Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report for children's home: SC023736 1 SC023736 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private organisation and can provide care for up to three children. According to the home’s statement of purpose, staff aim to provide a safe, calm and nurturing environment, where children can experience warmth, laughter, security, enjoyment and fun. Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2021 and is suitably qualified.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC023736 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/01/2023 Full Good 21/02/2022 Full Good 08/10/2019 Full Good 21/08/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC023736 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children thrive because of warm and nurturing relationships with staff. Interactions are genuinely caring and consistent across the staff team. Staff have created a culture of an extended family within the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last full inspection, staff have supported one child with a positive move into the home. They placed welcome banners on the front door and decorated the child’s bedroom with balloons. The child appreciated this thoughtful gesture and took photos as a positive memento.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before the child moved in, the registered manager completed a detailed compatibility assessment. This included a review of the dynamics between children already living in the home, education support and if the staff had the necessary skills and training to meet the child’s needs. Risks highlighted during this process were set out in a personalised health plan for the child, which is kept under regular review by their key worker. This means staff are aware of the child’s known and current health needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with children and encourage them to attend school daily. They support children to understand the benefits of a good education and celebrate their successes with them. Children have been revising for their GCSEs and writing short stories. This foundation helps children to make good progress and supports them with structure.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a good standard, creating a light interior with soft furnishings, artistic woodwork made by children and modern black portrait art. One bathroom was being replaced at the time of the inspection, in line with the registered manager’s development plan. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and children say they have everything they need to feel happy and comfortable.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regard this as their home. Staff encourage children to share their views and support them in having a meaningful say in their life decisions. Children understand how important they are to staff and the registered manager. One child said, ‘Staff listen, and I feel heard.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to pursue their interests and hobbies. One child attends a drama club and youth club regularly, while another child enjoys going to the movies with friends. All children attend the gym regularly. This helps children develop self- reliance as well as making them active participants in the community in which they live.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are prioritising support for one child’s health needs. They treat and speak about children with the utmost respect and dignity and help them with their developing Inspection report for children's home: SC023736 4 identities. This is having a tremendous impact on the children’s abilities to gain independence, make friends and grow in confidence.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There are door alarms on the children’s bedrooms. Children’s placing authorities have consented to these and children understand why they are there. The registered manager has completed good risk assessments and reviews them monthly. She recognises the need to review the use of the alarm for one child, given their maturity and developing ability to make good and safe choices.

p.4

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

Through staff support and consistent care, children have developed trusting relationships with staff. These relationships help to keep children safe, because they can communicate their worries and fears to staff, who respond appropriately and with their best interests at heart.

p.4

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

Staff write descriptive personal evacuation plans for children. In the event of a fire, staff have a clear understanding of how best to support children to leave the premises safely. When children have been confused during drills, staff update plans to reflect this, adding measures to help next time and completing more practice drills. This helps children to understand how to keep themselves safe should a fire occur.

p.4

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

On 10 May 2023, there was a fire in the home. Staff immediately supported children to evacuate safely and responded appropriately by contacting the emergency services. The fire was contained to one child’s bedroom and no children or staff were harmed. Staff have carried out significant reflective and learning work with one child following the fire. The registered manager has implemented reasonable and reviewed measures with consent from the child’s parents and placing authorities to reduce the likelihood of this happening again. All children have had fire prevention training and one child met with fire and rescue officers to discuss the incident. There have been no further incidents of this nature since.

p.4

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

Staff understand safeguarding issues relating to children’s behaviours. They work closely with the children and help them to understand the actions which have put them and others at risk.

p.4

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

Children make good progress in managing their behaviours and emotions. Most children move into the home with histories of trauma and sometimes struggle to understand their feelings. Consistent staff practice, underpinned by staff’s knowledge of the provider’s therapeutic model of care, helps children to manage their turmoil and to develop better coping skills and strategies. As a result, children are developing strategies to help overcome their emotional challenges.

p.4

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

Children’s positive behaviour, and ability to change difficult behaviours, is recognised and rewarded. Staff provide clear boundaries and regular feedback to children; this support helps them to know what progress they are making. Well-structured Inspection report for children's home: SC023736 5 meetings, key-work sessions and direct work are held with a health promotion specialist.

p.4

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

Safer recruitment practices are good and managers ensure they request, obtain and verify references. An additional layer of monitoring is completed by the responsible individual. This demonstrates their commitment in helping to ensure adults are safely recruited into the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a role model in the home and embeds a culture of high expectation and aspiration for children and staff. As a result, excellent standards are achieved and children benefit greatly from living in a well-organised and strongly led home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager works in partnership with a range of education and health professionals to support better outcomes and futures for children. A social worker said, ‘I have found the manager to be excellent, proactive and supportive.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff retention is superb. The registered manager creates a culture of positivity and togetherness. When there are shortages in the rota, the team always cover these. As a result, children are being supported daily by a familiar, skilled and experienced staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One child was nominated by their placing authority to take part in Ofsted’s ‘achieving permanence and stability for children with complex needs’ survey. This was due to the recognised progress the child has made since living in the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is a qualified social worker and keeps her registration up to date. She brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to the home’s staff and to other staff in the wider organisation. She is devoted to the children and passionate about delivering positive outcomes for them.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All the requirements from the last inspection were met and there were no requirements or recommendations made at this inspection.

p.5

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: SC023736 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered manager: Elizabeth Wynne-Franklin

p.6

Inspector

Kelly Monniot, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC023736 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7