Children's home run by Solace Care 7kings Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 1 Registered provider: Solace Care 7kings Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 19 October 2020. The manager registered with Ofsted on 17 March 2023.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection. The inspectors spoke to both children.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 27 September 2022

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/09/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/04/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from staff who know them well and want them to make good progress. Staff spend time with the children and support them to develop trusting relationships, settle and develop their social skills. One social worker said, ‘I’m hoping this is a turning point because they didn’t give up on [name of child], and [name of child] knows they are committed.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to express their views and contribute to the running of the home. Regular house meetings take place, with children being able to chair them. Issues are discussed, including areas for development in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff focus on working with local authorities to ensure that there is appropriate educational provision for the children. The efforts to ensure children attend school reflect the ambition the staff have for the children to do well. However, as educational placements are hard to secure, interim solutions, for example tutoring, are sought to ensure children do not miss out.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Health needs are known and progressed so that children are able to access appropriate provision, including dentists, opticians and registration with a GP. One child was supported to re-engage with health services after a long period of time, which the allocated social worker considers ‘a major achievement ‘. However, the food provided in the home could be more varied and include more healthy meals.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children maintain relationships with their families, and the staff support complex family time arrangements. This support is meeting the identity needs of the children. However, one social worker felt that the staff could be more proactive in liaising with the staff from the home where one child’s sibling lives.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are challenges to the implementation of boundaries and routines for children due to the severity of the trauma they have experienced. The children are not always provided with a morning, afternoon and evening structure to provide them with predictability and safety to help them to progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaged in activities such as opportunities to cook, shop and go to the cinema. However, the variety and consistency of activities is limited and not in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.3

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

Children’s risks and vulnerabilities are well understood by staff. Staff work closely with other agencies and, when appropriate, with parents to ensure that effective action is taken to keep children safe. Children’s risk assessments are specific to children’s individualised needs; they are reviewed regularly and include all relevant information. This helps to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 4 Staff are proactive when children go missing from the home. They contact children and work with other agencies to ensure that children return home safely. Records of missing-from-home incidents are thoroughly reviewed, and debriefs are completed with staff and children. This ensures that staff continually reflect on their practice and helps to reduce the risks to children. As a result, missing-from-home episodes are infrequent, and for one child, they have reduced.

p.3

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

Safeguarding practice is strong. Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing procedures and what to do if an allegation is made against another member of staff. Leaders and managers take allegations seriously and act promptly when issues arise. This increases children’s safety in the home. However, the internal investigation reports could be strengthened by being more detailed, for example by providing the child’s account and the action taken as a result of an allegation.

p.4

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

Children are supported to understand risks through key-work sessions with staff and the involvement of external safeguarding partners. This helps children learn how to keep themselves safe.

p.4

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

Records of restraint demonstrate that the use of restraint is proportionate and necessary to keep children safe. The incidents are well recorded and include management oversight. This enables leaders and managers to monitor the use of restraint effectively and identify any emerging themes and patterns.

p.4

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

Action is required to improve fire safety at the home. The fire extinguishers on the first floor have been locked in the spare bedroom. This compromises the staff’s ability to respond promptly in the event of a fire.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced registered manager. The leaders, managers and staff demonstrate a genuine commitment to the children in their care and strive to make a positive difference to their lives. There is a stable core staff team in place, providing a consistent level of care and a family-style home environment. Agency staff are only used as a last resort to fill any gaps in the staff rota.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the home’s strengths and areas for development. There are effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that leaders and managers constantly review the quality of care provided to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The feedback provided by staff about the leadership of the home is positive. Staff benefit from induction, regular supervision and appraisals. Staff have access to training relevant to the needs of the children in their care. Team meetings are used to reflect on the progress made by the children as well as the challenges. However, some staff feel that not all the staff are confident enough to address the behaviours and challenges presented at times by the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 5 The quality of care review, which has been completed since the last full inspection, does not include the views of the children, their parents, placing authorities or staff. This compromises management oversight and the continuous improvement of the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have addressed all of the requirements and recommendations raised at the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c)

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that the children are provided with a healthy, nutritious diet. 30 November

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the quality of care provided for children;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (5)) 30 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 7

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities, in line with the home’s statement of purpose. Staff should encourage children to participate in those activities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)  The registered person should ensure that there is a strong safeguarding culture in the home, where children are listened to. In particular, internal investigation reports into allegations should clearly present the views of the children about what had occurred and also include a full list of the recommendations and actions required to address the concerns. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.8)  The registered person must ensure that fire extinguishers are accessible so staff can protect the children and respond to fire without delay. (‘Guide to the

p.7

Recommendations

Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

p.7

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: 2595182 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solace Care 7kings Ltd

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2A, 420 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex IG2 6NQ

p.8

Inspectors

Aneta Wasilewska, Social Care Inspector Naintara Khosla, His Majesty Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2595182 9 regulates and inspects 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.

p.8

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9