Children's Home run by SureCare Residential Ltd in Essex

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 1 SC384018

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Registered provider: SureCare Residential Ltd

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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 four children who may have experienced significant trauma and have behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. There is a school that is also run by the organisation. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 13 November 2023

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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. Inspectors have 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: SC384018 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

Since the last inspection, two of the children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children enjoy spending time with staff and want their attention. Children and staff share humour and play games in the communal areas. One child said that they like the home and staff and that it is better than the last place he lived. The children have positive relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have improved their therapeutic interactions with children. Staff talk to children in a nurturing and compassionate manner. Records show that the staff listen to children and respond with warmth and enthusiasm. This provides children with reassurance when they talk to staff and encourages a sense of belonging.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s views are regularly sought and acted on. Weekly house meetings take place that provide children with a safe space to speak openly about issues with communal living. Staff sensitively and thoughtfully support children to negotiate in these forums.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has been experimenting with vaping. A clear risk assessment is in place to minimise this. Staff have been creative in how they have supported the child to understand the harm that can be caused by vaping. This has led to the child problem-solving and looking for alternatives to vaping.

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Findings from the inspection

One child attends school full time and is making good progress. Another child has a bespoke learning package in the mornings which they attend regularly and enjoy. A timetable of learning for the afternoon is in place; however, this is not regularly implemented. This limits the child’s progress and does not provide enough access to formal education.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no physical interventions or missing-from- home episodes. One child experienced a rapid decline in mental health. Staff went above and beyond to prevent the child from causing harm to themselves. Risk assessments and safety plans were responsive and agreed with mental health professionals. This multi-agency response meant the child was kept safe.

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Findings from the inspection

At the time of this inspection, the home’s registered manager was no longer in post. A manager from within the organisation will be moving to the home in March 2024. During the interim period, the home is being provided with managerial support from this manager and the compliance manager. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 3 The new manager and compliance manager have identified areas for development. Staff have received additional training to develop their knowledge and skills. However, some learning is still to be embedded, such as the therapeutic training needed to equip staff with the knowledge to provide the service described. Other training is also required to ensure that staff are upskilled to work with children with complex needs.

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Findings from the inspection

One child’s care plans do not acknowledge neurodiversity and how this will be encouraged and embraced. Similarly, the advice provided in psychological assessments has not been included in care plans. This means staff are not provided with enough information on how to work with a child to ensure that they flourish.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, six requirements were made. At this inspection, four of the requirements had been met. The two remaining requirements have been restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Good 31/10/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 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

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that the manager supports the staff to use a trauma-informed approach.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that care plans, risk assessments and behaviour management plans include neurodiversity and how children’s individual needs are to be supported.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that therapeutic assessments are included in care planning documents and that these are implemented in the staff’s approach.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that staff are provided with training in sexually harmful behaviour. 30 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 6 This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated.

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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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

understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand the importance and value of education, learning, training and employment;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(iii)(iv)(v))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 30 March 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SureCare Residential Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Snap Factory, Twyford Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3LJ

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Inspectors

Hannah Phillips, Social Care Inspector Ashley Hinson, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC384018 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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