Children's home run by Children Assisted in a Real Environment Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 1 Registered provider: Children Assisted in a Real Environment (care) 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 run and provides care for up to six children with autism spectrum disorder and/or learning difficulties. The home provides long-term care as well as a short breaks service.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in July 2017. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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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: 1257022 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/05/2022 Full Good 12/05/2021 Full Good 30/09/2019 Full Good 06/02/2019 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs well. They make steady progress and have good day-to-day experiences. Children and staff have very positive relationships with each other. Throughout the inspection, children and staff could be heard saying genuinely to each other, ‘I love you.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff routinely consult with the children and understand each child’s verbal and non- verbal communication needs. Staff are confident in their abilities to interpret and respond if children seem unhappy or distressed. Children openly share their views about their home. They know how to make complaints, but do not do so. Instead, children choose to speak directly with staff if they have concerns.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s complaints procedure fails to outline who, other than the registered manager, children should approach if they have a complaint, including complaints about the registered manager. The children’s guide does not include updated information about the current children’s commissioner as required.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to live healthy lives. Staff have a good understanding of children’s healthcare needs, and they manage children’s treatment plans safely. Staff’s communication with healthcare professionals is consistent and effective, and children’s physical and mental health needs are very well met. Staff manage children’s medication safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning outcomes are good. Staff are keen advocates for all the children and ensure that their learning needs are met. Staff work together with school personnel to help them to understand children’s abilities and to tailor their learning accordingly. This encourages children to meet their full educational potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are celebrated. They receive medals and certificates to acknowledge their achievements and proudly display these in their bedrooms. Children enjoy a very good range of social, educational and recreational opportunities, which they choose for themselves. Recently, children have enjoyed trips to the zoo, the seaside, play areas and local farms. Children routinely attend youth clubs, and some children attend church. Staff ensure that children’s identity needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from the safe arrangements in place for them to see their family and friends. Staff facilitate supervised contact when necessary, and, in one case, staff accompany and support a young person to go on dates with their partner in the community. Staff regularly communicate with children’s parents, particularly when children are staying at the home for a short break.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive person-centred care. Staff understand and adhere to children’s individual care plans and they work with each child to meet their identified needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 4 For some children, this includes promoting their independence. For others, it is working with them to develop their communication skills. Children make significant improvements in developing their life skills the longer they remain living at the home.

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

Staff work hard to keep children safe. They are vigilant and provide excellent supervision to the children. The ratio of staff to children is appropriate, which helps to keep children safe. Staff are familiar with the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures and they receive regular training in child protection.

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

Staff understand how children’s disabilities may have an impact on their behaviour. Staff develop individualised risk assessments and strategies which enable them to anticipate and reduce risks posed to children. However, not all risk assessments include full information about potential risks. This relates to a risk assessment that failed to highlight a child’s allergy to certain foods.

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

Children do not go missing from the home and any potential risk of child sexual abuse is managed effectively and sensitively by the staff team.

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

Children respond well to boundaries and routines set by staff. Positive behaviour support plans highlight the behaviours and strategies that staff should use to prevent incidents from escalating. This promotes children’s positive behaviour. Staff receive training in de-escalation techniques, which supports their management of children’s sometimes challenging behaviour.

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

Staff use restraint only when children and/or others are at immediate risk of harm. Records of restraint incidents are detailed and outline the circumstances and why the use of restraint was necessary. Children indicate that they are not bullied by their peers and that they are happy living together. Children do not go missing from their home.

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

Managers take prompt and appropriate action when children make allegations against members of staff. Managers’ communication with safeguarding professionals is effective and they adhere to the guidance of local authority designated officers. Children’s welfare remains central to all internal investigations. Managers ensure that children are reassured and kept informed of what is happening. Records of investigations are comprehensive and have appropriate action plans.

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

Managers ensure that the vetting of staff is in line with safe recruitment procedures. New staff benefit from a comprehensive induction programme. This ensures that those working with children are suitable to do so.

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

The home’s premises are safe and secure. Staff carry out regular health and safety checks. There are good fire precaution systems in place, which helps to keep children safe. The home is well furnished and equipped. However, some areas of the home appear bare and worn and do not present as homely. Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leadership and management of this home are strong. The registered manager is an effective leader. Since the last inspection, the quality of care that children receive has continued to improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are good systems that help to monitor children’s progress or placement issues. Managers monitor staff performance and speak with children, staff and others to obtain their views about the home. Senior members of staff carry out case file audits. However, the manager’s six-monthly review of the home’s quality of care does not highlight future improvement priorities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported by their line managers. Staff training opportunities are very good, and staff appreciate the open and encouraging way the managers work with them. Staff receive regular formal supervision, which ensures that their care practices are safe and meet children’s needs. However, staff appraisals do not take place each year as required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff find their work with children rewarding. One member of staff said:

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘All of the staff team are great to work with. When I first started here, every staff member made me feel so welcome and happy, everyone was so supportive. I really enjoy everything we do for our children and watching them develop, grow and reach their goals. The company is great. Seeing the young people happy and enjoying their life is very rewarding. Managers are all very supportive and approachable too. I honestly really enjoy coming to work every day as the environment feels very homely, warm and a safe place to be.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is meeting its stated aims and objectives. Shortfalls identified at the home’s last inspection have been successfully resolved. Case records are organised and clearly outline the work being carried out with children, their progress and any placement issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff have effective working relationships with other professionals. Communication between staff and external professionals is regular and effective. Local authority social workers and independent reviewing officers receive updated information, and staff share monthly summaries that outline children’s progress and any placement difficulties.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

‘The home is a fantastic home for children. I have two cases that have lived at the provision, and they have improved on their behaviour, life skills and relationships with other people. The staff team keep me updated at all times. The staff team provide informative safeguarding information and I am notified as soon as there is an incident. Overall, I am very happy with this service.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 6 Leaders and managers prioritise the needs of children and their care planning is effective. Children’s outcomes improve from their starting points and their experiences are positive. Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 7

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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, 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

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

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Requirement Due date

keep the children’s guide and the home’s complaints procedure under review and seek children’s comments before revising either document. (Regulation 7 (2)(c)) 1 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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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)(c)) 1 November 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. This is in relation to reviewing completed risk assessments to ensure that all known or suspected risks are highlighted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring (including under regulation 45) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. The building should be a homely, domestic environment which is well decorated and maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15,

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Recommendations

paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 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: 1257022 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Children Assisted in a Real Environment (care) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 144 Old Oak Road, London W3 7HF

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Inspector

Sandra Jacobs-Walls, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1257022 10 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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