Children's home run by Rockhopper Children’s Services Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2729532 1 Registered provider: Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a large private provider. It is registered to care for up to five children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in July 2023. The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered. This is the home’s first full inspection.

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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: 2729532 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are two children currently living at the home. Another child has lived in the home since registration. The staff successfully supported this child to move back to live with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide individualised good-quality care that meets the children’s needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and mental health needs are prioritised. The staff attend and support all relevant health appointments. Detailed health plans help staff understand and meet the children’s health needs. Staff undertake in-depth discussions with the children to help them live a healthier life and to better understand their own health needs. A therapist visits the home weekly. The staff encourage the children to meet with the therapist to support their emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work closely with education professionals to ensure the children’s educational needs are met. This has been successful and the children have educational arrangements which meet their particular needs. Those children who had not previously attended education are now re-engaging, which is significant personal progress. They now have aspirations and goals to achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff work hard to understand and consider the children’s views and opinions. The children’s voice is embedded throughout the home. The staff’s transparent approach builds trusting and lasting relationships with the children. They feel valued and that their feelings matter.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff encourage the children to build on their independence skills. They support the children with travelling independently, cooking and preparing for employment. There are ongoing discussions with the children around their plans and aspirations for the future. The staff’s belief in them gives the children confidence to thrive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff build positive working relationships with partner professionals, guardians and family members. They promote and maintain these relationships well. One family member described the communication with staff as ‘brilliant’. Families are confident in the quality of the care and support that the children receive.

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

Safeguarding practice is good and helps keep children safe. Staff understand the particular risks for the children and how to keep them safe. They are guided by detailed individualised risk assessments. Managers review these monthly to ensure they continue to reflect the children’s changing needs.

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

Children do not often go missing from the home. However, when they have gone missing, the staff response has been coordinated and appropriate. Inspection report for children's home: 2729532 3 Staff confidently manage difficult situations to ensure that they do not escalate. They do not often use consequences in response to negative behaviour. However, when they do, their use is fair and proportionate. The on-call manager provides effective support for staff in difficult situations when needed. The staff work with local police as a preventative measure. Together, they help the children to explore any behaviours of concern and the potential consequences, both now and in the future. The staff undertake reparative work with children following incidents to help reflect on how such incidents can be avoided in the future and to help rebuild damaged relationships.

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

Staff know what to do should they have any concerns regarding the practice of other staff. Allegations by children against staff are rare. However, any allegations are taken seriously by the staff and they take immediate action to safeguard the children. The manager has taken appropriate action in response to any allegations or concerns and worked with local safeguarding partner professionals. Children are sensitively informed of the outcomes of any allegations, with work put in place to repair relationships with staff.

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

Records of incidents are detailed and clearly document the action taken by staff to ensure children’s safety and well-being. The manager notifies all relevant professionals of significant incidents in the home. This clear and transparent approach ensures professionals understand risk for children and helps keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and experienced. She has high ambitions for the children and staff. The manager is a strong advocate for the children. She does not hold back from escalating concerns with other organisations when necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff speak highly of the manager. They feel respected and well supported by her and other senior leaders. Consequently, staff morale is high. The staff are well supported through regular good-quality supervision and team meetings. The manager is a positive role model for the staff. She ensures that the staff continue to develop their skills in order to provide the best possible care to the children. Staff annual appraisals are detailed and reflective and set goals for the coming year. There is a good level of constructive feedback on the previous year’s performance. Any areas for development of staff practice are addressed sensitively yet professionally.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a clear understanding of the individual progress children are making. The staff and managers celebrate children’s achievements and the progress they make. This enhances the relationships the children have with them and boosts the children’s confidence.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains effective monitoring and oversight of the home. She knows the home’s strengths and areas for development well. This is a newly formed team Inspection report for children's home: 2729532 4 who have only recently begun caring for the children. The staff have undertaken suitable general training and specific training to meet the needs of the children. The manager has clear plans to continue to develop the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The culture of the home is inclusive and diverse. Staff and managers come from a wide variety of backgrounds. There is a natural exploration and celebration of difference, as staff share aspects of their heritage and culture with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Record-keeping in the home is generally of a suitable standard. However, the quality of record-keeping in children’s file’s is not consistent. This has been identified by the manager, who has begun some work with the staff team to improve this. Inspection report for children's home: 2729532 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, clear and consistent recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.14)

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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: 2729532 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8, Brook Business Centre, Cowley Mill Road, Cowley, Uxbridge UB8 2FX

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Inspector

Skye Frain, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2729532 7 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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