Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 1 SC489036

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Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to six children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Inspection date: 6 February 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 6 February 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Children and staff have good relationships. During the inspection, children appeared relaxed and confident in the presence of staff. This contributes to children feeling safe and cared for.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers prioritise children’s education. However, at present there are some children who are having difficulties and are not attending education. Staff continue to ensure children are helped to structure their learning at home while the issues are addressed.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have identified that staff require additional support to understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities. There are plans for staff to attend refresher training to ensure that all staff can meet the children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have a clear voice, and staff ensure that their views are recorded. Children have not made any formal complaints and are confident in speaking to staff about their wishes and feelings. However, when children have shared concerns with staff, staff do not always acknowledge these concerns and support children to make a complaint. As a result, children may not always feel safe and well cared for.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are held using a restrictive intervention when it is necessary and as a last resort. When these interventions occur, they are well managed. The manager carries out debriefs with staff to help them to reflect on their working practices. This supports staff to develop their understanding of behaviour management and how best to support children. However, staff do not always carry out a debrief with children. Therefore, children do not consistently receive support to identify better ways of communicating if they are upset or angry.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a lack of rigour in internal monitoring systems. Staff do not always receive supervision on a regular basis. There have been some large gaps when staff have not received supervision sessions. Supervision is required to support and develop staff effectively. The manager acknowledges that improvement is needed. However, the plans that are designed to drive improvement forward are not yet having an impact.

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Findings from the inspection

There are some challenges appointing to current staff vacancies. However, the manager places the safety and welfare of children first and recruits new staff in accordance with safer recruitment protocols. New staff undergo a range of checks that are designed to minimise the likelihood of children being harmed by those caring for them. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2022 Full Good 07/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 11/05/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 4

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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, The 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring that records of incidents are clear, detailed and demonstrate management oversight, reflection and learning. 3 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33(4)(b). 3 May 2024

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Requirement Due date

Any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the age of the child and the circumstances of the restraint into account. In some cases children may need longer to work through their feelings, so a record that the child has talked about their feelings should be made no longer than 5 days after the incident of restraint (regulation 35 (3)(c)) 3 May 2024

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Recommendation

 Staff should encourage children to share any concerns about their care or other matters as soon as they arise. Children must be able to take up issues or make a complaint with support and without fear that this will result in any adverse consequences. Regulation 39 sets out the requirements on the registered person to have a complaints procedure. Children must be aware of this procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13). Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Drinsey Nook, Lincoln LN1 2JJ

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Inspector

Corline Parker, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 6 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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