Children's home run by Restorative Social Care Services Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 1 Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for one child with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The suitably qualified manager registered with Ofsted in July 2022. He is also registered as the manager of another home in the local area.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were no children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/01/2023 Full Good 09/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child moved out of the home, and another child moved in. The child lived in the home for eight months and moved out shortly before this inspection. In the early part of their time living in the home, this child started to develop good relationships with staff and made some positive progress. Unfortunately, due to the child’s complex needs and external factors that were out of the home’s control, this progress was not sustained and the child’s placement ended.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When children move in to the home, a well-thought-out and planned transition takes place. The registered manager has a video clip that he sends to children and parents, and visits are arranged for the child to see the home and meet the staff. Since the last inspection, one of the children left the home without a formal transition. However, this was out of the control of the home. The child keeps in touch with staff, and feedback given by professionals stated that the child’s time living in the home was positive.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When the child moved in to the home, they had not attended education for a sustained period. The staff were able to arrange a specialist teacher to come to the home to support the child’s learning. For several reasons, this education provision was not successful. However, the offer remained in place should the child be ready and able to take part in school again.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The care planning and support offered to the child was individual to their needs. Plans were changed or modified regularly to keep the child safe, and, when this happened, the registered manager and staff adapted their practice. The staff worked with complex plans, which involved multi-agency decision-making designed to improve the outcomes for the child. When these plans were unsuccessful, the registered manager and staff challenged professionals and advocated for the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although caring for the child could be challenging at times, the staff remained consistent and were emotionally invested in the child. Unfortunately, the placement was not sustainable due to the child’s complex health needs and the home gave notice on the child’s placement. One professional said, ‘Given the complexities and uniqueness [of the child], the care provided by the staff in the home was exceptional.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a statement of purpose that details the care that the home seeks to provide and the models of care it uses. However, the provider strives to use several different models, some of which conflict, and this can cause confusion for staff. In addition, staff have not had sufficient training in these models and, therefore, are unable to fully deliver the care as set out in the statement of purpose. Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 4

p.3

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

The staff complete comprehensive written risk assessments for the child. The document considers known and anticipated risks. It also allows for any additional measures that may need to be in place to safeguard a child to be documented and updated within it. The child had a court-directed order that restricted their liberty. As such, the child’s risk assessment reflected this so that staff knew exactly what was, and was not, permitted to keep the child safe from harm.

p.4

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

Staff have had specific training to meet the complex and evolving needs of the child. This helped staff to tailor their responses when the child was upset. The registered manager and staff have reflected regularly throughout the time that they have cared for the child to share best practice and adjust their responses accordingly.

p.4

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

The assistant manager developed a warm and trusting relationship with the child. He undertook additional learning and spent time with the child to develop documents for staff to use to help them to understand how best to communicate with the child. The assistant manager is credited by other staff, professionals and family as having supported the child in a steadfast and consistent way throughout their time at the home. This contributed to keeping the child safe in their care.

p.4

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

Staff have worked with other professionals to help the child to understand and respond safely to small levels of risk. This was to determine whether the court order, which restricted the child’s liberty, was still necessary. This was unsuccessful, but not due to staff error or poor planning. When it was clear that the plan did not meet the needs of the child, the staff moved on and tried a new approach.

p.4

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

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to manage behaviours that put people at risk. Staff are skilled in de-escalation techniques and, when they have had to hold a child, this has been done in line with their training and followed the correct procedure. However, on two occasions, a child was held and it was ineffective. These incidents were not reviewed, nor was the risk assessment updated to reflect them. This meant that there was no learning from them, and staff practice was not addressed as a result.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is run by a respected and well-liked manager, who leads by example. He works above and beyond, and is always available to offer advice should staff need it. He is heavily invested in the children who he cares for as well as the staff team. This passion filters through to the staff, who share his ethos and values for the home and any children therein. He is approachable, hands-on, and supportive. Recently, he has worked many unsociable hours to meet the needs of the child. One member of staff said, ‘He is not afraid to muck in when needed and always puts the child at the heart of what he does.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is supportive of his staff and is keen to see them develop and grow. The registered manager and assistant manager are a strong team. They Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 5 know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and those of the home. The registered manager said that he is reliant on the support provided by the assistant manager, who he trusts implicitly. The staff appreciate this strong management support, which helps them to learn and grow from the behaviours that they see modelled by the management team.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager challenged other professionals when he felt that they did not act in the best interests of the child. He built effective working relationships with other professionals and advocated on behalf of the child in formal meetings. Leaders and managers are always mindful of the safety and well-being of the staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has effective systems in place that ensure he has thorough oversight and monitoring of what happens in the home. Recently, these systems have been tested as there have been frequent planning changes for the child. This meant that a lot of information had to be effectively shared across the staff team. The systems have worked well, and communication between all staff and the wider professional network is excellent.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and assistant manager ensure that the team receive regular reflective supervision. They have also met more regularly and informally to discuss the needs of the child and to respond to changes to the child’s plans. The in-house psychologist is consulted so that expertise can be used to reflect on and improve staff practice.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager ensures that staff receive regular training. He commissioned bespoke training to ensure that the needs of the child were met whenever possible. The registered manager utilises the in-house psychologist to deliver specific training to enhance staff knowledge. However, there is one staff member who has exceeded the timescale for completion of the required diploma. The responsible individual has agreed to change how they monitor staff progress in this area to ensure completion within the required timescales in future. Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 6

p.5

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.6

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This requirement has been restated. 8 January 2024

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home’s statement of purpose is accurate and that all staff are familiar with the contents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ Page 14, paragraph 3.5)  The registered person should ensure that risk assessments are fully adhered to at all times. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ Page 42, paragraph 9.5).  The registered person should ensure that behaviour management strategies are reviewed and updated where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34) Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 7

p.6

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: 2629073 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restorative Social Care Services Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Restorative Social Care Services, 8 Victoria Street, Greetland, Halifax HX4 8DF

p.8

Inspector

Gail McGann, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2629073 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

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

p.9