Children's Home run by Destini Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2732195 1 Registered provider: Destini Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide care for up to three children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced to oversee this children’s home.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since being registered in August 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: 2732195 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two siblings had recently moved into the home. The children are settled and well supported. Children say they like staff and enjoy living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences moving into the home. The manager ensured the process was extremely well planned and child-centred. Before moving in, children were visited by staff and enjoyed visits to the home. This nurturing approach ensured that children’s anxieties were reduced and they were supported during a difficult time in their life.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s physical health needs are well met. Since moving into the home, the children have been registered with local health services and have attended routine health appointments. Additionally, staff regularly carry out direct work with children to support them to better understand their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend school full time. Since moving into the home, the children have regularly attended school and are making good progress from their starting points. Staff maintain close working relationships with teachers to ensure that children continue to make progress in line with their targets. A teacher said, ‘Children’s settled behaviour in the home is now transferring to the classroom.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting relationships with the staff in the home. Staff talk to children with warmth and humour, are playful with children and promote positive behaviour using a range of strategies. For example, children may be given a small present or verbal or written praise for their positive actions. This approach is also used to celebrate their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to take part in activities they enjoy. Staff take photos of children’s adventures and display these around the home. Photos are changed each month and transferred to children’s memory books. This provides children with a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to see people who are important to them. The manager and staff have worked proactively with the children’s social worker to make sure children spend positive time with their loved ones. This supports children to maintain a sense of their identity.

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

Staff provide children with consistent routine, structure and boundaries. This gives children a sense of certainty and contributes towards them feeling safe. Staff are empathetic to children’s feelings and curious about their emotions. Staff remain Inspection report for children’s home: 2732195 3 patient when managing children’s big emotions. Because of this, children feel listened to. As a result, staff do not physically restrain children.

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

Children have detailed behaviour management plans which are regularly reviewed. They provide very clear guidance and strategies for staff to follow and keep children safe. Staff understand risks for children and, as a result, they know what to do to keep children safe.

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

Children do not go missing from the home. Staff understand the missing-from-care protocols and have received training to ensure that they know how to respond if a child does go missing from the home.

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

New staff have been safely recruited. Vetting procedures are detailed and robust. This makes sure that only adults who are safe to work with children are employed in the home.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and presenting behaviours. They usually take appropriate action to ensure children’s behaviours are managed well. This was evident during an incident when a child suffered an epileptic seizure. However, on one occasion, staff did not seek medical advice following an incident when a child received an injury to the head. Furthermore, the manager had not appropriately evaluated the incident. This was therefore not highlighted, meaning there was limited learning or reflection for the staff member involved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built strong relationships with the children. She is experienced and takes pride in the progress children are making. She spends time with children and advocates for them when needed. She speaks proudly of their progress and achievements since moving into the home and has high aspirations for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers promote continuity of care for children. The home is fully staffed and, although the team is relatively new, leaders and managers have built a core team of staff since the home was registered. Staff speak positively about working in the home and feel well supported by the manager. Staff receive regular supervision, which is reflective and encourages development. Furthermore, staff are encouraged to progress in their roles, achieving the relevant qualifications.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a wide range of training. For example, they are appropriately trained in the chosen therapeutic model, meaning care is delivered in line with the statement of purpose. In addition, staff have also completed training relevant to the children, to ensure that they can meet their needs effectively. The registered manager secures training from various sources, which includes online and in-person training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates effective partnership working. Feedback from external professionals was very positive. One professional who works with both children said, ‘Children have flourished. Staff have been fantastic at helping them settle and this Inspection report for children’s home: 2732195 4 approach has been invaluable. They support family time and children are now starting to make progress in school.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers use monitoring systems that are effective. They understand the home’s strengths and areas for development and generate actions to continually review and develop the quality of care provided to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2732195 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 health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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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

understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that children receive support in relation to their health and well-being when concerns are identified. 21 February 2024

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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: 2732195 6

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jeanette Towning

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Inspectors

Carl Wilton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2732195 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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