Children's home run by Headway Adolescent Resources Limited in Monmouthshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470290 1 SC470290 Registered provider: Headway Adolescent Resources Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to three children aged up to 18 years who experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 9 May 2022. At the time of the inspection, three children were living in the home.

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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: 13 September 2022

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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: SC470290 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2022 Full Good 29/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/08/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC470290 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress with their confidence and emotional well-being because of the warmth and care provided by staff. Staff have a comprehensive understanding of children’s needs and past experiences. They provide consistent care because they follow thoughtfully written and regularly reviewed behaviour management plans. These detailed plans help staff to support children when they feel agitated and assist in ensuring that boundaries are in place.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled at supporting children to develop their independence skills. They help children to learn how to carry out tasks such as shopping, cooking and household chores, and they ensure that children have good self-care. Staff encourage children to spend time in the community with their friends having fun. Staff check on children and make sure that expectations are clear. This helps to build trust and allows children more freedom when out in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that children’s parents and other members of their families are made welcome at the home. Staff provide enhanced support and advice when needed to help mediate between children and those who matter most to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children now attend full-time alternative therapeutic education. They enjoy attending and have received many awards for their achievements. One child, who is of non-compulsory school age, is engaging in limited education online and has the support of a mentor and advocate. The child has plans and ambitions for future employment but needs enhanced support to reach these goals, to help them in preparation for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said that they do not have any concerns about how staff look after them, and one child said that he really likes living at the home. Interactions with staff and children witnessed during the inspection were based on humour and affection.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no allegations of harm made against staff by children living at this home. There have been no complaints from children, parents, neighbours or professionals.

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

Physical restraint is used as a last resort and there have been no incidents since 2021. This is because of staff’s skills and their nurturing approach in ensuring that incidents do not escalate.

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

Staff are knowledgeable and confident in following safeguarding procedures, which helps to ensure that children’s safety is prioritised. All staff are up to date with mandatory safeguarding training and recently received training from police partners about responding to children who are at risk of going missing and/or exploitation. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470290 4 Recruitment procedures are mostly strong. Records demonstrate any gaps in previous staff employment and reasons for leaving. Staff are signed up to the Update Service, which is an online service provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service ( DBS ) that helps managers to frequently monitor any changes to staff’s suitability to work with children. One staff member’s previous employment history, relating to a care role, referenced dates of employment and did not record whether there were any safeguarding concerns or if this was explored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they are happy working at this home and demonstrate kindness and care towards each other. There is strong oversight of records and day-to-day support for staff by the registered manager. Manager direction and staff practice for children who have been missing from the home are strong. Staff act quickly and are relentless in looking for children to ensure their swift and safe return.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations made at the last inspection are met. Staff speak positively about the thoughtful approach and guidance the registered manager and deputy manager provide them. There is a stable and experienced staff team, which helps in providing effective care to children living at this home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have the appropriate mandatory and specialist training for the role. For example, since the last inspection, they have received additional training around managing challenging situations and meaningful conversations with children. The impact of some of this training was evident during this inspection. For example, staff ensure that meaningful conversations with children take place frequently and are sensitively recorded. This helps to alleviate children’s worries and supports them to demonstrate more positive behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers ensure that staff receive regular and meaningful supervision that is focused on children’s needs. Outcomes are measurable and reviewed consistently with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals and a parent are overwhelmingly positive about the high standard of care provided and the progress children are making as a result. Professionals are reassured by the level of communication from staff and of their proactive approach in helping to keep children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from a spacious environment that affords them time away from each other when needed. Children’s bedrooms are clean and include personalised items of their choice, to help them feel comfortable. The home is decorated with neutral colours and plants to provide a calming environment for children. Since the last inspection, a new kitchen and en-suite bathrooms have been fitted. Improvements have also been made to the garden area. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470290 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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(vi)) 28 June 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that good employment practice is maintained, as set out in regulations 31 to 33. Recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff should safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: SC470290 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Headway Adolescent Resources Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove B60 4AD

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Inspector

Anna Gravelle, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470290 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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