Children's Home run by Empower Residentials Limited in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 1 Registered provider: Empower Residentials 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 registered to provide care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted but has recently submitted her application.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Inspection date: 25 October 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 October 2023

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, 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: 2694810 2

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Outcome 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

The child living at this home moved in about seven months ago and receives care from staff who have a strong understanding of their individual needs and past trauma. Staff provide high levels of nurture and incentives, which the child responds positively to. Staff encourage the child to pursue a variety of interests, including walking, hiking, playing cricket, coin collecting and socialising with friends.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff practically help and emotionally support the child to regularly speak with and visit their family in the community and at the home. The child is not currently attending full-time education and their educational needs are yet to be formally reviewed. Managers have challenged the local authority and are awaiting an appropriate provision and start date. This means that the child is not yet receiving education as required.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond effectively to the child’s wishes and feelings. Minor complaints are taken seriously and acted on by managers. The responsible individual meets with the child to discuss their concerns and writes in a child-centred manner to acknowledge the issues.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been very few incidents of physical intervention. This has been appropriate to keep the child safe from harm in the community. There is timely and comprehensive management oversight of these incidents. Managers discuss incidents with staff and the child to understand and learn from them.

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Findings from the inspection

When the child is missing from the home or out in the community, staff act quickly to ensure the child’s safety. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are regularly reviewed and include clear direction for staff. This helps to minimise future incidents and ensures that staff respond consistently should this reoccur.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements and recommendation made at the last inspection have been met. A new manager commenced in August 2023 and has submitted her application to register with Ofsted. There is increased oversight and direction provided to staff since the arrival of the new manager. Improvements made to staff practice, including more-consistent approaches to care, have been informed by an updated and smart action plan.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff are up to date with mandatory training. Additional training has been provided on topics such as positive parenting, missing from home, safer care and Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 3 safeguarding. Team meetings have been used as learning forums to discuss areas of development to further strengthen staff’s skills.

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Findings from the inspection

The home is modern and well maintained with an extensive garden the child enjoys. Staff have supported the child to make each area of the home their own. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/02/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 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, 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.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)) 30 November Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2 Prockters Farm Offices, West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8QN

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2694810 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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Inspector

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

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