Children's Home run by Chillington Close Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 1 Registered provider: Chillington Close Ltd 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 care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered since the home opened and is appropriately qualified.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 31 October 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children currently live in the home. They have lived in the home since it was registered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff consult with children regarding all areas of their care. Children are encouraged to be involved with care planning. Staff share the outcome of meetings and care plans with children. Staff advocate for children to ensure that their views are heard and acted on where appropriate. This approach to care planning helps children feel valued and to have a say in how they are cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are making good progress with their education. One child achieved exceptional results in their exams. The other child has not made significant progress with attending school, but they have engaged well with home education. Staff have used creative and varied approaches to support this child’s learning. For example, the child has visited museums, the zoo and other educational activities. The manager and staff continue to work effectively with schools and other agencies to find a suitable provision for the child. This approach ensures that children are learning and achieving positive education outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s achievements are celebrated and appropriately rewarded. Staff support children to engage in a variety of social and recreational activities. These activities include day trips to other cities and trips to the seaside, major UK attractions and theme parks. These experiences add positive memories to children’s life story and contribute to children’s positive well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are committed to supporting children’s health and well-being needs. Children have access to local health services when they need them. Staff and managers seek specialist help when this is required. The manager advocates and challenges professionals when there is delay to children receiving the support they require from specialist services. Children are supported to achieve good physical health through a balanced diet and regular exercise.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager ensures that the arrangements for the storage and disposal of medication are suitable. However, the manager did not record a decision she made to administer a prescribed medication earlier than the dose was required. This practice could lead to medication errors and prevent an appropriate review of children’s health. Managers are reviewing the recording of medication administration practice in the home.

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

Managers and staff take a proactive approach to supporting children who show self- injurious behaviours or disclose suicidal ideations. Children have individualised self- harm protocols and risk management plans that identify and address children’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 4 vulnerabilities effectively. If a child discloses suicidal ideation or self-injurious behaviour, staff are proactive and follow the guidelines in children’s protocols. Staff respond with sensitivity and compassion when children injure themselves. Additionally, staff and external professionals support children to develop and use positive and safe coping mechanisms when they are in crisis. As a result, incidents where children self-injure have significantly reduced.

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

The manager and staff respond well when there are concerns about a child’s safety. For example, although it is rare that children go missing from home, when children are not where they are expected to be, staff take prompt and urgent action to ensure that children are safe. They search for children and share their concerns with relevant professionals. When children are found, staff ensure that children’s emotional needs are met and that they are provided with an opportunity to speak with an independent person.

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

Managers take prompt action when there are allegations or concerns regarding staff practice. The manager works well with external professionals when children share concerns about a member of staff. Safeguarding records are comprehensive, and investigations are conducted thoroughly. This helps children to feel safe and listened to. The manager supports children and staff to restore their relationship following an investigation outcome. This reassures children when staff return to work.

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

Overall, the manager responds promptly when children make a complaint. Children are consulted and updated during the investigations and are provided with written outcomes of the actions taken by the manager. However, there was one occasion where the manager investigated a complaint from a child but did not take effective action to explore the injuries the child alleged they sustained during an incident with their peer. The manager shared the information with the child’s social worker but did not take action to ensure that the child was safe. The manager took prompt actions during the inspection to ensure that the child was safe and the home’s child protection policy was followed.

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good

The shortfalls identified in relation to the manager not recording her decision to administer prescribed medication early and not thoroughly exploring when a child alleged that they sustained injuries in the home are shortfalls in the leadership and management oversight of the home.

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good

The safe recruitment of staff requires improvement. The manager did not explore gaps in employment for one member of staff. This may leave children being cared for by adults who could pose a risk to them.

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good

Managers and the responsible individual have a shared commitment to improving practice in the home and achieving positive outcomes for children. In other areas, the management’s monitoring and oversight are good. For example, there is a comprehensive system to support the manager’s oversight of the home. This system Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 5 is implemented and aids the manager’s detailed knowledge of children’s needs and progress. In addition, the manager reviews and evaluates safeguarding incidents.

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good

Children are supported by a highly motivated staff team that is aspirational about children’s progress. Staff said they feel supported by the management team and that the home is a positive place to work in.

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good

Professionals are extremely positive about the quality of care provided to children. Professionals report excellent communication with staff and managers. One professional described the manager as a ‘relentless advocate’ for children. The manager is a reflective practitioner who always reviews practice to ensure that children’s individual needs are met.

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good

Staff receive monthly supervision sessions that are child-centred and consider staff’s well-being and development. Staff and managers use team meetings to reflect on their practice and the quality of care provided to children. Staff also have access to training and advice from a psychologist. This helps staff to develop skills and strategies to respond to children’s individual needs.

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good

All staff have completed mandatory training and additional training suitable to the children’s needs. Most staff have the appropriate qualification for the role except for one member of staff who is out of timescale due to circumstances beyond their control. Managers have taken appropriate action to ensure that the qualification is completed without further delay. Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 6

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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

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to managers and staff taking prompt and effective actions to investigate and support a child when they allege that they have sustained injuries. 30 June 2024

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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; and

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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. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that there is a clear record of any decisions made in relation to safeguarding issues or children’s welfare. 30 June 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 7 The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and to no other child. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager ensuring that any medicine prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed. Any decisions to administer medication earlier than prescribed should be done after seeking medical advice and managers must ensure that decisions are recorded. 30 June 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. This specifically relates to the registered person ensuring that gaps in employment are appropriately explored. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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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: 2718786 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Chillington Close Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Heritage Park, Hayes Way, Cannock WS11 7LT

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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2718786 9 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 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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