Children's Home run by Leicester City Council in Leicester

Inspection report for children’s home: SC039025 1 SC039025 Registered provider: Leicester City Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a local authority. The home provides care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2016 and is suitably 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 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: SC039025 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2023 Full Good 31/08/2021 Full Outstanding 23/09/2019 Full Good 27/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC039025 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points. One parent said their child’s progress was due to the relationships they have with staff. When another child moved into the home, they were extremely isolated, spending their time alone in their room. Staff have supported the child with social anxieties so that they could enjoy a trip out together. A staff member recorded this significant event as a script for a play, which appealed to the child’s love of theatre. This excellent recording of memories shows the child how staff value them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to access education. One tutor said staff know the barriers children face and how to motivate them. One child faces significant barriers to accessing education after not attending for some years. Staff have persistently explored alternative education providers. The child has started to attend an education project that fits with his interests and talents. Another child has successfully completed exams after a period when their education was disrupted. Children are given incentives to encourage their learning. Staff celebrate children’s achievements. Children’s opportunities and aspirations are broadened.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff develop a deep understanding of the children’s previous experiences. Staff work closely with child and adolescent mental health services to develop individualised approaches to helping children. Staff used visual aids to help one child establish a personal care routine and to create an incentive chart. The child no longer needs visual aids to help them. Children make progress with how they communicate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped by staff to try new experiences. Some children enjoyed a holiday with staff, trying new sports such as kayaking. Staff helped a child with social anxieties to attend a rewards ceremony. Staff and children work together in arranging special activities in the home. Children enjoy music evenings with an arts project, a formal Valentine’s Day meal and sports events. Staff’s creativity in organising activities for them to spend time with children further strengthens their relationships as they have fun together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to follow their chosen faith. One staff member said it has become part of the staff team’s established approach and is not reliant on staff who share the same religion to support children’s religion and cultural heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to see their families. They spend time with children to help them explore difficult feelings about family relationships. One parent said the time they share with their child has improved since their child lived in the home. Their child experiences more consistency. Staff help children to spend time with friends. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039025 4

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

Staff collaborate well with professionals and share information about the safety and well-being of children in a timely way. For one child, the frequency of them going missing from home has significantly reduced. Managers are aware of changes that led to recent missing-from-home episodes. The child received a compassionate response when they returned. The staff member used the opportunity well to help the child explore their worries and feelings.

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

When there are worries about a child’s safety because they spend time away from the home, managers and staff work with social workers to address this. Staff review risk assessments when circumstances change.

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

Staff have not used physical intervention since the last inspection. Staff focus on keeping children safe by developing trusting relationships with them. One parent said that their child struggles to regulate their emotions. However, because of their relationships with staff, they can calm their child down and help them deal with things in a better way than before. One school staff member said that children have trusted adults within the home who they can talk to about any worries .

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

Children know how to complain. When a child has made a complaint, managers follow a clear process of investigation. The process and rationale for the conclusion are well recorded. The child is informed of the outcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is passionate about supporting children through nurture and emotionally intelligent care. One staff member said about the manager, ‘She will get excited for the happy moments for children; it motivates us to be like that.’ The manager and assistant managers share the same vision. They work well together as a cohesive management team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers lead a motivated team that speaks highly of the professional and personal support they receive from their managers. Staff say they are empowered by their managers and appreciate the professional development opportunities. Staff draw on their own talents. One staff member has used their creative writing experience to encourage a child to express their feelings through writing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Retention of staff is good. One staff member said, ‘It is the best job I have had without a doubt.’ The manager uses the induction process for new staff to promote consistency among the staff team. As part of their induction, new staff complete a workbook over an extended period of time. A new staff member said they value this support, which helps to consolidate their learning from training. Staff say the handovers and communication are robust among the team. Children experience consistency in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039025 5 Professionals report good multi-agency working. A tutor said they were able to develop an effective working relationship with a child due to the persistence and support of staff. One social work team manager said they wanted children to be placed in this home because they understand trauma and don’t give up on children. The manager draws on professional relationships to provide opportunities for staff to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

apply theory to individualise their approaches with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are involved and consulted in several creative ways. Staff have reviewed and increased the appeal of children’s meetings. Staff combined the meeting with an opportunity to try food from another cultural cuisine. Children and staff collaborate to put a newsletter together. It covers the arrival of children and new staff and celebrates the children’s achievements. Children contributed to the home’s anti- bullying policy.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager does not consult with children and professionals when completing the review of the quality of care. A recommendation made at the previous inspection is therefore restated.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff provide continued support when children leave their care and become adults. The manager has developed partnerships with a charity and a local school to provide food parcels for adults who have left care and have families. Children help prepare the food parcels. This excellent initiative shows children living in the home that the care and commitment to them are enduring. It also gives children the experience of being part of the community by giving back to others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have plans to uplift the home environment to reduce institutional aspects of the home. A requirement was set at the last inspection for fencing to be removed from the games area as it was not in keeping with a family home. Managers consulted with children who said they liked the fence and wanted it to stay. This requirement is therefore met. Inspection report for children’s home: SC039025 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that they consult with children and professionals when completing the review of the quality of care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 15.2)

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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: SC039025 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ

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Inspector

Helen Gronhaug, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC039025 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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