Children's Home run by Evoke Care Group Limited in Croydon

Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 1 Registered provider: Evoke Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children. The home provides care for children who have social or emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home and the manager registered with Ofsted in June 2018. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home.

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 good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2023 Full Outstanding 01/11/2021 Full Outstanding 14/08/2019 Full Good 05/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a welcoming family feel. Children receive good-quality care from staff who understand their individual needs and vulnerabilities. Children’s individual care needs are reflected in their care plans, and they are supported well to make good progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to the children and celebrate the children’s achievements.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to access education. One child has returned to education after over a year’s absence, and now has full attendance. This has increased the child’s self-esteem and is helping to increase their social skills.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills through planned key- work sessions or ad hoc discussions with staff. Staff support children to learn how to manage their personal care, maintain healthy lifestyles and undertake household chores. This helps children learn key skills and prepares them for their futures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff demonstrate consistency and empathy when responding to children’s concerns. They maintain boundaries with children to help them understand the house rules. This provides children with a sense of security and structure, which helps them to feel safe and settled at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain positive and safe relationships with the people who are important to them. The staff promote the involvement of children’s family and friends, where safe to do so, with invitations to attend celebrations and events in the home. These events include birthday parties, Diwali celebrations, Christmas and Black History Month events. These moments are captured in individual memory books, which children value.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have spacious and comfortable bedrooms. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms with family photographs and pictures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to participate and share their views at regular house meetings. These are opportunities for children to choose activities, talk about what is important to them and make meal choices together with staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in varied activities. Activities include going on holidays, horse riding, swimming, go-karting and arts and crafts.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that they like living at the home. Children’s views are listened to and respected. Children know how to make a complaint, and these are acted swiftly on by managers. Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 4

p.3

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

Children’s behaviour is managed well. Children’s positive behaviour support plans help staff to understand the triggers for certain behaviours. The plans give staff strategies to manage incidents and prevent an escalation in negative behaviour. Furthermore, the input of the home’s child psychologist, combined with specialist staff training, supports staff to develop a better understanding of children’s needs. This strengthens staff’s response to managing incidents safely.

p.4

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

Staff are alert to risks. They understand children’s individual risk factors. Information is sought from the relevant agencies to inform changes to risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans.

p.4

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

Incidents are managed well in the home. Staff take effective action and there is good management oversight of incidents. If children go missing from the home, missing from care protocols are followed appropriately. Action plans are in place for each child that have agreed actions with partner agencies, such as the police and local authority. This has resulted in a reduction of missing from home episodes.

p.4

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

Leaders, managers and staff work proactively with agencies and partners in response to safeguarding concerns. This ensures that information is shared and that a holistic plan of support can be agreed. This helps to promote the children’s welfare and well-being.

p.4

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

Key-work sessions are held with children and address incidents of concern. Children’s own thoughts and views about their vulnerabilities are also listened to and contribute to their plans.

p.4

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

Staff demonstrate a good knowledge of whistle-blowing policies and procedures. This helps to keep children safe.

p.4

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

Carers and professionals say that their children are kept safe at the home. Children also say that they feel safe in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is well qualified and knows the children well. The registered manager demonstrates insight, empathy and affection towards the children living at the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and responsible individual promote inclusive and anti- discriminatory practices. This creates an environment where all cultures are respected and promoted at the home. Furthermore, cultural activities broaden children’s experiences, as well as supporting their identity needs and increase their sense of belonging.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems in place. Monthly management meetings take place that include the clinical psychologist. Children’s Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 5 individual progress, achievements and views are discussed in detail at the meetings. Quantitative data is also presented, which further informs the support provided to children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and responsible individual share an ambitious vision for the home, including development of an extended neuro diversity training offer alongside an external consultant.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recently, the management structure has changed. This has had an impact on the stability of the team, and in the responsiveness of communication to professionals. Leaders and managers responded to this promptly and introduced a contingency plan to support the newly recruited deputy manager.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that leaders and managers are open to challenge. They feel that they can raise discussion and concerns with them. Regular team meetings provide staff with opportunities to discuss children’s progress, reflect on their practice and help to identify their training needs.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and staff receive regular and effective supervision. Staff and managers benefit from the input of the home’s clinical psychologist by accessing clinical supervisions.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have established effective relationships with external agencies. Multi-agency working is valued and has supported children to make good progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 6

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: 1273719 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Evoke Care Group Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon CR0 0XZ

p.7

Inspector

Amanda Burrows, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1273719 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.

p.7

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 .

p.8

Inspector

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8