Children's Home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 1 Registered provider: Five Rivers Child Care 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 owned by a private provider and offers care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two very young children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager in post since 7 September 2023. A new manager has been appointed.

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Inspection date: 27 October 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 27 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: 2642842 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

Since the previous inspection the registered manager has resigned, and a new manager has been appointed. The new manager has demonstrated a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in practice. They have a clear vision for the home, which includes promoting best outcomes for children and developing the staff team. They see their investment in and support of the team as being key factors in achieving these goals.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making good progress. Children are learning to understand and label their emotions. This helps them in taking steps to manage the impact their feelings have on them. As a result, there has been a reduction in incidents and restraints.

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Findings from the inspection

The management of children’s behaviour is good. Children and staff have positive relationships despite recent changes in the staff team. Where incidents and restraint happen, staff evaluate these to identify the reasons for them and any learning. For example, when children needed more support to restart school after the summer holidays, staff provided this well.

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Findings from the inspection

The records of incidents, including those where restraint was used, have improved. Staff now provide a clear record of events and actions taken to help children. Meaningful conversations take place with children to help them develop their understanding of their behaviours and how these impact on themselves and others.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children currently living in the home attend school on a full-time basis. Children love their schools. This is a big step for one child as they had been out of education for some time. Both children have made friends at school, have play dates and are invited to parties.

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Findings from the inspection

Children like living at the home. They said that they have lots of fun and take part in a lot of different activities. Staff support children to try new activities and join local clubs. This provides children with a social network outside the home and helps them to develop and sustain friendships as well as have fun.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are helping to keep children safe at the home. Records of safeguarding events are of good quality and provide a clear chronology of events and actions taken. Actions are taken in a timely manner and lessons learned from safeguarding events are used to develop practice.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s plans are current and reflect their needs, and provide staff with clear guidance on how to meet these. However, they are very long documents; one is 36 pages long and the other is 48 pages. The length of these plans could reduce their Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 3 effectiveness. The plans are, however, supported by a one-page profile on each child, which provides a snapshot of the child’s needs and how to meet these.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 4

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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 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

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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child.

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person should ensure that there is a risk assessment in place in relation to staff who are in their probationary period being left in sole charge of the home, including when they are working with an agency worker. 31 January 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of children. The registered person should seek, as far as possible, to maintain a homely and domestic, rather than an ‘institutional’, impression. In particular, the registered person should continue to review the need for locks on bedroom doors, including plans for their removal. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 5  The registered person should ensure that all required recruitment checks are in place for agency staff, and that they have the appropriate training and experience in relation to caring for children. In addition, where the manager has any concerns about the practice of an agency worker, this should be reported to the agency. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality

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Recommendations

standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should review children’s care plans to ensure that they are effective working documents that support the children’s development. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Five Rivers Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 47 Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy-John Matthews

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Inspector

Wendy Anderson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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