Children's home run by Dwell-In Social Care Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 1 Registered provider: Dwell-In Social Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Two children are currently being cared for in this home.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered in July 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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a well-maintained home, which is furnished to a good standard. Children choose their own décor and personalise their rooms. Managers and staff have developed communal areas to help to meet children's sensory needs. One parent commented on how this helps children to manage their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has been living in the home for several months. Another child has recently been welcomed into the home. Managers and staff took a collaborative approach to considering the impact for each child and to identify how each child would be supported. The child experienced a well-planned introduction, and the existing child was well prepared for the changes in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are trained in the home’s preferred model to care. Staff have built strong relationships with one child over time. This child identifies staff as part of their family. Staff are working to build relationships with a child who has recently moved in. Children and staff speak highly of each other. Children enjoy spending time with staff. They have fun together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s education. Staff have helped both children to return to school. For one child, this was after a prolonged absence. Staff communicate effectively with their school to promote attendance and address barriers to learning. Staff support children with their homework by finding ways to interest children in the topic.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are aspirational for children. They support children to follow their ambitions. Staff support one child’s interest in animal care through arranging voluntary work, visiting an animal charity, and exploring relevant courses. Children receive encouragement and this helps to motivate them to realise their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to stay healthy. They encourage children to be active. One social worker said that staff provide detailed information at health appointments so that assessments are well informed. This is because they know the children well. Children therefore receive the right support. Staff respond sensitively to children's emotional health. One staff member identified a child’s interest in writing as a way of communicating her emotional state. He used his experience as an author to help the child to write her story. She uses writing to express feelings and explore earlier difficult experiences. Their plan to have her book published celebrates her talents and promotes her self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to spend time with family members. Staff build effective working relationships with family. Parents and carers say that staff keep them updated. One parent said when meeting staff that ‘their energy and passion to help really shone through’. Children experience consistency of care. Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 3

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

Staff keep children safe. Staff work well with professionals and share information about the safety and well-being of children in a timely way. Likewise, staff build positive relationships with parents and family to share concerns, working collaboratively.

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

Risk assessments are detailed in considering the different vulnerabilities that children may face. Assessments and plans are updated when new information comes to light. Children actively participate in writing their support plans and risk assessments. This helps children to understand and follow the safety measures in place. One child talked about how she was helped to keep herself safe. She tells professionals when her plan needs changing to address specific vulnerabilities. One parent said that they are reassured that staff had the same understanding and approach to safeguarding their child.

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

Due to the quality of relationships that she has with staff, one child, in particular, is supported in managing their feelings and emotions. This is a significant factor in keeping them safe.

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

Children do not go missing from home. Children are not physically restrained. Staff focus on a restorative approach to helping children to make safe decisions. Children receive personalised incentives and rewards. For one child, risks have significantly reduced since living in the home.

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

When an allegation was made against a member of staff, the manager took immediate steps to ensure the safety of children and staff. Relevant agencies were informed. The manager's own investigation and evaluation are not clearly evidenced. The manager has now organised staff training in relation to managing allegations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads a culture that puts children’s views at the centre of what staff do. Staff report a strong sense of team unity. One staff member said that they would not consider working anywhere else. This is because of the responsible individual and manager’s care and commitment to achieving the best for children. Another staff member said, 'Staff feel good, I feel good and that's got to benefit the children.' Children learn that they are valued by a committed staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff express a willingness to learn and develop for the benefit of improving outcomes for children. Staff value supervision. One staff member said that they come out of supervision with a plan, ‘refreshed and motivated’. Staff value the training that they receive. The manager organises training that is specific to the children’s needs and responds to the learning needs of staff. Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 4 Managers and staff use their knowledge of children to advocate for them with family members and other professionals involved in the children’s lives. This is in relation to school, mental health, and negotiating decisions with legal guardians. One child expressed confidence that the manager would advocate for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established internal monitoring systems. The manager has oversight of records on children's files. The manager is well informed of the work of staff and care of the children. The manager does not consistently capture her evaluation. This is a missed opportunity to improve practice for all staff and, in turn, develop approaches to best help children. External monitoring by the independent person has not been sufficiently robust. This is with regards to their visiting arrangements to enable them to inspect the home and speak to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensured that appropriate actions were undertaken to support a child following an incident when they were harmed. A police investigation was initiated. However, this incident was not notified to Ofsted. This prevents Ofsted from being able to fully evaluate the information to be confident that children are safe. Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must notify Ofsted of any incident deemed as serious, and without delay. The registered provider must ensure that all relevant information is shared in this notification. 14 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

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Requirement Due date

When the independent person is carrying out a visit, the registered person must help the independent person—

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Requirement Due date

if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires; and

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Requirement Due date

to inspect the premises of the home and such of the home’s records (except for a child’s case records, unless the child and the child’s placing authority consent) as the independent person requires.

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Requirement Due date

A visit by the independent person to the home may be unannounced. (Regulation 44 (1) (2 (a)(b) (3))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that they are satisfied with the robustness of the independent person's enquiries, in particular, in making efforts to speak with or observe children in the home. 14 March 2024 Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should actively seek to make best use of information to ensure continuous improvement. They should be skilled in anticipating difficulties, reviewing incidents, and learning from them. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. (‘Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2724887 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Dwell-In Social Care Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Corby Business Centre Office 24, Eismann Way, Corby NN17 5ZB

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Inspector

Helen Gronhaug, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2724887 8 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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