Children's Home run by 4d Care Ltd in Cambridgeshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC064557 1 SC064557 Registered provider: 4d Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home is registered to provide education, and residential care for up to six children who may have experienced neglect, abuse or trauma that has left them vulnerable.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in November 2009.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector only inspected the social care provision on this site.

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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: 13 February 2023

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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: SC064557 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/02/2023 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good 03/03/2020 Full Outstanding 25/02/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC064557 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of inspection, four children were living at the home. One child moved out as the staff could no longer meet their complex needs. Another child moved out in a planned way.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are welcoming and friendly. They know the children well and clearly care about them. Staff work shift patterns that enable them to spend more time with children. This allows them to provide consistency and helps them to build positive relationships with children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a school on site. It is situated at the back of a large garden. Three of the children attend the school. The teachers tailor timetables individually for each child. This allows children to attain in education where ordinarily they might not. The staff from the home help and support at the school when needed. Children have educational opportunities that they enjoy and this helps to keep them engaged. For example, they are building a chicken coop for some chickens so they can start to have their own produce.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support family time. They understand the importance of this for the children. They arrange family time for children. For one child, they stay in a local hotel, so that they are able to offer support if needed. The child’s mother spoke positively of this support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are offered a range of activities and experiences that they enjoy. The home has a tradition of taking part in a sporting event in Scotland, this involves cycling, canoeing and hiking through the highlands. The last one was held in 2022 and the next one is in September 2024. Children spoke very fondly of this trip and are looking forward to it again. Creating opportunities like this helps children to build their confidence and self-esteem.

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

Childrens plans are up to date and contain relevant information that helps the staff to support them and reduce risk.

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

Children have experienced trauma and neglect and this can be seen in their behaviour at times. The staff look beyond this behaviour and try to understand what is happening for children. They have support from a clinical psychologist who offers consultations to the staff team.

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

There have been some episodes where children have been missing from the home. On occasion, these have been for more than 24 hours. Staff are proactive in searching for children and finding ways to locate them. They keep in touch with children’s families and the police. The records are thorough and detail each event Inspection report for children’s home: SC064557 4 and the actions taken. This helps to review these episodes and create future safeguards.

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

There has been a recent fire risk assessment with some actions identified. However, leaders and managers have not yet acted on these recommendations. This does not ensure that health and safety standards are maintained.

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

There are times when children have been physically restrained. The records of these have improved. However, on one occasion it is not clear if a physical intervention took place. The home’s policy does not clearly identify the strategies staff use or how these should be recorded. The policy does not ensure that staff have enough clear direction in this area.

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

There have been some allegations about the staff. On occasion, there have been delays in reporting these to the manager. The manager has dealt with these appropriately and children have not been harmed. Staff have had recent training and the children’s plans now have clear directions for reporting allegations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by an experienced manager who has been in post for 13 years. He is very dedicated to the role and providing the best care for children. He works well alongside his deputy manager. Together they make a good management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Care for each child is individual. The placement plans have been developed by the managers. These include a system of assessing each child and setting realistic targets for them. The plans are regularly updated and this helps the staff to provide individualised care for each child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff gave positive feedback about the management team. They said supervision sessions are helpful and the manager is always available to listen. The staff said that that children really like the manager. This indicates that there is a consistent and fair culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager work very well with professionals and parents. Social workers gave very positive feedback, particularly for the deputy manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers help celebrate events for children such as Christmas and fireworks night. They hold an achievements ceremony each year for children and staff. The local community and children’s families are invited to the join in the celebrations. These events create special memories for children and help them to feel part of something.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have high aspirations for the children. They provide life enhancing opportunities. They try to help them build practical life skills and actively encourage job opportunities for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC064557 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 all of the actions identified in the fire risk assessment are reviewed and followed up without delay. 5 April 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the behaviour management policy”) which sets out—

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Requirement Due date

the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the behaviour management policy under review and, where appropriate, revise it. (Regulation 35 (1)(b) (2)) 5 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person must ensure that children are listened to and enabled to report any allegations at the earliest opportunity. Staff should report any allegation of abuse immediately to a senior manager within the home. Any allegation of harm or abuse must be addressed in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17) Inspection report for children’s home: SC064557 6

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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: SC064557 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8a New Road, Mepal, ELY, Cambridgeshire CB6 2AP

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Inspector

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC064557 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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