Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 1 SC466284 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home cares for up to seven children who may have social or emotional needs. The home can accommodate children on a planned and emergency basis. The children’s home is comprised of two separate buildings on the same site. The main house accommodates up to five children and a small cottage can accommodate up to two children. At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home. There is an experienced, suitably qualified registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 28 September 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/09/2022 Full Outstanding 04/10/2021 Full Outstanding 16/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good 19/09/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 3

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outstanding

Children receive an exceptional standard of care from an experienced and highly skilled team. Many of the children have lived at the home for a significant part of their lives. Children are nurtured and cherished in a family environment. This has enabled them to thrive and exceed the expectations of what they can achieve. The life chances and opportunities for children have improved considerably due to the care provided. The home offers a nurturing environment, which enables children to have their complex needs met.

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outstanding

The manager and staff go above and beyond their roles to ensure that children attend education and training. Children have been well supported with the transition from school to college. The children’s attendance is excellent. The children are very proud of their achievements. There are photographs of all the children displayed on the walls in the home, which show their achievements.

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outstanding

Children are in good health and all their routine health needs are met. They have established hobbies and interests, both inside and outside the home. Staff support children to develop their talents, which helps children to build their self-esteem. For example, two children attend cadets and take pride in wearing their uniform. Children are encouraged to shop, cook and bake, which means that they can manage age-appropriate responsibilities in rewarding ways.

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outstanding

The manager and staff build relationships with children’s family members. This helps to promote children’s sense of identity. Children regularly stay overnight with their families. Staff ensure that children are safely transported to these visits and that these visits are well organised. Children are fully involved in their care plans. Where possible, and if they want to, they attend important meetings where their views and wishes are considered and acted on. Managers and staff support children to make remarkable progress when children are moving on to independence. This involves staff undertaking detailed assessments of each child’s needs and highly individualised direct work and support. This has covered the emotional, social, and practical elements of living independently. After five years living at the home, one child has now moved on and is settling into their new accommodation well. The child is making very good

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outstanding

progress, living independently, attending college, and learning to drive. The child said, ‘Had it not been for the staff I would not be where I am now.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 4

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outstanding

The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of the risks posed to and by children. They work tirelessly to ensure that children are kept safe. Due to the therapeutic work undertaken in the team, staff think of creative ways to manage risks and vulnerabilities, and they show great persistence and determination in the face of very complex situations. Where children need extra help to understand risks, they are offered empathy and time. This has helped children to make steady progress and increase their independence in a safe space.

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outstanding

The staff team use their skills and relationships with children to manage behaviour effectively. They are confident in this area of practice. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. Restraint is used rarely and only as a last resort. Any incidents of restraint are recorded clearly, and the manager provides a good standard of evaluation, identifying learning where necessary. This helps to maintain a calm and stable atmosphere. Children are safe online. Staff carry out proportionate checks on children’s phones, as any parent would. They also carry out direct work regarding online safety. The manager and staff have shown persistence with children to help them to stay safe when using social media and the internet. The manager and staff show high levels of commitment to the protection of children. Thorough recruitment processes are in place to ensure that children are cared for by safe adults. There are good links with the local authority designated

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outstanding

officer, police, and other relevant external agencies. All safeguarding concerns are investigated thoroughly and there are clear outcomes. Children are well supported with safeguarding processes, even when they have moved on. This gives children the reassurance and guidance that they need in their most-vulnerable times.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced, committed and highly skilled manager. She is enthusiastic about providing high standards of care for children. The manager and her two deputy managers have created consistency and stability, which has steadily contributed to significant improvements over time. The managers have inspired the team to provide the exceptional care that children are receiving. This has enabled children to flourish and achieve their goals. Children’s lives have been transformed due to the care that they receive in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has recruited a skilled staff team. Each person brings their own skills and experience, which have been integrated into a consistent approach. The staff enjoy their work and see their colleagues as a ‘second family’. There is a thorough induction for new staff, and their progress is carefully reviewed and monitored. As a result, the quality of care for children is sustained over time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular opportunities for further training and development. Training is relevant to the needs of the children. Team members benefit from regular Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 5 supervision, clinical supervision, and appraisals, in which they feel able to discuss the impact of their work. Staff say that they enjoy their supervisions. This has helped to maintain a core of stable and cohesive staff who display exceptional energy and tenacity in their work, which helps children to develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager takes great care over decisions about children moving in to the home. For example, a young person has recently left to move to supported living and the manager wants the children to have time to reflect on and acknowledge the transition before moving another child in to the home. Children’s transitions are well planned with the involved external agencies. As a result, children soon settle into the home and live there until they are ready to move on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Research-informed practice underpins the care provided in the home. The quality and availability of therapeutic intervention is evident in care planning and risk assessment. Staff are empowered to understand children and meet their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management oversight and monitoring of the home is very thorough. The home has moved to a new recording system. This is already enhancing the quality of assessments, making key documents easier to link together and review.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has developed excellent relationships with internal and external colleagues, who have considerable confidence in the care provided to children. They cannot recommend the home highly enough. The manager is confident to challenge other professionals where there are shortfalls in plans for children. She regularly advocates for their needs. As a result, children are well protected from situations that may not be in their best interests.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers take pride in children’s achievements, and they always have time for the children, whatever the issue. Children who have moved on from the home remain in contact, sharing their news or asking for advice, even after long periods of time. This demonstrates the enduring nature of relationships and attachments that children develop while living at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The recommendation set at the last inspection is met. No further recommendations or requirements have been made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 6

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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: SC466284 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

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Inspectors

Corrinne Barker, Social Care Inspector Kay Challand, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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