Children's Home run by Prime Calibre Care Ltd in Medway

Inspection report for children’s home: 2660433 1 Registered provider: Prime Calibre Care Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children’s home provides care and accommodation for up to five children with learning disabilities. There were five children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2021.

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: 2660433 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/06/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2660433 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children speak positively about their home. One child said, ‘I feel safe here and I am happy.’ Children talk enthusiastically about their summer holiday. Photos that adorn the walls show the varied activities and adventures they have been on together.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family members describe positive changes which have occurred since their family member has been living at the home. Children make progress with communicating with others. They also learn a good range of life skills, which helps prepare them for the next stage in their life. Children are supported to engage and succeed in education at school or college.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Medication administration arrangements are good. There is a dedicated member of staff who oversees the medication and health care of the children. This frees up the other staff members to focus on direct work with the children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a friendly environment where kindness is promoted. Children explore their identity without fear. They have a good range of opportunities to share their views and feelings about their home and their day-to-day lives, including children with communication needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the previous inspection, a recommendation was made regarding mealtimes. One staff member now sits with the five children at the dining room table for mealtimes on weekdays. However, there continues to be a missed chance for more staff to sit consistently with the children. The structure of mealtimes without more staff members present means children miss an opportunity to develop socially and learn together at the table.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At mealtimes, the use of plastic specialist plates for all the children has become custom and practice without any review of whether they are still required for each child. This is not fully individualised care and does not support the children in moving towards independence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff members wear a company uniform when caring for the children. This gives their home an institutionalised feel.

p.3

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

Staff respond appropriately to any safeguarding concerns. Relevant referrals to partner agencies take place in a timely manner. Staff are familiar with the organisation’s safeguarding processes. They understand clearly their own individual roles in keeping the children safe at home and in the community. Staff understand the vulnerabilities of each child and have good safety plans in place to promote their safety and well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660433 4 Staff make regular checks of children’s devices to ensure that they are accessing only age-appropriate content and are keeping themselves safe online. If any concerns are identified, these are reported appropriately. Alongside this, children learn about the dangers of the internet through direct work.

p.3

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

A previous requirement was made to ensure that the CCTV policy was adhered to. CCTV is in use around the perimeter of the premises for security purposes. The indoor CCTV cameras remain throughout the home in communal spaces. However, these are now not in use. The requirement is met. The registered manager has plans to remove all the indoor cameras in 2024 in a planned and safe manner. This will help present the house as more homely.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager of the home is close to practice and sets a good example. She has ensured that children benefit from a very stable, caring home. All five children have continued to live together since the last inspection and know each other well and have close friendships. This has provided a stable base for them to make excellent progress and really enjoy living in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is ambitious for all the children and maintains excellent working relationships with partner agencies in order to ensure that all the children’s needs are met, and that they are making progress. She leads by example and has created a positive culture where children are thriving.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff give overwhelmingly positive feedback about working at this children’s home. They feel listened to and extremely well supported by the registered manager. One staff member said, ‘The [members of the] staff team support each other as well as the young people to ensure the young people feel safe and loved.’ Staff receive regular supervision and appraisals, which provides them with detailed feedback on their practice and learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Feedback from professionals involved is exceptionally positive. Communication between the home staff and professionals is frequent. This ensures that all relevant parties are kept up to date with children’s progress, achievements and all relevant information. One professional said, ‘The staff at the house are excellent, working in conjunction with the college to have one narrative for [child], and we work together to ensure that there is consistency between the expectations of the college and the expectations of [the home].’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely well trained. They undertake training across a wide range of topics. This ensures that staff are able to meet their needs of each child effectively.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A strength of the home is the promotion of tolerance, equality and diversity. Through a variety of creative approaches, children successfully learn about other cultures, and celebrate their individual heritage and backgrounds together as a group. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660433 5 A previous requirement relating to the quality and consistency in records has been met. Some staff have undertaken specific training in reporting and recording in children’s homes. Records are now more child focused, and all contain the necessary level of detail required.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A previous requirement was set in relation to ensuring that when new children are admitted, their needs are compatible with the other children. The registered manager has updated the system in place to ensure good assessments and planning. Although this system has not yet been tested, because there have been no new children moving in, the requirement is deemed met as the matching process has been suitably reviewed. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660433 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should, when appropriate, ensure that children can be involved in choosing and preparing meals, and opportunities to sit together and eat should be promoted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.8) In particular, ensure that staff consistently sit with children during meals.  The registered person should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9), In particular, review the use of staff uniforms.  The registered person should help each child to prepare for any moves from the home. This includes supporting the child to develop practical skills such as cooking and personal self-care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27), In particular, ensure

p.6

Recommendations

that the use of specialised plates is reviewed to ascertain if they are still required by each child.

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: 2660433 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Prime Calibre Care Group Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: PO Box Suite 158, 176 South Street, Romford, Essex RM1 1BW

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Moneat Grant-Williams

p.7

Inspector

Anna Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2660433 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8