Children's home run by Royal Borough of Greenwich

Inspection report for children’s home: 2728035 1 Registered provider: Royal Borough of Greenwich Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority run home offers emergency and planned short-term residential care for up to six children and young people who experience social and emotional difficulties. The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in October 2023. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced. There were three children living at the home at the time of the 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 outstanding

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2728035 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who move into the home are welcomed by a caring staff team. The staff take time to get to know each child’s likes and interests. Staff use this knowledge to provide a personalised programme of support to the children. This helps children to settle into their new home quickly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Currently, some children are not participating in education. Staff persist in their efforts to identify activities that will assist children in returning to formal education. Staff also work closely with education providers to support children to engage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop healthy emotional well-being. The local authority’s clinical team provides support through therapy. The team also provides training and coaching for staff regarding their approach to working with children. The registered manager has good links with the child and adolescent mental health services. As a result, children are learning to express their emotions in safer ways. They are also more able to explore sensitive issues, such as their experiences of trauma. This means that children are able to receive the help they need to support their journey of recovery.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use their skills to build trusting relationships with children. Staff care about the children and invest their time in getting to know them and promoting their welfare. Consequently, children have good relationships with staff.

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

Children live in a safe environment. Risk management plans identify children’s associated risks and set out clear strategies for staff to follow. Plans are kept under constant review by leaders, managers and staff to ensure that there is an effective response to children at risk of harm.

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

Restraint is only used as a last resort to safeguard children. The use of physical intervention is proportionate and recorded appropriately, and statutory procedures are consistently followed. Positive behaviour is encouraged through effective reward and praise. The trusting relationships that staff build with children are a key protective factor for them.

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

Children who go missing from home are supported by a staff team that understands how to respond. Staff will continue to look for children until they are located, whether that be during the day or at night. When children return, they are welcomed home, and cared for by the staff. This helps children to feel safe and valued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2728035 3 Children’s positive behaviour is rewarded. Incentives are available to encourage children to maintain positive behaviour. When children do become upset, staff use their knowledge of the child to help them to become calm. Staff consistently adopt this approach, which is effective and helps children learn how to manage their emotions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers speak with passion about children and demonstrate a genuine commitment to meeting their needs. The responsible individual is inspirational, forward-thinking and innovative. Her vision is to continue providing children with individualised care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak highly of the registered manager. They say that he is supportive and knowledgeable. The manager creates a warm and open culture in the home. As a result, staff enjoy the work that they do, and morale is high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from regular and reflective supervision. Team meetings provide staff with additional opportunities to reflect on their practice. They receive bespoke training from an in-house clinical therapist about topics that are relevant to the children’s needs and risks. Additional consultations with the clinical therapy team provide staff with the opportunity to reflect on individual children and strategies to support them more effectively. The registered manager and staff team consistently strive to learn and develop their practice. This ensures that children are provided with consistently high levels of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers work exceptionally well with partner agencies, such as children’s social workers, independent reviewing officers and schools. This multi- agency working ensures that there is a holistic approach to meeting the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager was not in attendance at the inspection. However, this did not affect the inspection or the running of the home. The systems and practice in the home are fully embedded, understood and executed effectively by the staff team.

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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: 2728035 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Royal Borough of Greenwich

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ

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Inspector

Maud Pipim-Addo, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2728035 5 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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