Children's Home run by Orchard Children Homes Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children's home: 1257740 1 Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home was registered in July 2017 to care for four children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

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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: 31 January 2023

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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: 1257740 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/01/2023 Full Good 02/03/2022 Full Good 29/10/2019 Full Good 22/08/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: 1257740 3

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outstanding

Since the previous inspection, one child has moved out of the home and two children have moved in. At the time of the inspection, four children were living at this home.

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outstanding

The registered manager and staff’s excellent care of children is informed by a strong knowledge of research-based practice. This includes the home’s therapeutic model, which is at the heart of the staff’s child-focused approach. The registered manager continually reviews the progress that children make. The children’s care plans are dynamic, personalised and extremely effective. As a result, children make outstanding progress and thrive.

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outstanding

Children grow significantly in self-confidence and self-esteem. They are actively involved in every aspect of their care. One social worker said they were ‘astonished at how far [name of child] has come and [name of child] is thriving’. Another social worker said they were ‘impressed by the amount of time, patience and willingness the staff take to learn about [name of child]’. And another professional said, ‘Everything is centred around the child, and I could not ask for any more.’

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outstanding

Two children have been living at the home for a long time. The children said they feel well cared for. The dedicated registered manager and staff team are extremely warm and nurturing, which enables children to feel able to express themselves without judgement and fear. This has helped children to have a better understanding of their own identity.

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outstanding

Children settle into the home very quickly and build positive relationships with staff. This is because staff are adept at responding to children’s needs. The registered manager and staff work very closely with a therapist and have regular therapy consultation meetings. This helps staff understand how they can tailor the help they give to the children , based on an in-depth knowledge of each child. There are strong and comprehensive support plans in place for children moving into the home and children receive attentive support from staff.

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outstanding

Children feel valued, trust staff and enjoy spending time with them. Children benefit hugely from the affection and warmth from staff. For example, the inspector observed one child seeking out a hug from staff. One parent said, ‘My child has an amazing bond with the staff.’ These positive relationships ensure that children feel safe and secure and provide the foundation for the children to flourish.

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outstanding

Thoughtful staff help children to create positive memories. Children spoke fondly about the staff and talked about the wide range of activities they enjoy. One child has enjoyed a holiday abroad, their first experience of being on a plane and going to a different country. This was to celebrate the end of their secondary education. In Inspection report for children's home: 1257740 4 addition, children’s individual talents and hobbies are supported and celebrated by staff.

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outstanding

Children have made excellent progress and have developed their independence skills. Staff have successfully supported children to develop life skills. Children now go to college independently, cook meals and manage their finances without staff support. One child is working towards getting a job. This effective support prepares children well for adulthood.

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outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in line with their education plans and have excellent attendance at school. One child has successfully gained national qualifications and is progressing on to another course. Managers and staff have close relationships with children’s education professionals. These relationships have encouraged children to have a positive attitude to learning, which has helped them to work towards and exceed their educational targets.

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outstanding

Children have exceptional relationships with staff, who are professional, dedicated and consistent. The registered manager and staff have embedded a therapeutic- informed approach to children’s daily routines. As a result, children know what is expected of them and feel safe and secure.

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outstanding

Staff use a solution-focused approach and look beyond the child’s presenting behaviour to understand why a child may be distressed. Staff actively support children who are distressed. This has helped staff to identify the early signs of changes in children’s behaviour and provide support and reassurance very quickly.

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outstanding

Staff have an in-depth knowledge of the potential triggers to children’s risk-taking behaviours. This means that staff act proactively and swiftly to respond to emerging situations. As a result, there have been no missing-from-care incidents since the last inspection, and physical interventions have been rare.

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outstanding

Staff are extremely successful at using distraction and de-escalation techniques when children are feeling distressed and worried. Staff are skilled at supporting children to better understand the reasons for their behaviours and help children to self-regulate and develop alternative strategies. As a result, safeguarding incidents are rare and there are few significant incidents.

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outstanding

Children feel safe with staff and able to talk about events from their early childhood experiences when they were harmed. This includes sharing information that was not previously known by professionals. The registered manager and staff respond to this in a sensitive and caring way with the child and share this information with all external professionals promptly. This helps professionals to take immediate action to put in place support that is in the best interests of the child. Inspection report for children's home: 1257740 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The high-quality care provided to children is driven by the registered manager and responsible individual, who are aspirational and effective. The registered manager is supported by an equally committed staff team. The staff share the registered manager’s vision and passion for improving the lives of the children. Managers are child-focused in their approach and have been successful in embedding the therapeutic model of care, which is the cornerstone of the outstanding care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The dedicated and hard-working staff are provided with excellent support and guidance from the registered manager. In addition to regular supervision sessions, staff have access to clinical supervision sessions, monthly workshops, consultation with specialist mental health services and daily reflective staff debriefs. This enhances staff’s knowledge and skills and strengthens their resilience. As a result, there is a happy and relaxed culture in the home, that children enjoy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is meticulous in her oversight of the home. All plans for children are updated by staff and are of high quality. The registered manager and staff are extremely reflective practitioners who are focused on making improvements. Consequently, they are acting on ambitious and creative plans to improve the outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from meaningful discussions with staff that are embedded in their day-to-day care. Learning from these discussions is shared with the therapist, who provides guidance to staff in helping children overcome emotional barriers they may be facing. This has empowered children to manage their own behaviour. As a result, children have made significant progress in expressing themselves in a healthy and safe way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working with external agencies is excellent. All external professionals commended the registered manager and staff on their very good communication and the excellent quality of care provided to children. A common thread in the feedback from external professionals is that children are thriving and happy and have made progress since living at this home.

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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: 1257740 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Orchard Children Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Orchard Children Homes Ltd, 2nd Floor, 118 Calais Road, Burton-on-Trent DE13 0UW

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Inspector

Sam Dulay-Kainth, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 1257740 7 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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