Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 1 Registered provider: 1848 Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to care for two children. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home, having moved there in August 2020 and July 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

A third child lived in the home between March 2023 and June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager has been in post since June 2023 and is not yet registered with Ofsted. However, they have submitted their application for registration.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Children generally receive good-quality and nurturing care at this home. However, children’s care plans are not always updated promptly. For example, one child’s care plan did not include recommendations from a specialist assessment, meaning that these actions have not yet been progressed.

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The care of children

Staff speak warmly about the children who live in this home and are proud of the progress that they have made.

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The care of children

One child sat and passed their GCSE exams recently and has a place at college that is due to start in September.

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The care of children

Another child recently moved in to the home and has begun to form relationships with members of staff. A plan is in place for this child’s education from September.

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The care of children

Staff support children to access activities and opportunities in the local community. Appropriate support plans and risk assessments are in place, ensuring that children can participate despite there sometimes being high levels of risk. For example, both children living in the home have paid or voluntary jobs. One child is a member of a local sports team, and this child also took surf lessons during the summer holidays.

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The care of children

Decision-making about new children moving in to the home is thorough and clearly documented. Prior to any move being agreed, children’s needs and risks are considered alongside the skills and experience of the staff team. Children already living in the home are consulted and their needs considered along with their compatibility with any new child.

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The care of children

One child recently moved in to the home. This move was well planned. The child was able to meet key staff and visit the home before moving in.

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The safety of children

There are ongoing concerns regarding one child’s emotional well-being and vulnerability to exploitation. This child has developed strong and trusting relationships with staff, which have enabled the child to speak openly about their experiences. In recent weeks, the child has felt able to share information about incidents shortly after they have happened. This has enabled the home to take appropriate action to safeguard and support the child promptly. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 3 Another child’s needs were complex and, during their time at the home, the level of risk and frequency of serious incidents increased. As a result, managers determined that they were unable to keep this child safe and their placement ended prematurely.

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The safety of children

Following the end of this child’s placement, analysis was carried out by managers to identify contributing factors. Lessons learned from this period have been documented and clear actions identified to improve future practice.

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The safety of children

Towards the end of this child’s placement, restraint was being used frequently to prevent serious harm. Since this child moved out of the home, there has been one incident of restraint. This was appropriate and in line with the child’s care plan.

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The safety of children

When children go missing, staff respond appropriately by looking for them, reporting them as missing, and attempting to contact them.

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The safety of children

The effective use of multi-agency working is a strength of this home. Regular risk management meetings take place for both children living here. Professionals told the inspector that the quality of communication from the home is good and responses to safeguarding incidents are appropriate and effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home’s manager has a good understanding of the needs and risks of the two children living in the home. Risk assessments are good quality and are frequently updated following incidents, with input from the multi-agency network.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Management oversight of records is clear and consistent. Issues around the quality and detail of records and staff practice are identified and addressed promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

However, at the time of the inspection, one child had not had a child in care review since moving into the home in mid-July. The home’s manager had followed this up with the placing authority. However, she now accepts that this challenge should have been more robust and escalation processes followed if appropriate.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Allegations against staff and issues around poor practice are addressed effectively. Relevant safeguarding procedures are followed, investigation reports are completed in a timely manner, and clear actions identified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Supervision for staff takes place regularly, and staff are provided with regular training that is tailored to the needs of the children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff told the inspector that they enjoy working at this home and feel well supported by the home’s manager, responsible individual and colleagues. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 5

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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

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

ensure the effective induction of each child into the home;

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home;

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Requirement Due date

that the child’s placing authority is contacted, and a review of that child’s relevant plans is requested, if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the child is at risk of harm or has concerns that the care provided for the child is inadequate to meet the child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

the child is, or has been, persistently absent from the home without permission; or

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Requirement Due date

the child requests a review of the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(i)(ii)(e)(i)(ii)(iii)) 25 October 2023

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; 25 October 2023 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 6 seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that following incidents, any necessary cleaning or repairs are carried out thoroughly and promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Bank Buildings, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AJ

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Inspector

Janet Jauregui, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2650345 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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