Children's home run by Impact For Change Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 1 Registered provider: Impact for Change Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is part of a small private organisation. The home is registered to care for up to two children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2021. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/08/2022 Full Good 14/09/2021 Full Good 10/06/2021 Full Inadequate 10/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and inviting. It is well furnished, and the photos and pictures displayed on the walls add to the homely feel. The kitchen is currently being refreshed. Children have large, personalised bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living in the home and feel safe. Carers have developed positive and trusting relationships with children. This supports children to build relationships and feel valued. Children have positive experiences, such as trips away and attending local activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home make progress. Supporting children to develop independence skills threads through day-to-day practice. One professional said that the care and support provided to a child had enabled them to make progress in all areas of their life. All professionals and family members spoken to were positive about the care provided for the children and the level of communication they receive from the home. Concerns in relation to children are promptly and appropriately raised with other professionals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is a primary focus in the home. Concerns raised in relation to physical health are addressed in a timely manner. Conversations with children aim to promote a healthy and active lifestyle and are informed and sensitive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers encourage and support children to do well in education. They have made significant efforts to secure a child further education. Carers have challenged other professionals and advocated for the child. However, when children are not attending education, they are provided with little structure and the provision of educational activities is limited.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Decision-making and planning for children to move into the home are robust. The needs of all children and the skill set of carers are carefully considered. When a specific need has been identified, training, to upskill the team, is completed before the child moves in. Concerns were escalated in relation to a child not being provided with suitable accommodation on moving out of the home.

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improvement to be good

Risks are identified and understood by carers. The planning to manage and reduce risk is thorough, and carers benefit from having documents that are up to date. Records documenting incidents and concerns are detailed.

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improvement to be good

When safeguarding concerns are raised, carers work with children and other professionals. They openly talk to children about their concerns on a regular basis Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 4 and support them to engage with appropriate agencies. Despite this ongoing work, risks in relation to and associated with the use of illicit drugs have not reduced.

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improvement to be good

Carers support children to spend time with their families. They build positive relationships with family members, which has informed their awareness of risk. When carers have been made aware of a risk, limited action has been taken to gain the assurance needed to ensure that the child is safe.

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improvement to be good

Incidents, including times when children go missing from home, are managed well. Carers follow plans and protocols. Reports are well written and detailed. Carers speak to children after incidents. This allows them to reflect on their actions. Management oversight is comprehensive and reflective, providing direction for carers. The occurrence of incidents has reduced significantly over the past three months. Physical intervention has been used on one occasion. This was necessary to prevent the child from experiencing harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home benefits from an experienced and stable team. The registered manager and deputy manager know the children, the carers and the home. They are both ambitious and strive to meet the needs of children. Leaders, managers and carers clearly love the children they care for and provide them with the consistency that they require.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers speak positively about leaders and managers. They said that leaders and managers are approachable and provide unconditional support. Carers can voice any concerns they may have and feel that they are listened to. The high level of support they receive and the open culture in the home have meant that carers want to work in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers provide carers with regular and thorough supervision. Actions are set and reviewed. There is a clear focus on the children and how to meet their needs. Concerns in relation to practice are addressed to build on positive practice and improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regular and inclusive. Managers and carers discuss all aspects of the home and children. These meetings allow for the development and monitoring of practice. The well-being and progress of children is a primary discussion point. Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 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

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that children who are not attending education are provided with regular, appropriate and structured educational activities. 4 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; 4 February 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 6 help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that safeguarding concerns, once reported to other professionals, are acted on to ensure that children are safe at all times.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that work to reduce risk is effective. If risks have not reduced, following a sustained period of working with a child, they should consider different ways of working.

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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: 1264756 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact for Change Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Canns Down Press, Beaford, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8LZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Scribbins

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1264756 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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