Children's home run by Empower Residentials Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2595791 1 Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to three children. The provider states in the statement of purpose that the home provides care for children aged between eight and 18. These children may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 28 July 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2595791 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/09/2022 Full Inadequate 02/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 31/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2595791 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has lived in the home for 18 months. Staff speak about the child with a great deal of emotional warmth. The child is valued, and those involved with their care are proud of their progress and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child moved into the home earlier this year. Careful planning has contributed to them moving in successfully. The child already living in the home was involved in the planning process. They spent time with each other before they lived together. In the main, both children live together well, and a positive relationship is developing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy attending school. Their learning needs are reviewed regularly. It is clear from their school reports that these children are held in high regard and that continual progress is being made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s daily needs are met. Staff provide nurturing care that helps children to build their confidence and improve their self-esteem. They are supported to attend many community clubs and activities where friendships are developing. While children enjoy many fun activities, including a recent Halloween party, photos and recorded information about key events are not presented in a way that is meaningful for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children, and they use different communication aids, including visual aids, to help them to achieve healthy routines and develop their life skills. In some areas, children make great progress. However, children’s plans do not include current targets to ensure that the support provided continually drives children’s progress. These plans do not reflect children’s views, including when desired outcomes are achieved.

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

Recruitment processes help to prevent unsuitable people from being recruited. Children know staff well because care is provided by a permanent staff team, and on occasion, from staff who have previously cared for the children.

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

There are safe arrangements in place for administering medication to children. One medication error has occurred; however, the child did not experience any adverse side effects. Additional training was provided to staff, and no further errors have occurred.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour in line with their support plans. Restraint is not used. When incidents occur, detailed records are completed. They show staff interventions used to help children. Detailed records increase the manager’s oversight of the quality of care provided to children, and future learning for staff to improve children’s experiences is recorded. Inspection report for children's home: 2595791 4 Following incidents, staff spend time with children to understand the reasons for their distress. They help children to develop strategies to manage their emotions when they feel overwhelmed. When incidents occur between the children, staff support them to repair their relationship with each other successfully.

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

Managers have updated children’s risk assessments and plans. While these documents record pertinent information, including children’s specific needs, risk reduction strategies are not always clearly defined, and children’s views are not always reflected. This includes strategies relating to safe physical care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior managers and managers have taken effective steps to improve the quality of care provided for children. They monitor care and children’s progress effectively, and they have high aspirations for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have forged effective links with the professionals involved in the children’s care. They challenge services effectively when they consider that children are not receiving good enough support and help.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Formal supervision records are comprehensive and are kept up to date. They focus on children’s needs and staff practice to continually improve care in the home. On one occasion, managers identified and responded to practice issues promptly. Managers said that these issues did not negatively impact on the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home environment is warm and inviting. Children’s toys and achievements are visible, and their bedrooms are personalised. This helps to create a sense of belonging for children. An office space that has been created is not in keeping with the warm home environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Inspectors received positive feedback about the home and children’s progress. Children expressed their views that they are happy and that they like living in the home. Interactions demonstrate that emotional and physical affection is shared between the staff and children. Inspection report for children's home: 2595791 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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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s life-story records are collated in a way that is meaningful for children and kept up to date. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14)  The registered person should ensure that children’s plans inform the basis of their care and reflect their views. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2595791 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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Inspectors

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Tara Webb, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2595791 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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