Children's Home run by C & C Unique Care Solution Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2675339 1 Registered provider: C & C Unique Care Solution Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have experienced childhood instability resulting in trauma and associated complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager was appointed in July 2023 and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of inspection, two children were living in 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: 7 February 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: 2675339 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/02/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2675339 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care. Staff understand their changing needs and vulnerabilities. There are strong and trusting relationships between staff and children. This provides the foundation for children to accept support. Children are making good progress in important areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves for children in and out of the home are well managed. One child left earlier than planned because of concerns that their individual needs could not be met safely in the home. Staff kept in touch with the child for a short while, which helped them to settle into their new home. One child has been welcomed into the home since the last inspection. The child has settled well and said they like living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is promoted well by staff. One child attends school and is doing well. The other child has struggled in mainstream school due to their additional needs. Through close liaison between staff and the school, a bespoke package of education is in place. This means the child attends school for a short period every day and completes educational work in the home. This will continue until a specialist educational provision is secured for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s identities are understood and supported by staff. Children spend time with people who are important to them. Mediation has been secured for one child to improve their relationship with their parent. Staff also work closely with the parent of this child to meet the child’s cultural needs. This sensitive work supports children’s emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to attend routine health appointments. They have also advocated for one child who refused to take their prescribed medication. The child felt their medication was having a negative effect on their emotional well-being. As a result, the child is having a specialist assessment to consider what further support they may require.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are regularly gathered through formal and informal meetings and chats. These are then acted on and children are provided with feedback. This helps children to participate in and influence decisions about their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming and warm. Children have opportunities to personalise their bedrooms. Renovations are planned for some areas of the home to continue to improve the physical environment for children.

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

Children’s plans are detailed and regularly updated. They set out children’s vulnerabilities and needs and the risks in the home and the community. Staff use these plans to help them keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2675339 4 When children go missing from the home, they receive a robust and coordinated response from the manager and staff. One child has become upset that they cannot return to the care of their parent. Work has been carried out sensitively to help the child understand this change of care plan, but they have become very unsettled. This has led to an increase in the instances of the child going missing from the home. Staff engage with professionals and follow missing-from-home protocols. They search for the child and maintain regular contact with them to encourage their safe return home. As a result of this good work, the risks to the child in the community are being well managed.

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

Regular direct work with children helps them to better understand risks. Staff work together with children on the impact of their decisions and behaviours on themselves and others. Children have also helped staff to create the home’s bullying policy, and they regularly review this. This good work has led to one child being able to better manage their free time and relationships with their peers in the community.

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

Children understand how to make complaints and share their feelings. Since the last inspection, there has been one allegation against a member of staff. This has been addressed promptly. The manager has further developed the home’s complaints procedure to make it more child-centred.

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

Following a medication error, the manager has enhanced procedures around the administration and recording of medication. There has been increased auditing and further training for staff. This proactive approach has helped to minimise the risk of further errors.

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

There are outdoor surveillance cameras located at the front and rear of the home. These provide additional security for children. However, there has been no consent in place or any policy to cover this use. The manager stopped using these cameras when this issue came to light. They are working with relevant professionals to address this matter.

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

Safer recruitment procedures are followed. Regular support and supervision of staff ensure that those who are recruited remain suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following a period of instability, the manager has taken up their post and worked hard to develop this home. They have put into place new systems and processes so that children can continue to receive good care and support. The manager is supported well by a committed deputy manager and a responsible individual. Together, they have high aspirations for children and a plan in place to achieve this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed effective monitoring and reviewing systems that enable them to have oversight of children’s plans and the progress they make. The manager is persistent in advocating for children when needed. They have challenged Inspection report for children’s home: 2675339 5 external professionals appropriately. They have also sought additional support for a child who has been going missing from the home more frequently. A professional from the child’s school said, ‘The manager has done a great job in escalating concerns and managing a very difficult situation.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is good and they feel supported by the manager. They benefit from a well-planned induction programme. They have intensive support through their probation period. Staff receive regular supervision. They also attend reflective team meetings, where they share their experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a varied programme of mandatory and additional training on offer to support staff’s development and practice. However, the therapeutic approach and model of care set out in the home’s statement of purpose have not been embedded. Some staff have not had training in this model. The manager acknowledges this and has plans in place to address it. Inspection report for children’s home: 2675339 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 10.4, page 52)  The registered person should ensure that when CCTV or other monitoring equipment is used, there is a written policy describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. Homes must gain consent in writing to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority at the time of placement. The use of CCTV is regulated by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and the Surveillance Camera Code of Conduct (Home Office 2013). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, paragraph 3.16, page 16)

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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: 2675339 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: C & C Unique Care Solution Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 58 Oak Lane, Burntwood WS7 2HF

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Inspector

Nurul Kabir, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2675339 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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