Children's home run by Cedar House (Kent) Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 1 Registered provider: Cedar House (Kent) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It registered in August 2023 and became operational in November 2023. The home provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for by experienced staff who have childcare or transferrable experience within the care sector. Staff know the individual needs of children well. They have built good relationships with the first child that moved into the home. For the child who has recently moved into the home, their relationships with staff are emerging. Staff understand the vulnerabilities of each child and work effectively to keep them safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a good choice of activities. These activities are reflected in weekly planners and include offers of activities that children like to take part in. Staff have supported a child to remain engaged in their hobbies, such as boxing, going to a gym and kickboxing. Furthermore, a regular activity has been sought for the other child in the home. These opportunities provide a positive outlet for each child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are listened to, and their views are valued by staff. Children’s meetings are offered weekly, and their views are captured in these meetings and through regular key-work sessions. However, the appearance of the home does not fully reflect a nurturing and homely environment. For example, children’s bedrooms are not decorated in accordance with their needs, interests or preferences. One child’s bedroom was messy, which could have negatively impacted on the overall health and safety of the home. Furthermore, sufficient attention has not been given to the outside space of the home due to the sight of broken furniture and garden waste. This is not conducive to a nurturing and homely environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Generally, children engage well in education and do make some progress. One child is in full-time education and is well supported by staff. However, relationships with education professionals could be further enhanced. Specifically, in relation to the children’s well-being, for instance by communicating more proactively about the child’s dietary requirements. One child does not attend school, and although they receive support from a tutor, they do not currently have a more permanent school provision. Leaders and managers are yet to fully advocate for or address the challenges of ensuring this child has a permanent solution to their access to education. Consequently, this child is yet to meet their educational potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is promoted well. They are supported by staff to attend health appointments and to make healthy choices. This has helped children to make great progress in improving and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote positive behaviour well. Children can earn privileges relating to specific outings and also work towards other incentives. This encourages children to behave well and helps to establish routines and clear boundaries for them. Children respond well to this and take responsibility for their actions. This helps them to feel valued. Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 3

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

Staff build on the initial relationships that they form with children. This helps to build reassurance and trust. Consequently, children feel safe, and the frequency of physical restraints has reduced significantly. This is also due to how well positive behaviour is promoted for children.

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

Staff understand children’s risks well. Risk management plans are used to inform staff practice. Risk assessments are dynamic, regularly reviewed and updated and are individual to each child. This ensures that staff work with the most up-to-date information and that they know how to respond when children need further support.

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

Since the home became operational, there has been one incident where a child went missing from the home. Staff took appropriate and immediate action and responded in accordance with the child’s individual plans. The child was supported well by staff, and records demonstrate the reflective work that was carried out. As a result, there have been no further incidents where children have gone missing from the home.

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

The processes in place for children moving into the home are positive. Careful consideration is given to the information received about new children, and leaders and managers share this with staff. The information received is used to consider the individual needs of children already living in the home, the staff’s skills and knowledge and to assess whether the home could successfully meet the needs of all children in accordance with their plans. This diligent focus has enabled children to move into the home in positive circumstances and helped them to experience stability.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left the home soon after the home was registered. However, the new manager has been in post since the home first became operational and has submitted their application to register. The manager is enthusiastic about making a positive difference for the children living in the home. She knows the strengths and weaknesses of the home well. The manager’s main objective is to focus on training the staff team and to fully support them through inductions. The intention behind this is to ensure the best outcomes for children and to maintain the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work well with most external professionals. For instance, communication between the home and children’s social workers is good, and weekly feedback is prompt. One social worker commented on the remarkable change that they have seen for one child since they moved into the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 4 Staff are positive about the support provided by the manager and senior staff. They receive appropriate training relevant to their role with children, and they fully embrace the ethos of the home. Staff have completed relevant training courses. This has enabled them to enhance their practice and better understand the needs of the children they look after. Staff have also received training in the theraputic model used in the home. This has helped staff to enrich their communication with children and set solid foundations for positive relationship building.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes are not yet fully embedded. This is because leaders and managers do not always explore gaps in employment or request sufficient references. However, one staff member has been subject to a robust risk assessment as their Disclosure and Barring Service check had been requested, but not yet received. Therefore, recruitment practices are inconsistent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed, furnished and maintained so as to protect each child from avoidable hazards to the child’s health. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children’s bedrooms are well presented and decorated in accordance with their preferences and that the outdoor space can be used safely. 8 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d)) 8 April 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 6

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Recommendation

 The registered provider should actively promote children’s access to education provision and advocate on children’s behalf when required to ensure that this is achieved. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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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: 2720159 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cedar House (Kent) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE

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Inspector

Karen Flanagan de Martinez, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2720159 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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