Children's home run by Area Camden Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 1 Registered provider: Area Camden 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 five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in March 2019. The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five 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

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2023

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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: 2506101 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2023 Full Good 16/02/2022 Full Good 05/03/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 30/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience exceptional care at this home, which makes them feel valued and raises their self-esteem. Children are making progress from their starting points. Although for some children this is slow progress, due to the complexity of their needs, the overall trajectory is positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children were observed to have relaxed and appropriate relationships with staff. One child said, ‘They feel like family members to me.’ Relationships are based on trust and respect on both sides and the outcome is a homely and safe environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s needs are met consistently well. All children have a key worker who takes overall responsibility for ensuring that their holistic needs are met. As a result, all children have up-to-date health assessments, personal education plans and are encouraged to take care of their emotional health. When required, children are encouraged and supported to seek more-specialist services, for example, for psychological assessment or drug and alcohol services.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well. Everyday activities, such as cooking together or making smoothies, help to strengthen these relationships. Staff recognise when children are upset and act accordingly. For example, they give children additional time or space to help them to process their thoughts. Children attend weekly meetings where they can have their say, give their menu choices and discuss many relevant and interesting topics together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from attending regular activities. All children are provided with an annual pass so that they can visit various theme parks and places of interest, and they are supported by staff to use these. During the inspection, children went to a theme park and visited the seaside for the day. Children are also supported to regularly participate other activities, including football training, arts and crafts, shopping and cooking/baking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children learn how to look after themselves as soon as they move into the home. For example, they are expected to tidy their bedrooms, do their own laundry and cook/bake with staff. As children get closer to moving into semi-supported living, staff support them to work through a semi-independence booklet which helps them to learn essential household/everyday tasks and skills in preparation for independent living.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are sensitive to the needs of children who are placed some distance away from their families. They recognise the risks for children who are living in unfamiliar surroundings. Plans are made accordingly to promote and support regular contact, ensure safety planning is in place and support friends and family to visit children at the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 4

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

Risks are well identified, and appropriate actions are taken to try and keep children safer. For example, staff work closely with children to help them understand the risks of staying out late in the community and of using social media.

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

Some children living at the home have arrived with already entrenched patterns of behaviour. The positive relationships staff build with children and the consistency in their approach help children to listen and make better choices to stay safer. Children have made progress in reducing their exposure to risk situations, for example by staying out of trouble with the police and reducing missing-from-care episodes from overnights to being late beyond curfew.

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

The response to children who go missing from care is well established and there is evidence of working in partnership with local authorities and the police to reduce these risks. However, some discrepancies in the recording of missing-from-care episodes remain and there appears to be some confusion for staff over curfew times and protocols. Although there has been no impact, the consequences could be high if reporting is not right or in line with agreed planning.

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

The staff manage behaviours well and work closely together as a team to provide a consistent response. As a result, children feel secure and become aware quickly of where the boundaries are set. The behaviour support plans and risk assessments are thorough and are regularly updated. They advise staff of known triggers and provide strategies to manage when children feel distressed. Children say they feel safe and secure living at the home.

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

Effective arrangements are in place for safeguarding children. Staff feel confident in the procedures to follow to report any safeguarding issues.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are ambitious for children. They are persistent in their approach and manage the home well to ensure best practice from the staff team. This approach is diligent in its focus on the individual needs of children and ensures that high standards of care are provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The oversight by the registered manager is a strength. This is reflected in the safe recruitment information held on staff files and the well-recorded supervision sessions and appraisals, which are held regularly and address practice issues effectively. This approach provides a safe environment where staff can offer positive care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Through close monitoring, the registered manager picked up on a recent minor medication error and has now put a positive action plan in place. Although immediate and appropriate action was taken, not all staff have yet completed additional training with the nurse to allow them to work individually with children who have specialist health needs. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 5 Staff have extremely strong and proactive relationships with other professionals and with children’s families, which supports children to make progress and keep in touch with those who are important to them. The registered manager and the staff are strong advocates for children living at the home. For example, they challenge the placing authorities when they have not provided transition assessments, school places or return home interviews. All these actions are supporting children’s progress in respect of their care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and the staff team are diverse and reflect the diversity and identity needs of the children living at the home. There is an understanding of difference, be that through identity, race, cultural, religious or dietary needs. Children learn about different cultural/religious festivals and regularly discuss difference and tolerance at their weekly meetings. Children are challenged if/when they demonstrate intolerance, and this is seen as a learning opportunity for discussion without blaming children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission and how staff should support the child on return to the home. In particular, staff should be clear they are following the home’s set protocols for individual children and keeping to this guidance when reporting children missing to the police and local authority. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to: respond to the health needs of children; help children to manage long-term conditions and where necessary meet specific individual health needs arising from a disability, chronic condition or other complex needs. In particular, all staff should have the opportunity to attend specific health needs

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Recommendations

training. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.12)

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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: 2506101 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Monet St. Rose-Johnson

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Inspector

Christine Kennet, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 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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