Children's home run by Cedarways Residential Child Care Larkhill House Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 1 Registered provider: Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a privately owned limited company. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 10 January 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/01/2023 Full Good 21/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home and one child has moved out. There are currently three children living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager manages children’s moves into the home carefully. Children receive information, pictures and videos of the home before they move in. They can visit the home, view their bedrooms and spend time with staff and the current children there. This helps children to understand their future living environment and eases potential anxieties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported well when they move out of the home. One child enjoyed a farewell party with a farewell cake baked by staff. The child was presented with a memory stick containing pictures and videos from their time in the home. Children stay in regular contact with staff after they have left the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met. They are registered with local health services and attend their routine appointments. Staff work closely with the in-house therapist, who supports them to understand children’s individual needs. As a result, children’s physical and emotional needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All three children attend education and are doing well. This is a remarkable achievement for one child who, before moving into the home, was not attending school. The manager and staff worked with external professionals, creating a well- thought-out plan to meet the child’s educational needs. This child said, ‘I want to be a social worker when I grow older. I know I need a good education.’ The combined efforts of staff and education providers foster ambition in children, which motivates them to achieve the best education outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff actively support children in developing independence skills by encouraging them to carry out daily tasks, such as cleaning their bedroom and cooking simple meals. One child manages their own laundry and arranges their own medical appointments. These skills build independence and prepare children for adult life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff assist children in spending meaningful time with those people who are important to them. One professional said, ‘Staff are very good with contact, which is managed well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and well decorated. Photos of children are displayed around the house. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and comfortably furnished. However, internal maintenance work that is still required undermines the homely atmosphere. Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 4

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

There have been very few safeguarding incidents in the home. When incidents do occur, the manager and staff manage them appropriately and follow the correct safeguarding procedures to ensure that children are kept safe.

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

Detailed behaviour and risk management plans for children provide staff with the necessary strategies to minimise potential dangers and protect children. One child said that they trust the staff and if they have a problem they know ‘staff will sort this out’. This helps children to feel reassured that staff will keep them safe.

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

Staff manage children’s behaviours well. Detailed records show physical restraint is used as a last resort, after staff have exhausted all de-escalation techniques. The brief duration of restraints demonstrates staff’s effectiveness in behaviour management. The manager oversees all incidents and conducts debriefs with staff and children. Additionally, staff help children to reflect on the incident. This gives children the opportunity to discuss how they are feeling.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour in the home by using positive behaviour charts and a rewards token jar. Staff praise children for their accomplishments, celebrating achievements with certificates. This approach reinforces positive behaviour through praise and reward.

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

The manager takes prompt action when allegations and complaints are made. She ensures information is shared swiftly with appropriate professionals, to ensure children are protected from harm. Children are kept informed of any outcomes. This ensures that children feel confident to raise concerns. It also helps them to feel safe and secure in their environment.

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

On one occasion, the manager did not notify Ofsted of a serious incident concerning a staff member. This limits the regulator’s oversight of the home .

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is dedicated to ensuring that children receive excellent care. She knows the children well and is child-centred in her approach. The manager has worked hard to build trusting relationships with the children, which gives them a sense of security and belonging.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is staffed by a stable and consistent staff team. One member of staff said, ‘Staff work well together and complement each other in different ways using their strengths.’ This culture promotes healthy working relationships.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff are supported to undertake their roles effectively. Staff have completed a variety of relevant training to meet the children’s individual needs. They also benefit from the expertise of the provider’s in-house therapist. Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 5 Consequently, staff have the knowledge and skills to provide good-quality care to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have developed strong relationships with all relevant professionals, including social workers, and with parents. One external professional said, ‘Staff always update me with information and I have regular updates.’ This effective communication promotes children’s welfare.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s monitoring and reviewing systems are effective. She is fully aware of the home’s strengths and areas for development. These systems help her to track patterns and progress, and allow her to identify any shortfalls as they arise, so she can take swift action to address them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In general, staff receive regular and reflective supervisions. However, new staff do not always receive consistent supervision, in line with the organisation’s internal policies. Despite this, the quality of care for children remains unaffected, as the shortfall is limited through support from senior staff and team meetings dedicated to reflection and practice improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has not received an annual appraisal. This is a missed opportunity for the manager to receive valuable feedback and plan for her ongoing development. Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 6

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to prioritising internal maintenance to create a safe and nurturing environment for the well-being of the children. 4 February 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience; and

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Requirement Due date

have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to all staff receiving supervision within timescales, and ensuring the registered manager is appraised once a year. 4 February 2024

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Recommendation

Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 7  The registered person should ensure all relevant people, and Ofsted, are notified of any serious concerns or events, under regulation 40. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.4)

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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: 2577151 8

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Registered provider:

Registered provider address: 33 Stapenhill Road, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire DE15 9AE

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Registered provider:

Responsible individual: Ashleen Thompson

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Inspector

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2577151 9 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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