Children's Home run by Heartwood RSR Limited in Lincolnshire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 1 Registered provider: Heartwood RSR Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was being led by the responsible individual. The registered manager has left their post.

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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: 2711833 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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Findings from the inspection

This inspection was undertaken because of escalating concerns following the registered manager and the responsible individual abruptly leaving their posts in August 2023. Additionally, there were concerns over behaviour management in relation to a child who was living at the home and the sufficiency of staff to care for children. Following the departure of the manager and responsible individual, another responsible individual was appointed. She has also stepped in as the acting manager, pending the recruitment of a permanent manager.

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Findings from the inspection

The new acting manager quickly settled into her role. She has taken decisive action to bring about stability for children and staff. She has now recruited a permanent staff team who have started at the home or are in the process of joining. This has coincided with a thorough overhaul of training and development for staff. They have now had training in behaviour management, specifically physical intervention and safeguarding. Additional training, such as working therapeutically with children, is planned for the near future. The acting manager has also ensured that training is designed to meet the specific needs of the children living at the home. This will ensure that staff have the training and development to help children to be safe and thrive.

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Findings from the inspection

The children have good relationships with staff. Children said that they felt safe, and that staff were always available for them. One child said of a particular staff member, ‘she is like my second mum’. These comments demonstrate that staff quickly build good and positive relationships with the children.

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Findings from the inspection

One child recently left the home. This was a well-planned move with the respective local authority. The acting manager knew that staff were unable to meet the child’s very complex needs and helped the child make the move to a suitable provision. The local authority was complimentary of the support provided by the acting manager and staff. A commissioning manager said, ‘Can’t fault them, the manager was fantastic.’ A new child has also recently moved in. His transition was carefully planned. He visited prior to his move and met staff. He also talked about how he would like his room decorated. The manager and staff acted on his wishes. The child said, ‘This is the first placement I have been in where they have decorated my room just as I wanted.’ He was happy, content and settled.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s education is being promoted. One child attends a local alternative provision, and he is achieving excellent attendance. He is working hard, and so planning for this child is focused on a move to a local mainstream school. Another child is also in school and, although she experiences challenges with attendance, she is receiving good support from staff to both improve her attendance and help her to progress. The education requirement from the last inspection is met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 3 Children benefit from a nice, clean, and well-decorated home. The environment is homely and comfortable, with plenty of space. Children decorate their rooms as they wish and have toys and activities. Staff and children enjoy playing games together and this helps to develop bonds between children and staff. However, damage in children’s rooms is not repaired quickly enough. For example, in one child’s room

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Findings from the inspection

there was a damaged wall that had plaster missing. Therefore, the statutory requirement made at the last inspection, in the protection of children standard, is reset.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are safe and feel safe. The staff implement clear behavioural boundaries and children understand what is expected of them. Children have individual behaviour support plans that staff understand and follow. For one child, there was a significant increase in the frequency of physical interventions. The child presented behaviours that challenged staff and, on one occasion, a physical intervention was not carried out in line with the home’s preferred method. The acting manager was involved in this intervention. The matter was referred to the correct external safeguarding agencies and a lessons learned exercise completed by an external professional. The correct safeguarding procedures were followed.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff and children have experienced some disruption with changes in the management and leadership of this home. The new acting manager has drafted in additional management support from another service in the organisation. Additionally, senior support worker roles have now been filled. As a result, the leadership and management are more stable.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager is experienced and knowledgeable. She is in the process of overhauling the quality assurance systems, recording systems and how children’s progress is captured and reviewed. This will take time to fully implement and embed into day-to-day care practice. The statutory requirement in leadership and management that was made at the last inspection is reset to ensure that this progress becomes fully embedded.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive good support from the acting manager and senior support staff. Staff can raise any issues they wish and know that they will be taken seriously. A new manager has now been appointed, together with permanent staff. This will provide assurance going forward over the management structure and stability of the permanent staff team. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to children’s rooms being clean and a safe environment for them to be in. 1 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that robust quality assurance and monitoring systems are in place, used regularly, and recorded, and that management systems designed to improve children’s care are embedded into care practice. 1 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood RSR Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9JX

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Inspector

Phillip Morris, Regulatory Inspection Manager Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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