Children's home run by Gracewells Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 1 Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2019, and the manager registered in October 2022.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. Both children were spoken to by the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2022

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2022 Full Good 07/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 3

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outstanding

Children experience excellent individualised care that gives them emotional support, high levels of warmth and a sense of belonging. The positive relationships and quality of care the manager and staff provide enable children to make significant and sustained progress. This alters children’s life chances and improves their outcomes.

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outstanding

Staff work extremely well with external partners and a consultant psychologist to ensure that consistency of care and support is provided to the children. Careful consideration is given to children moving in and out of the home. This results in exceptionally well-planned and thought-out transitions. Ultimately, children who move into the home settle well, and children who move on from the home continue to flourish.

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outstanding

Children attend full-time education and have 100% attendance. This is a remarkable difference from their starting points. Formal and informal education are promoted extremely well. Children learn about a number of different topics at home, such as Black History Month, World Book Day and Pride. Children are helped to develop their independence skills. This gives children the skills to be able to function and develop their knowledge about the world they are growing up in.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are a priority in this home. Both children are registered with local health services and attend regular appointments. The manager is proactive when identifying children’s needs and advocates tirelessly to get the correct support for them. One child has been discharged from a health specialist due to the excellent routine the staff have established since they moved into the home.

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outstanding

One child has been supported to conquer their long-term fear. Staff listened to the child’s worries and made arrangements with the relevant people in order for the child to feel at ease and safe. This has had a significant, positive impact on the child, and their self-esteem and confidence have grown as a consequence of the quality of support provided.

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outstanding

Family time and friendships are highly supported and recognised as important by the staff team. The manager and staff have excellent relationships with family members and friends’ carers. Staff actively support children in speaking to, visiting, and having friends and family over to visit the home regularly. This supports children to keep in touch with people who are important to them and supports their sense of identity.

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outstanding

Children access a wide range of activities at the home and in the community. For example, they have many board games, toys, books and games consoles. One child attends the local youth club, and one child enjoys one-to-one boxing lessons. Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 4 Children are actively involved in their community, for example by writing birthday cards to the elderly in the local care home and raising money for a local charity.

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outstanding

The manager and staff have high aspirations for the children in their care. They actively model positive behaviours and attitudes, and they challenge negative behaviours effectively using a therapeutic approach. Positive feedback was received from a social worker who said, ‘They have been absolutely amazing with [name of child]. I can’t thank them enough. I couldn’t have wished for a better home for them.’

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outstanding

Children are safer and are protected from harm since they moved into the home. They have made positive and exceptional improvements in their risk-taking behaviours. The manager and staff recognise and understand each child’s individual risks and vulnerabilities. Both children have comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour support plans in place that are followed by staff. Highly effective planning helps to manage and minimise risks to children in the home and community.

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outstanding

Staff work extremely hard to effectively manage children’s feelings to prevent any conflict. This means that children learn to identify and manage their feelings in a more acceptable way.

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outstanding

Staff prioritise building effective relationships with the children based on mutual respect. Due to the strength of these relationships, staff are able to implement clear boundaries, routine and structure that create a safe space for the children to feel emotionally safe. One parent said, ‘I think they have settled in very well. It is a reflection on the staff. [Name of child] was scared at first, but [the staff] have helped them to settle in very well.’

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outstanding

Children rarely go missing from the home. However, when this has occurred, staff follow correct protocols and are effective in liaising with the police and local authority to locate the children and return them home safely. Children receive an independent return home interview to address any concerns and identify strategies to minimise the risk.

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outstanding

One child has been physically held on two occasions due to their impulsivity and potential risk. Staff act swiftly in line with policy and procedures to ensure the child’s safety. The manager deemed the holds to be necessary and proportionate to ensure everyone’s safety. Physical intervention has been significantly reduced for both children since living in the home. As a consequence, the emergency services have not been required to support the staff in managing the child’s behaviour.

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outstanding

Staff clearly understand the safeguarding procedures. They receive safeguarding training, which is regularly updated to make sure that their knowledge remains up to date with current practice. They also receive training in areas specific to the Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 5 children, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bullying and the PACE model of care. This ensures that staff continue to meet their needs effectively.

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outstanding

The home offers lots of space inside and out. It is clean, tidy and homely. The home is free from hazards and benefits from strong health and safety procedures to protect children from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is inspirational, confident, ambitious and strongly advocates for the children in her care. She leads an enthusiastic, highly motivated and committed staff team. Children are extremely fond of her, and this is reciprocated. The manager demonstrates excellent leadership of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is child-centred and ensures that children receive a model of care that meets their individual needs. The manager recognises the importance of staff needing to feel valued, trusted and listened to. She ensures that their good practice is recognised and celebrated. This means that staff are happy in their roles, which enables them to provide exceptional care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a strong managerial presence in the home. Children and staff benefit from this supportive day-to-day oversight. The manager leads by example, takes on tasks and works directly with the children. Due to this proactive approach, staff feel highly supported and valued and have confidence in the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular supervision sessions, team meetings, training and a yearly assessment of their progress. This allows the manager to remain confident in the abilities of the staff team to meet the needs of the children. One member of staff stated that they feel the manager goes above and beyond for the children in the home, has a child-centred approach and is very ‘hands-on’ while ensuring her staff team is supported and also looked after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an excellent understanding of the strengths and areas for development of the home. She makes effective use of internal and external monitoring to make sure that high standards of care practice are maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals and a parent indicates that the manager consistently has the children’s needs and safety at the forefront of her decision-making and practice. The manager, staff and children can clearly demonstrate the positive impact that living in the home has had on enhancing the children’s lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The four requirements and one recommendation raised at the last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 6

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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: 2545733 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 21 Jubilee House, East Beach, Lytham, Lancashire FY8 5FT

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Inspector

Julie Elder, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2545733 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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