Children's Home run by NET PEX LTD in Croydon

Inspection report for children's home: 2674518 1 Registered provider: NETPEX Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2674518 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Children receive good-quality care from staff who understand their individual needs and vulnerabilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care as set out in their care plans and are well supported by staff to make good progress. Staff are committed to the children and celebrate their achievements. Staff advocate effectively for children, which ensures that their needs are promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in education. One child has returned to education after a nine-month absence. One teacher commented that the child’s a ttendance has improved greatly. ‘At the start we were struggling to get them in. They are now attending every day,’ they said, describing the achievement as ‘massive progress’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills through planned key- work sessions or ad hoc discussions with staff. Key-work sessions include learning about budgeting and household chores. This helps children to learn important life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to participate and share their views at regular house meetings. These meetings provide opportunities for children to plan their daily activities and draw up weekly meal plans with staff. One child and a member of staff regularly cook meals together and explore different cultural dishes. Children feel able to express their opinions freely, and staff respectfully listen to children’s views. Children take part in varied activities, such as going to the gym, attending a local youth club, going swimming and go-karting, playing ping pong or sparring on the boxing bag in the garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain positive and safe relationships with the people who are important to them. Staff are proactive and work closely with children, their families and social workers to increase the amount of time that children and their families spend together .

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

Children say that they feel safe living in the home. Children’s behaviour support plans help staff to understand the triggers for certain behaviours and give staff strategies to manage incidents. Staff are trained in de-escalation techniques that help to reduce challenging behaviour. As a result, incidents in the home are managed well.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. If children are missing, staff follow the missing protocol provided by each child’s placing authority. However, the registered Inspection report for children's home: 2674518 3 manager has not completed their own risk assessment to ensure that they have considered the risks in the local area.

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

Key-work sessions are held with children to address incidents of concern. Staff work proactively with agencies and partners in response to safeguarding concerns. This ensures that information is shared appropriately so that a consistent approach and plan of support can be agreed that promotes children’s welfare and well-being.

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

Staff understand risks well and can identify changes in children’s behaviour. This is reflected in children’s individual risk management plans, which are kept up to date. However, children’s main care plans are not updated when risks change, which could be confusing for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers are passionate about the care they provide to children. They know the children very well and ensure that their needs are addressed promptly. Leaders and managers have established effective working relationships with external agencies. This multi-agency working is valued and has supported children to make good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from parents and professionals is positive. They do not have any concerns regarding the safety of children, and the effective and responsive communication from staff further supports children’s safety and well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel that leaders and managers listen to them and act on their suggestions. One staff member said, ‘Management take the opinions of staff on board. I’ve seen my ideas put into place. They value experience and are happy to look at doing things in a better way.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers receive regular and effective supervision. Supervision focuses on the children’s needs and plans, as well as staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff complete appropriate training to ensure that they can meet the needs of the children in their care. Training includes safeguarding, risk management, internet safety, criminal exploitation, psychological first aid, missing from care and radicalisation. The training undertaken by staff helps to create a knowledgeable and skilled team of staff who help children to become increasingly safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2674518 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should assess the risks in the local area to specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care and how staff should support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  The registered person should ensure that children’s placement plans succinctly reflect updates of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risk. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2674518 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Offices rear of 93c, Upper Clapton Road, London E5 9BU

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Inspector

Amanda Burrows, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2674518 6 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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