributed to some turnover of staff, along with some staff deciding that this is not the job for them. In the developing three months of the home, not all staff received regular formal supervision. In general, this has now been resolved, although two new senior staff have yet to have regular supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff members reported that they receive training to help them in meeting the child’s needs and to develop their own professional practice. The induction training is reported to be very helpful. Leaders and managers provide a questionnaire to new staff at the end of the six-week induction period, asking questions about the child. This enables the managers to check the level of understanding of the child’s support plan and assess the quality of the induction programme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings and awaydays generate enthusiasm to further develop this home. Staff are motivated, having seen the positive impact of structure and boundaries for the child. Staff survey responses are analysed promptly to assist the manager in knowing the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child, a relative and a neighbour have complained about different aspects of this home. Each time, the complaint has been thoroughly investigated and action taken to address any shortfalls. Although complaints are managed effectively, the records made in relation to any complaint do not indicate the outcome, nor the level of satisfaction of the complainant. Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 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 registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

undertake appropriate continuing professional development;

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)) 30 September

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must establish a procedure for considering complaints made by or on behalf of children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the procedure must provide that no person who is the subject of a complaint takes any part in its consideration or investigation, except at the informal resolution stage if the registered person considers it appropriate.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that no child is subject to any reprisal for making a complaint or representation.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must supply to HMCI, at HMCI’s request, a statement containing a summary of any complaints made during the preceding twelve months and the action that was taken in response to each complaint. (Regulation 39 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)) 4 September 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; 4 September 2023 Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 7 an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child—

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e))

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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: 2722533 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Within Reach Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Hazlewoods, Windsor House, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AT

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Inspector

Clare Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2722533 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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