Children's Home run by Absolute Children’s Services Ltd in North Lincolnshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696593 1 Registered provider: Absolute Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in November 2022 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2696593 2

p.1

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.

p.2

The care of children

Staff spend time getting to know and understand the children. This means the children enjoy positive relationships with staff. This helps the children make progress in all areas of their lives.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support children during times when they experience difficulties in their peer relationships. The registered manager holds restorative discussions between children. These discussions support the children’s understanding around behaviours and how to treat others with respect.

p.2

The care of children

The children’s health and well-being are met by staff who understand their individual needs. Children are able to access support with their emotions from the home’s psychologist. They benefit from this clinical input.

p.2

The care of children

Children enjoy participating in a variety of social activities, a holiday by the coast, going bowling and having ‘pamper’ sessions. They are also encouraged to develop active hobbies and interests, such as horse-riding and attending a local gym. Children also have free time to socialise with their friends.

p.2

The care of children

Staff support children to attend school, and some children access one-to-one tutoring in the home. Staff support children to overcome any potential barriers to education by encouraging them to talk about their worries and offering incentives to help progress their education plans.

p.2

The care of children

Children are provided with opportunities to share their wishes and any concerns during individual discussions and weekly children’s meetings. Staff remind children of how to make a complaint, and children are aware of advocacy support. The registered manager is revisiting this to strengthen the children’s understanding.

p.2

The safety of children

Children said they have trusted staff who they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns.

p.2

The safety of children

On occasion, staff have physically intervened to keep children safe and prevent injury to others. The interventions are proportionate, and children and staff are given the opportunity to understand and reflect on events.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff search for children when they go missing from the home and are aware of the procedures for notifying and reporting incidents. The registered manager is aware of Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696593 3 the importance of children having someone independent to talk to about the reasons they went missing. The registered manager escalates appropriately to the local authority when this support is not consistently provided for children.

p.2

The safety of children

Staff support children to help them understand risks associated with going missing from home, exploitation, internet safety and grooming. This helps to keep children safer.

p.3

The safety of children

Individual behavioural support plans are detailed and offer staff clear guidance to follow. The overall use of consequences is appropriate, with suitable management oversight to assess whether they are used appropriately. However, on one occasion, a consequence was used which meant the child had several losses imposed, including losing time with a friend and an activity. On this occasion, the consequence was overly punitive.

p.3

The safety of children

Children’s risk assessments are clear and updated following any significant incidents. This helps staff to understand children’s associated risks and offer children support to reduce these. However, one incident has not been clearly recorded, and it is unclear whether risks were understood by staff in this instance or what actions were taken. This means the registered manager does not have the necessary information to monitor the effectiveness of staff responses or consider whether follow-up actions are needed to safeguard children effectively.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The home is run by a registered manager who is passionate and visible in the home with a hands-on approach. The home is now appropriately staffed to meet children’s needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has audit tools in place that support monitoring the progress of the quality of care provided to the children. The registered manager is proactive in supporting and challenging staff to ensure they offer the children consistency and continuity of care.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff feel supported by the registered manager. One member of staff said, ‘The manager is amazing.’ Staff are feeling confident as a team and benefit from regular support and team meetings.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager ensures that the home is very well maintained and well presented.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager has been proactive in progressing all the requirements from the previous inspection. Staff have been offered additional training, which has given them confidence and additional strategies to support children. However, some staff are not clear about their roles and responsibilities in understanding the importance of accurately recording incidents to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696593 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696593 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered persons 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)) 27 October 2023

p.5

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that any consequences used are restorative in nature and proportionate and that they support children to make reparation without the loss of multiple rights. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraphs 9.36 and 9.38) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696593 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Absolute Children’s Services Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 98 Grove Street, Leek ST13 8DU

p.6

Inspector

Gina Lightfoot, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2696593 7 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.

p.6

Inspector

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 .

p.7

Inspector

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7