Children's home run by Stoney Knolls Children’s Home Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 1 Registered provider: Stoney Knolls Children’s Home Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to three children of the same gender who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There is an experienced registered manager in post.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Inspection date: 3 January 2024

Date of last inspection: 10 October 2023

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Inspection date: 3 January 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 3 January 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have made progress from their starting points. Both children engage in education at home and at school. When children do not have a school placement, the manager ensures that there is limited delay in securing one.

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Findings from the inspection

When children use a different language, staff ensure that they can still engage in decisions about their future. This is achieved by using several methods, including interpreters and other translation tools, to ensure that all children’s voices are heard.

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Findings from the inspection

When challenging conversations need to take place, staff are honest with children and support and encourage them to make their views, wishes and feelings known.

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Findings from the inspection

Children say that they have no complaints and that they like the staff.

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Findings from the inspection

The children live in a large house which offers adequate space for group living. The environment is of good quality. However, some areas of damage to fixtures and fittings have not been repaired in a timely manner.

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Findings from the inspection

The staff have access to detailed care plans and dynamic risk assessments. These reflect the children’s current level of vulnerability and include measures to increase safety.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that when children make allegations against members of staff, these are robustly and quickly investigated. Independent scrutiny is sought, and information is shared with safeguarding agencies.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know what to do if they have concerns about children. They know the importance of escalating concerns with a manager.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that there are sufficient staff to care for the children. There have been limited changes to the staff team. This means that there is a good level of consistency of care for the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has yet to develop robust and effective internal and external monitoring systems. They have not ensured that the independent person’s visits are effective and that their subsequent reports are reflective of the care provided at this home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are yet to receive regular and effective supervision with a manager. This means that staff have limited opportunity to reflect on their practice and professional development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 3 The manager ensures that the staff receive a wide range of training opportunities. Most recently, this has included learning about how to use physical intervention methods and techniques.

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Findings from the inspection

One requirement made at the last inspection has been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that staff receive an appropriate level of formal supervision.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 26 January 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires. 26 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 6 A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit (“the independent person’s report”) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether—

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Requirement Due date

children are effectively safeguarded; and

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Requirement Due date

the conduct of the home promotes children’s well-being.

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Requirement Due date

The independent person’s report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to ensuring that the independent visitor’s reports are timely and effective in driving improvement.

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is nurturing and has a supportive environment that meets children’s needs. Children’s homes will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. The home must comply with relevant health and safety legislation, such as alarms and food hygiene. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Stoney Knolls Children’s Home Limited

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2733923 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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