Children's home run by Kennet Care Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 1 Registered provider: Kennet Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and is registered to provide care for four children. According to the home’s statement of purpose, its aim is to provide a safe environment, where children feel cared for, listened to and enabled to fulfil their true potential. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 11 July 2022.

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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: 13 September 2022

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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: 2523027 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2022 Full Good 28/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 31/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/05/2021 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a range of activities both in and out of the home. The home has a well-equipped games room where children can access a range of resources and a dedicated room for art therapy. Children have recently been to an autumn party, trampolining and for a meal out. Children can have pets and are supported to look after them, promoting responsibility.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independent living skills. They take children to buy food and ingredients and help them prepare evening meals for everyone to enjoy. One child has been supported to write a CV and apply for their first job, which resulted in the offer of an interview. This is an achievement for the child to be proud of.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to develop positive relationships with others. Children spend regular time with their families. One family member spoke highly of the staff and the care received by their child. Staff encourage children to think about how they can help other people. For example, children and staff make donations to a local food bank.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health and well-being are promoted. Staff encourage healthy eating and support children to understand appropriate food portions and choices. This has had a positive impact on one child, who is starting to make progress with their dietary needs. Staff encourage children to look after their own mental health through monthly self-assessments. Results are used to identify positive steps to improve their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school and are making progress. One child who had been out of education for a considerable time and was receiving home tutoring, is now in full- time education at a school that meets their specific needs. Learning in the home is promoted. A book corner has been introduced, along with a ‘word of the week’ to encourage reading.

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

Staff take appropriate action when children go missing from home. Relevant professionals and external agencies are promptly notified, and ongoing communication is effective. Risk assessments are clear and include relevant information to help staff respond appropriately. Staff support children to learn how to stay safe, through discussions and key-work sessions. As a result, one child’s incidents of going missing from home have reduced.

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

Staff respond effectively to children who harm themselves. The registered manager engages with external agencies to ensure that appropriate support is available to children if needed. Minor adaptations have been made to furniture in the home to Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 4 reduce the risk of harm. This has been done tastefully to ensure that rooms remain vibrant and welcoming.

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

Consequences are used to help children understand the impact of their actions. Staff promote a restorative approach, such as direct conversations or writing an apology. However, consequences given by the registered manager are not reviewed independently to provide additional scrutiny, to ensure that all consequences are reasonable and proportionate.

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

Physical interventions are rare, with only one low-level incident recorded. However, the child was not spoken to within five days of the incident for their views. When the child was spoken to, they were unable to remember the incident. This was a missed opportunity to accurately record the child’s comments or views.

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

Recruitment processes and checks are not always followed. One staff member started work without an up-to-date Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. Another member of staff’s reference in relation to a previous care role was not checked. This increases the risk of unsuitable staff working with children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager recognises the home’s strengths and areas for development. She fiercely advocates for children to ensure their needs are met. She recognises and celebrates children’s progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager takes decisive action to ensure that children are safeguarded effectively. Monitoring processes are effective and the registered manager has good oversight of the quality of care. Information is shared appropriately between staff and external professionals, and staff are involved in the care planning for children. Professionals say they have effective working relationships and close communication with the staff and registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

New staff are warmly welcomed to the home. They receive an informative induction and receive feedback on their performance. Supervision of staff is regular and of very good quality. Safeguarding practice is key to their conversations. Staff report that they feel supported by the registered manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a variety of appropriate training and personal development is encouraged. Learning from training is embedded in practice. For example, models of care are used to reduce incidents of behaviours that may challenge staff. Some staff have not received training in conditions specific to the children’s needs. However, they know and understand the children’s needs, reducing the impact of this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff broaden children’s knowledge of different cultures and they celebrate diversity through, for example, culture nights held at the home. These activities are interactive, fun and chosen by the children. As a result, children develop an awareness and appreciation of other cultures and beliefs. Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 4 January 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that any consequence they issue is reviewed independently. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that staff receive training related to conditions relevant to children living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11) Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 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: 2523027 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kennet Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 Theale Lakes Business Park, Moulden Way, Sulhamstead, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4GB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennis Austin-Visser

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Inspectors

Chris Warren, Social Care Inspector Mark Dawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2523027 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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