Children's home run by Young Generation

Inspection report for children’s home: SC028460 1 SC028460 Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider to care for up to four children who may have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There are two children and one young person currently living in the home. The inspector spoke to the children and the young person during this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2002.

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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: SC028460 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/04/2022 Full Good 04/05/2021 Full Good 08/04/2019 Full Good 09/04/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC028460 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say that one of the main reasons that they are happy living in the home is because staff are kind and nurturing. One young person said, ‘The staff are understanding and always listen to me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children and young people who have moved out of the home are invited to visit for family evenings with staff and the children who live in the home. These occasions involve a meal and a memorable activity together, such as enjoying time with animals from a mobile petting zoo or a fun exercise class. Photos displayed of these celebratory times provide a reminder for children and young people that they continue to be important to staff beyond their time living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage the children to view their future with positivity and ambition. When children experience difficulties in attending school, the manager provides learning opportunities at home. This includes helping children to develop skills for independence. One education professional said, ‘A strength of the staff is they persistently teach life skills. They develop children’s confidence to help them to become competent.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with a broad range of experiences and resources to help them to understand the benefits of making healthy choices. The manager arranges for health services to visit the children at home, so that children can informally discuss and gain information on topics including sexual health and the dangers of substance misuse.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The lounge and another recreation room are locked during the day to prevent the children from accessing these areas if they do not go to school. This restriction limits the level of freedom that the children experience.

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

Children are helped to know how to make a complaint and are encouraged to share their views and worries. When a child did not experience a timely response to a complaint they made to an external professional, staff escalated the concern. This promoted the child’s voice being heard.

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

Staff regularly talk to children about the risks that they face and provide practical strategies to help them to keep themselves safe, including in the community and online.

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

Staff impose appropriate consequences to help the children to understand that they are accountable for their actions. Staff are responsive when children show remorse and help the children to understand that they have the power to put things right. One child said, ‘The staff are patient and forgiving, they don’t give up on you.’ Inspection report for children’s home: SC028460 4 A serious incident occurred in which a child was able to leave the home during the night undetected by staff. Some of the checks required to establish the child’s whereabouts were not carried out. The manager swiftly shared this information with relevant safeguarding agencies and followed appropriate disciplinary procedures. The manager has shared the learning from this isolated incident with all staff, who have either already attended additional training or have this arranged to reaffirm the responsibilities and expectations of their roles.

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

The manager installed a surveillance camera in the kitchen after a child experienced an issue while in there alone. The manager responded to a further incident with a suitable strategy to keep the children safe, with staff now supervising children in the kitchen. The camera remains in the kitchen despite there not being an appropriate reason for this, which is unnecessarily intrusive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager, who is suitably qualified and experienced for the position, is supported by an experienced deputy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The turnover of staff is low. The stability of the staff team helps the children to experience familiarity and consistency.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment processes provide assurances that staff have been appropriately vetted before they care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed an effective system to review the quality of care that the children receive. This includes consulting the children and using their views to develop and improve the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision is used to discuss each child’s current needs. The manager provides opportunities for staff to reflect on and adapt their practice, to raise the standard of care that the children receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The shortfalls raised at the last inspection have been addressed and the previously issued requirements are judged to have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC028460 5

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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

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)) 15 March 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(d)) 15 March 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: SC028460 6

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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: SC028460 7

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Inspector

Paula Kelly, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC028460 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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Inspector

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