Children's Home run by Restoration Care & Services Limited in Barking and Dagenham

Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 1 Registered provider: Restoration Care & Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted on 16 February 2018. The manager registered on 4 September 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/03/2023 Full Good 19/10/2021 Full Good 14/01/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness 22/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled in this home. They remain at the home long term, and moves are generally planned. In the last year, three children have moved to semi- independent accommodation. These moves were planned, and children were well supported. This helps children feel a sense of security and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to engage in activities. Staff ensure that care and attention are given to discover children’s interests, and steps are taken to ensure that activities are arranged that children will enjoy. For example, one child loves composing music, and staff arranged for him to attend a music studio. The child has written songs and recorded them and continues to expand their music interests. Another child is interested in the cadets, and with the support of staff they have attended Army Cadets twice weekly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are promoted. As a result, children are making steady progress. Managers and staff advocate for children who are in school and experience challenges in learning. They ensure that children’s educational needs are understood by partner agencies. Staff collaborate with partner agencies to promote learning environments that are appropriate to children’s needs. Staff support children who are not in education to engage in online learning and face-to-face tutoring. Managers and staff talk to children to discover any barriers to learning and provide encouragement and incentives to build children’s confidence in their ability and skills. Children know that staff care about their future ambitions and will support them in pursuing those goals. They know that staff will help them to explore options for their future and encourage new interests. One child has been supported to start an apprenticeship in electronics and plumbing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children attend regular house meetings. They are able to express their likes and dislikes and use this space to raise concerns they may have. Children are able to make decisions about food, activities and issues occurring in the home. Children’s feedback is listened to, and this leads to improvements in the home. For example, the children wanted improvements to their dining space, and staff provided the improvements. The dining area of the home still requires further improvement; however, the home is furnished adequately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are respected, and this is reflected in children being willing and confident to express their views. Children were observed talking confidently to staff and sharing their views and opinions. Children appeared at ease moving through the home and interacting with managers and staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independence skills. Staff help children to learn how to cook, budget for shopping and do their own laundry. This support helps children to learn and develop important life skills and plan for the future. Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 4

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

When children go missing from the home, staff are vigilant and caring towards them. Staff keep in touch with children throughout their missing-from-home episodes and ensure that relevant partner agencies and families are informed. Staff encourage children to return home and share details of their whereabouts. Managers and staff complete detailed risk assessments that help to identify children’s support needs and how to respond to them. Staff work with children through key-work sessions to help raise children’s awareness of how to keep themselves safe. Staff obtain specialist support from a gang worker and sexual health adviser when required.

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

Managers work effectively with partnership agencies when children are deemed to be at risk of increased harm. Managers and staff share information and advocate for professional meetings to take place, which help to keep children safe.

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

Children at risk of exploitation are supported effectively, and their risk assessments are regularly updated to ensure effective interventions. Staff are trained to meet the needs of the children and to recognise behaviours that may indicate criminal and sexual exploitation. Staff carry out effective one-to-one discussions following incidents of concern, ensure that return home interviews are undertaken and update all relevant agencies. Children are helped to understand when they may be at risk of harm. Children are involved in discussions and are able to raise any issues that are concerning them.

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

The use of physical interventions by staff is minimal in this home. Managers and staff rely on building trusting relationships with children and use a restorative approach when incidents occur. Staff show their concern for children, and children know that staff care about them.

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

Allegations against staff are addressed appropriately and referred to the local authority designated officer. Thorough investigations take place, and children are advised of outcomes in debrief meetings.

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

Staff are aware of whistle-blowing policies and procedures. Safeguarding training is regularly updated, and staff receive appropriate training to meet the needs of the children.

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

Safer recruitment processes are now established in the home, and all staff receive an appropriate induction. This ensures that children are supported by staff with appropriate skills and experience and that children are not at risk from the staff team.

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

The home’s location risk assessment contains up-to-date information regarding crime in the local area. Leaders and managers consider the needs of new children moving into the home. Staff consider how children will be safeguarded within the locality and appropriate resources to reduce potential risks. Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the children well. They ensure that care plans are detailed and appropriate for children’s needs. Care plans are kept up to date and include children’s views. This ensures that plans are relevant and that staff are supporting children effectively and working towards the same targets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers model effective interventions with children, which staff are then able to use. Staff and managers receive regular and effective supervision. Supervision is focused on children’s experiences, needs and plans. Supervision demonstrates management oversight of staff practice and the progress of children. Supervision also enables staff to reflect on interventions with children and how these can be improved. Staff noted that they are supported to progress in this home and training needs are identified and supported.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is sufficient for their needs. All staff have completed the mandatory training. A new member of the team was on target to complete all training on the appropriate date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The assessment process for new children moving into the home is effective. Assessments are robust and take into account information about children, their needs and other children already living in the home. This has led to improved placement stability and a reduction in unplanned endings. While it is noted that a recent placement breakdown took place, it is evident that an appropriate assessment process was undertaken. Managers have learned from this process to try and prevent future disruption for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that notifications about the welfare and protection of children living in the home are made to the appropriate authorities. The registered person takes the necessary action following incidents to ensure that the child’s needs are met and that they are safe and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly. Children’s progress and safeguarding issues are thoroughly discussed. Staff support each other in developing effective interventions with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and managers work proactively and positively with other agencies and professionals. They make efforts to build effective working relationships with parents and social workers to promote positive outcomes for children. Staff understand that quality interactions with parents will improve their understanding of children’s needs. This is an area of working, which staff understand could be improved. Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished to meet the needs of each child and enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 3.7)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 1269966 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Restoration Care & Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 53 Levine Gardens, Barking, Essex IG11 0UH

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christina Addison

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Inspector

Angela Reid, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1269966 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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