Children's Home run by Thrive Childcare Services Ltd in Wolverhampton

Inspection report for children's home: 2679810 1 Registered provider: Thrive Childcare Services Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children aged between 11 and 18 years old who have emotional and/or social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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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: 2679810 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2679810 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Three children were living in the home at the time of this inspection. Two children have lived at the home for nearly 12 months and the third child has lived at the home for one week. One child has moved out since the last inspection. Staff promote positive endings when children leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of children’s lived experiences. Positive behaviour is encouraged through rewards and praise. As a result, children are more accepting of boundaries and some daily routines are embedded. This is a big achievement for two children. External professionals say children are making progress. A social worker said, ‘I am happy with the care. [Name of child] has made massive strides and they have come on leaps and bounds.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. Children contribute to the decoration of the home, such as choosing paint colours for the walls. The communal lounge and bathroom have been redecorated and bedrooms are personalised to reflect children’s choices. Photos of children are on display, which promotes a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Equality and diversity are promoted. Children’s wishes and feelings in relation to their cultures are well supported. Two children were supported to buy foods to help them explore their culture through tasting traditional foods. This means their sense of identity is being developed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children are not accessing education. The manager advocates for children’s educational needs and there are plans to ensure that their individual learning needs are met. Staff understand barriers to learning and support children to explore their interests. For example, a work experience placement has been found for a child who is interested in pursuing a future career in mechanics.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say they know how to make a complaint. Complaints and allegations are responded to appropriately and in a timely way. Prompt action was taken to investigate and keep a child safe when the child complained about a staff member. This helps children to feel listened to, and the concerns they raise are taken seriously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to spend time with people who are important to them. This promotes positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are kept safe. Staff know children well and they follow detailed guidance to manage risks. Staff use consistent boundaries, which is helping children to self- regulate their feelings and manage their emotions and behaviours. As a result, children’s well-being is improving. Inspection report for children's home: 2679810 4 Staff are trained in using de-escalation techniques and they provide a nurturing response when children become angry or frustrated. This means there has been a reduction of incidents in the home. Physical intervention is used as a last resort. When used, it is proportionate and necessary. Restorative work takes place to repair relationships after incidents.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children very rarely go missing from the home. When this happens, staff respond in a well-coordinated way and children return home safely. Following their return, staff work with children to reinforce that they have people in their lives who care about them and want to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The review of monitoring systems in use at the home needs to improve. Children’s bedroom door alarms, which are activated during the night, are more intrusive than necessary. This unintentionally impinges on children’s privacy. The manager took action to address this.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new manager has registered with Ofsted. She is child- focused and speaks about children with warmth and enthusiasm. She is reflective about being a new manager and is undertaking the appropriate level 5 qualification to develop her knowledge and skills.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is supported by an experienced responsible individual. The responsible individual visits the home frequently and knows the children and staff well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. There are systems to monitor the quality of care. The systems help the manager to identify and evaluate the home’s strengths and areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager challenges partner agencies to ensure that children’s voices are heard. This shows the manager’s commitment to the children. Social workers say that the manager and staff work with them well and keep them updated about children’s care and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recruitment practice is good. Staff are vetted before looking after children. This ensures that children receive care from safe adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported. New staff receive a comprehensive induction and all staff complete a training programme to give them the skills to support children well. Staff receive monthly supervision which they say supports them to reflect on their practice, in line with the home’s values and therapeutic model of care. The manager values her staff team. This positive approach means morale is high and staff are committed to wanting the best outcomes for children. Inspection report for children's home: 2679810 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 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 child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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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)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to monitoring devices in use being reviewed to continually assess that the measures are no more intrusive than necessary. 5 April 2024

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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: 2679810 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Thrive Childcare Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 72 Oakdale Drive, Heald Green, Cheadle SK8 3SW

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Inspector

Amy Richards, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2679810 7 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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