Children's Home run by 5ab Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2590405 1 Registered provider: 5ab Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private provider. The home provides care to three children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are currently two children living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 28 February 2022.

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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: 2590405 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/01/2023 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2590405 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living at this home are happy and settled. They enjoy open and trusting relationships with staff, who provide children with nurturing care. Children respond to the structure in place, which provides children with consistent care and gives them a sense of security.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to overcome their anxieties about attending health appointments, which has led to improved outcomes for one child. Children are helped with their emotional and mental health. Staff respond sensitively to children when they have harmed themselves. They ask children about how they are feeling, which helps children to understand the difficult emotions they are experiencing. Children are accessing therapy in line with their plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making progress in their education from their starting points. One child’s attendance has improved, and one child is now going to school after a long period of not accessing education. Staff understand the barriers to children’s education. They work in partnership with education professionals to ensure that children receive the right support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to spend time with the people who are important to them. Staff talk to the children about their relationships. This helps children to understand their feelings when relationships become difficult.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities that reflect their hobbies and interests. For example, one child likes to play football and basketball and go on bicycle rides. Children have positive friendships, and they are supported to spend time in the community and do activities with their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s personalities are reflected in the decoration of their bedrooms and throughout this warm and welcoming home. Children are proud of their home. This makes them feel valued and cared for and gives them a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s involvement in making decisions about the home has helped to provide them with a sense of belonging. Staff talk to children about a range of topics that focus on their care, safety and well-being. Staff ensure that children’s wishes and feelings are listened to and considered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create memory books for children, starting from the first day they move into the home. There are lots of photos that capture children’s day-to-day experiences and special occasions. This provides children with positive memories that they can take with them into adulthood. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590405 4

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

Individual risk assessments identify all risks to the child. Staff have a good understanding of the children’s individual risks and vulnerabilities, and they are clear about the steps they must take to reduce some of those risks. There is a proactive approach to educating children about risks, and children contribute to their safety plans.

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

When children show unwanted behaviour, staff respond sensitively and use a restorative approach. Staff talk to children about incidents, and they use their relationships with children to manage unwanted behaviours. This positive approach has led to a reduced number of incidents because children are supported to develop strategies that help them manage difficult emotions safely.

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

When children have been missing from the home, staff search for them and work in partnership with the police until the child is found. Staff talk to children about the risks associated with going missing from home. Children are provided with the opportunity to talk to an independent person when they return home.

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

Staff ensure that there are safeguards to protect the children when using electronic devices and accessing the internet. When concerns about one child have arisen, they have been taken seriously and investigated. Staff have talked to the child about positive relationships, and they have made referrals to local support agencies.

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

Allegations are taken seriously and shared with safeguarding professionals. Staff are aware of how to report an allegation, and they understand the whistle-blowing policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. He is ambitious about children’s progress and outcomes and committed to ensuring that staff provide a high standard of continuous and supportive care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The systems to track and review the quality of care and staff development are effective. The manager has a strong oversight of children’s plans, the risks to children and the progress they are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are receiving supervision that is reflective, and they discuss the children’s plans. Staff said that they feel supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive a good range of training. This includes training in areas specific to the children’s needs. Records show that training is kept up to date and under review for all staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Multi-agency working is important to the manager and staff. They have built positive relationships with other professionals involved with the children. One professional Inspection report for children’s home: 2590405 5 said, ‘They have provided the child with stability. They have really got to know him well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has built strong relationships with other professionals involved in the children’s care. There is evidence of strong partnership working with other agencies to ensure that children are receiving the right support. One professional said, ‘They provide [name of child] with stability; staff know them really well.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has made child-centred decisions about children moving into the home. When children have moved into the home, the manager has considered the impact on the children who already live there. Children have moved in and out of the home in a planned and supportive way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Complaints are taken seriously and have been investigated in line with the home’s complaint policy. When a child has made a complaint, records show that they were provided with feedback about the outcome and kept informed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2590405 6

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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: 2590405 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Jones Hunt Ltd, 71 Knowl Piece, Wilbury Way, Hitchin SG4 0TY

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Inspector

Rachel Webster, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2590405 8 regulates and inspects 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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