Children's Home run by SW Education & Care Ltd in Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 1 Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider of social care and was registered on 9 March 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children. At the time of this inspection, one child was living at 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: 11 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: 2578677 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

11/01/2023 Full Good 07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a home that is furnished, decorated and maintained to a high standard. Children’s rooms are spacious and personalised.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has successfully moved out of the home to semi- independent living, and one child has successfully moved in. The child currently living at the home has made their room their own. They said that they like living at the home, feeling safe and well cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Planning for children to move into and out of the home is comprehensive. Vital information is requested, considered and shared to ensure that the decisions made are right for children. Children are supported to develop essential skills and make their own decisions on their pathway to independence. Carers remain in regular contact with the child who has left the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers have supported the child living at the home to make significant progress. They have shown clear commitment to the child, building strong and secure relationships. This has meant that the child has lived at the home for longer than they have lived at any of the multiple homes where they have previously lived. Carers take the right actions when the child feels angry or anxious. Consequently, behaviours that have led to high-risk incidents have reduced. The child recognises that they have made progress and is proud of this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers build positive relationships with other professionals. Two professionals said that particular strengths of the home are building relationships, managing risk and communication. When required, carers request multi-agency meetings, which allows them to share and gather information and to agree plans for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s mental and physical health is a primary focus for the carers. Regular focused and supportive conversations take place with the child, encouraging them to make informed decisions about their overall well-being. There is a current focus on securing therapeutic interventions, acknowledging that this work is critical for the child.

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

Conversations about risk regularly take place between the child and carers. Many are instigated by the child, who tells carers when they have acted in an unsafe or risky way. This shows the high levels of trust that have been built. It also allows carers to educate the child, aiming to reduce risks while being aware of and managing them. This is done through informed and sensitive conversations. Carers work with other professionals to gather multi-agency perspectives, which informs the assessment of risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 4 Plans and documents about the child are clearly written and comprehensive. They are written by people who know the child and their narrative, taking their wishes and feelings into account. Use of chronologies provides carers with clear information about recent concerns and progress in relation to the child. They also allow for constant monitoring of risk.

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

Most incident records are skilfully written and provide the necessary detail in respect of the child’s and carers’ actions. However, reports written following the child going missing from home do not provide the background prior to the event. This may lead to difficulties in providing a clear analysis of the incident as a whole. By working with and listening to the child, carers have reduced the child’s periods of going missing, self-harm and use of illicit drugs.

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

Carers follow plans and protocols designed to support their practice and keep children safe. When restraint has been used it has been appropriate. Managers’ oversight is reflective and the child is supported to reflect on incidents.

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

Carers supported the child to make a complaint against an external professional. They were caring and supportive, particularly when the outcome letter was received. When the child raised concerns about the conduct of a carer at the home, these were thoroughly investigated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the children and carers. They are present at the home, which has enabled them to build relationships with carers and children. They are effective as a management team. Leaders and managers are enthusiastic and reflective. They are motivated to improve their practice and outcomes for children. The needs of children living at the home are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers like working at the home. They speak positively about leaders and managers, particularly the support they receive from them. Carers feel that their managers listen to any concerns that they raise and act on them promptly. This promotes a happy and settled workplace and allows the focus to be on the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are well attended. Records documenting the discussion and reflection that take place during these important meetings are not always produced. When they are produced, the content is limited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers receive regular supervision from managers. Topics for supervision are clearly documented, covering the quality standards. This promotes reflective discussions that are linked to the needs of the child. Carers said that they can access managers for additional supervision and guidance on an ad-hoc basis if required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers are provided with the training necessary for them to care for and support children. Leaders and managers are aware that some additional, more focused training may be beneficial for carers in relation to developing additional understanding of longstanding or more complex risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that details of discussion and reflection from team meetings are clearly documented. Also, to ensure that records of missing episodes provide a full overview to include precipitating factors. This is so that they can ensure that practice is maintained and delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the Statement of Purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4)  The registered person should ensure that consideration is given to providing carers with additional, risk specific training. This is to allow for ongoing learning and development and for the focus on risk reduction and safety of the child to remain in focus. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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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: 2578677 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 105 East Street, South Molton. EX36 3DB

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 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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