Children's Home run by South West Childcare Services in Plymouth

Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a national provider of children’s homes. It is registered to provide care for two children who experience social, emotional and/or learning difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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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: 7 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: 1235576 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good 18/11/2021 Full Good 16/10/2019 Full Good 25/09/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have quickly built important and meaningful relationships with staff they can trust. Staff know the children well, listen to them and invest time in them to promote their welfare. Children continue to make progress in many aspects of their lives and experience positive outcomes. Staff speak with pride about the children’s talents and achievements and ensure these are celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of children attending their education and encourage children to achieve this. One child maintains good attendance and is doing well. However, one child’s attendance is variable. The manager continues to liaise with the local authority and virtual school to advocate for the child to ensure that they receive the right educational provision to meet their needs. Nonetheless educational opportunities and activity for the child outside of college are lacking.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff to express themselves and have a voice. Children feel safe to share their thoughts, feelings and wishes with the adults that support them. Staff have developed an in-depth understanding of the children’s needs and interests. Children are listened to, and staff positively influence children’s experiences and life chances by acting on their views and wishes. For example, one child wished to watch their favourite football team play away from home, they were supported by staff to achieve this and now continue to regularly do it independently with a family member.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are sensitive and responsive to children’s individual needs. They treat children with dignity and respect and help children to express their views and d delicately help children to develop a positive sense of their own identity. Records are updated to reflect the voice of each child and their wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have developed good relationships with health professionals to promote good physical and emotional wellbeing for the children. Children have access to local health services and are supported to attend appointments when required. Children are encouraged to have a well-balanced diet and children enjoy having evening meals together with staff in the homes dining room.

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

Staff know the children well and what individual support each child needs to be kept safe and protected from harm. Staff proactively respond to any incidents that occur, and effectively liaise with children’s social workers to help reduce and minimise the risk of harm to children. Incidents remain very low, there have been no occasions where children have gone missing, and restraint has never been used. A social worker commented that staff have created a safe environment for the child and the child has staff they can trust. Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 4 Children’s risk of harm is reducing and children’s behavioural progress is having a positive impact on minimising their risks. Staff understand children’s risks. Risk assessments reflect children’s vulnerabilities and are appropriately reviewed. Guidance supports staff to know what action to take to minimise the risk to each child and protect them from harm. Records evidence that

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

Staff understand the risks that using the internet poses for children. Staff have proportionate restrictions in place to help keep children safe. Staff put their trust in the children and have regular discussions with them regarding healthy relationships and on-line safety, this helps support children to learn how they can keep themselves safe now and in the future.

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

Staff place an emphasis on the children learning important independent living skills that will give them more control and autonomy in their futures. Children are supported to take age-appropriate risks as part of their development and learn skills to help keep themselves safe. Children enjoy spending meaningful time with their friends and family in the community without any unnecessary restrictions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed efficiently by a caring manager. Children are at the heart of every decision made and included in all aspects of the home’s development. One child stated that they enjoyed living in the home and was happy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited a new staff team, who have quickly built positive relationships with children and offer consistent and effective support. Staff receive regular supervision that focuses on the children’s experiences and staff wellbeing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Each child’s individual needs are known by staff, and staff support the children to share their thoughts and feelings on how staff can best meet their planned needs. Records positively focus on children’s talents and highlight their achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders, managers, and staff have established good relationships with external agencies and professionals. Feedback from professionals was positive praising the progress children were making from their starting points. A social worker commented that the child they supported receives good consistent support and staff maintain a positive environment that encourages the child to develop .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff expressed their joy in working at the home and supporting the children to progress. They value the support of leaders and managers, and they have access to an in-house therapies team to support their development and enhance their well- being. Staff are encouraged to gain qualifications to continue their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Records do evidence the positive impact that living at the home is having on the children. However, some handwritten records are eligible and management oversight and evaluation of some records is lacking and needs to be more robust to help inform and improve future practice. Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 5 Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 6

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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, 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 each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally; Regulation 8(1)(2)(a)(i)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders, managers and staff engaging in suitable structured activities that promote opportunities for the child to learn informally. When this does take place, it needs to be clearly recorded to evidence what activity has been undertaken to acknowledge the child’s achievements. 28 February 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children’s records are clearly recorded and effectively evaluated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 7

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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: 1235576 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Second Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

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Inspector

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1235576 9 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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