Children's Home run by Ownlife Residential Limited in Lewisham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 1 SC025664

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2023. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Inspection date: 18 December 2023

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 December 2023

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. The inspector has 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: SC025664 2

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Findings from the inspection

We identified no 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

Since the previous inspection in August 2023, one child has moved out of the home and one child has recently moved in. The registered manager has ensured that tangible progress has been made against the three requirements identified at the inspection. However, one requirement was not met and is re-stated at this visit.

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Findings from the inspection

Children live in a warm, welcoming home. Leaders make effective use of the space available, including outdoor space, to create an environment which meets children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have been proactive in offering staff a range of training. However, this is not yet sufficient in relation to children’s individual needs, de- escalation strategies and behaviour support. This means that staff are not yet always able to effectively meet the needs of all children.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff conduct meaningful, sensitive, frequent and relevant key work sessions with children. This helps to ensure that children’s voices are central to their care. It also allows children to explore issues that are important to them such as seeing their families and exploring their life history. Keywork sessions are well recorded. This means that the important work done with children to help them understand their lived experiences is accessible to children as needed.

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Findings from the inspection

Risks to children are very well identified and understood. Risk assessments take account of children’ unique circumstances and staff update these in light of any changes or significant events. As a result, staff are able to help children stay safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Risk assessments completed prior to children moving into the home consider how the home can respond effectively to children’s assessed needs, as identified in their care plan. In contrast, there is insufficient consideration of the impact the child’s needs may have on children already living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have secured more members of permanent staff to care for children. This means that the use of temporary staff has reduced. As a result, children feel more settled in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers work proactively and positively with others. Parents and social workers speak highly about the care children receive and the communication from staff and managers. This collaborative approach helps children’s networks to be consistent and reliable. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 3 Staff understand children’s need to have meaningful contact with people who are important to them. Staff prioritise this and support the practical arrangements to enable it to happen.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to engage in education. Staff advocate for children with education providers to ensure that they can access such provision.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers receive regular supervision. This has improved since the previous inspection. However, some supervision records are too focused on children’s records and administrative tasks. As a result, there is sometimes insufficient focus given to the work being undertaken with children and its impact on their development and progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s case records reflect their everyday lives and are well recorded. Important information about children’s lives and experiences are evidenced well.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff complete clear reports after incidents. Managers maintain oversight of these records. They also ensure that there are relevant actions that promote children’s well-being. However, monitoring of the progress of actions taken is not yet embedded. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/11/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/10/2021 Full Good 12/03/2020 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 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, 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on–

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding;

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Requirement Due date

are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children do the same;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11(1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(iv)(v)(x)(xi)(b)) 12 February 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 6 In particular, the registered person must ensure that there is a stable staff team that is able to form positive relationships with children. Staff must have the appropriate training to help them promote positive behaviour and understand how to de-escalate situations.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

that the care is delivered by a person who–

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Requirement Due date

has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care. (Regulation 6(1)(a)(b) (3)(b)(c)(i) 12 February 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Childrens Home Regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’,

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Recommendations

page 56, paragraph 11.4) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Legion House, 75 Lower Road, Kenley CR8 5NH

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Inspector

Andy Whippey, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC025664 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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