Children's home run by Gracebridge Care

Inspection report for children's home: 2556128 1 Registered provider: Gracebridge Care Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company. It is registered to care for four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2023.

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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: 27 February 2023

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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: 2556128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2023 Full Good 26/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2556128 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home to live with their families and two children have moved in. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector observed good relationships between children and staff. Children said they like living in the home and know they can speak to staff if they are worried about anything.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage transitions into and out of the home well. Children have the opportunity to visit the home before moving in and meet staff and other children living there. This helps children to quickly settle into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in their education. All the children attend education and have good attendance levels. Staff encourage children to be ambitious for their futures. One child said he would like to be a construction worker. Staff and education providers work together to help children achieve the best education outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s health needs are met. Children are supported to attend all their routine health appointments. When children move into the home, staff identify any health needs quickly, prompting referrals for specialist health services, such as therapeutic support. This multi-agency approach means that children’s health needs are promoted effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff regularly seek children’s views through conversations, children’s meetings and key-work sessions. The children are consulted daily about all aspects of their care. For example, one child told staff about the support they want from them when they are feeling low in mood. This helps children to influence the care that they receive, as well as knowing that their opinions are important, which increases their self- esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a range of activities that enhance their social experiences. These include playing football, going to the music studio and going on day trips, such as visiting theme parks. As a result, children are making lasting memories, learning new skills and having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with their families and other people who are important to them. Children are supported to contribute to decision-making about these arrangements and staff talk to them to gain their views. This helps children to keep in contact with people who are significant in their lives and also supports their understanding of their identity. Inspection report for children's home: 2556128 4 The home is well decorated and suitably furnished. However, the window restrictors on the ground floor windows detract from the homely feeling.

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

Staff know the children well and have developed positive relationships with them. They have a good understanding of children’s risks and how to reduce these. Staff use the home’s therapeutic care model and know the effective strategies that work to support the children.

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

Allegations and complaints are managed well. The manager takes prompt action, ensuring information is shared quickly with external professionals to avoid delay and ensure that children are protected from harm. Children are kept informed of any outcomes. These actions support children to feel confident to raise concerns and helps the children to feel safe.

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

Staff respond quickly when children go missing from the home. They follow missing- from-home protocols, actively look for the children and work with local police until children are found. When children return to the home, staff spend time with them, giving them the opportunity to share any worries or anxieties they have and to discuss their reasons for going missing. Staff support children to know about the risks of going missing and how to keep themselves safe.

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

Staff understand children’s behaviours and are skilled in managing them. Staff use praise and restorative practice to promote positive behaviour. As a result, the use of physical intervention has reduced.

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

Staff support children to take their required medication. On one occasion, a child declined to take their medication and staff recorded this appropriately. The child did not suffer any adverse effects. However, the registered manager did not seek advice from medical professionals in a timely manner about how refusal of medication would impact on the child. The manager acknowledges this shortfall and has put systems in place to ensure this does not happen again.

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

Staff carry out room searches of children’s bedrooms when there are concerns that children may be at risk of harm. For example, staff found a knife in one child’s bedroom. The knife was removed immediately. Staff supported the child through education key-work sessions on knife danger and safety. These actions by staff protect children from harm or injury.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified and leads the home effectively. She advocates for the children and ensures that children are supported to make progress in their lives. The registered manager is supported by the deputy manager, who is keen to learn and develop. Inspection report for children's home: 2556128 5 The home is staffed by a stable and consistent staff team. The manager ensures that staff are supported in their roles. Staff have completed a variety of training to meet the children’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular practice-based supervision and annual appraisals. These sessions are reflective and help staff to develop and improve the quality of care given to children. Staff said they feel supported by the manager. One member of staff said, ‘Working in this home is like being in a family.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. She has daily oversight of the running of the home as well as the care being provided and the progress made by the children. External monitoring by the home’s independent person also identifies areas for improvement. This oversight helps to identify any shortfalls quickly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have positive relationships with external professionals. Social workers and education providers were positive about the progress that children have made since living in the home. One professional said the registered manager and staff advocate for the children, adding, ‘They are brilliant.’ Inspection report for children's home: 2556128 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of its children. This specifically relates to window restrictors fitted on ground floor windows. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that when they have questions or concerns about a child’s medication, they should approach an expert such as a GP, community pharmacist or designated nurse for looked after children as soon as practically possible. This specifically relates to when children refuse prescribed medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)

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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: 2556128 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rear of Arden Lodge, 946 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 6QG

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2556128 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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