Children's Home run by Kewel Care Limited in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2652535 1 Registered provider: Kewel Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation. It provides care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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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: 14 November 2022

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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: 2652535 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2652535 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home has been there since the previous inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s progress is strong. They benefit from secure, positive relationships with a skilled and dedicated staff team. The child said, ‘I am really happy here because I know the staff care about me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work well with a wide range of professionals who offer specialist support. They work cohesively to help the child confront, understand and manage behaviours, which in previous placements the child has not been able to do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Previously, the child had not attended education for several years. They have now begun to attend school and have made strong academic progress from their starting point. The child’s teacher said, ‘I am so incredibly proud of [child’s name]. The staff have been instrumental in getting them to this stage.’ This is a considerable achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have helped the child to recognise the positive changes the child has made. They have supported the child to raise money for charities that are meaningful to the child. The child was able to talk about these changes and is proud of their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to visit family, and staff have built positive relationships with their parents, siblings and extended family. One parent said, ‘I know my child is safe and well cared for by the staff, and that’s very important to me. [child’s name] has made amazing progress since living in the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the importance of the child building and maintaining positive friendships. The child said that they have a ‘friends activity allowance’ that they can spend on going out with their friend. A friend who was present during the conversation said that staff always make them feel welcome and they often stay for tea. Staff have a good relationship with the friend’s parent and family, and the child will often go on family activities with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have helped the child to make personalised photo albums of activities and celebrations. These mementos provide the child with an excellent record of the positive memories of their time in the home.

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

The child has become increasingly safe since moving to the home. The safeguarding systems are effective, and staff are vigilant and professionally curious. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652535 4 Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding. Staff were clear about the importance and process of reporting concerns.

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

The staff have a good understanding of the child’s vulnerabilities. They support the child to develop the child’s own understanding of risks. For example, following one serious and significant incident, staff worked constructively with the child to help them comprehend the potential life-changing consequences of their actions.

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

The child had a considerable history of going missing from home before moving to the home. Incidents of going missing have reduced substantially.

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

Staff are skilled at de-escalating incidents, and recently there has been a decrease in dangerous behaviours. Staff have regular and meaningful conversations with the child to discuss the child’s feelings and gain their views. These conversations help staff to understand how to support the child in times of distress.

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

The child’s risk assessments are comprehensive, detailed and updated promptly. The child is fully involved in the implementation of the risk assessment. Effective safeguarding procedures, implemented consistently in the home, help keep the child safe.

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

There is a comprehensive and informative behaviour management plan that helps staff identify triggers and reduce behaviours. The child has been involved in writing the plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is aspirational and leads by example, working hard to create good outcomes for the child. She has a focus on continuous improvement and uses this to support new strategies to help the child progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is clear with staff about her expectations of the home. This enables staff to work consistently together to prioritise the day-to-day needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal monitoring of the home is comprehensive. The manager recognises the home’s strengths and has systems in place to identify areas for improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built good, strong relationships with professionals who work with the child. She actively explores new and effective approaches and will discuss these with professionals before implementing them at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child is clearly at the centre of the home. The manager has excellent communication with social workers and other professionals, who hold the staff and manager in high regard. A partnership approach means that the manager has been able to challenge professionals successfully when actions or proposed actions have not been in the best interests of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652535 5 The manager has completed a location risk assessment. However, this does not provide sufficient information, and in turn consideration, of contextual risks posed by the nearby park. As a result, some risks have not been fully explored. Inspection report for children’s home: 2652535 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the location review includes the identification of any risks and opportunities presented by the home’s location and strategies for managing these. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: 2652535 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kelwel Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Regus, Victoria House, 101–105 Victoria Road, Chelmsford CM1 1JR

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Inspector

Trish Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2652535 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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