Children's Home run by Cove Care – Residential Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 1 SC397933

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Registered provider: Cove Care Residential Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is privately owned. It provides care for two children with complex mental health and emotional and behavioural needs. The home registered in July 2009.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently on parental leave. An interim manager has been in the day-to-day charge of the home for the last two months.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Two children have continued to live in the home since the last inspection. Children are well supported by staff, with whom they have positive relationships. They are able to discuss any concerns and difficulties with staff. This enables children to feel that they are listened to and that their well-being is promoted.

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Findings from the inspection

The home environment is now a warm and welcoming one. Shortfalls identified at the last inspection have been addressed and there is new furniture and flooring in the home. This helps children feel valued.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children are making progress. At the time of the last inspection, neither child was in full-time education. One child is now attending school full time and making progress academically and socially. The other child has completed the necessary assessments to ensure that the right educational placement can be secured, and introductions are planned at a local school.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are well supported by staff to ensure that their emotional and physical health needs are met. As a result, children are able to engage in therapy and to discuss how they are feeling with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff promote family time for children, which supports their sense of identity and helps to develop these important relationships.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers understand when children are at risk and take prompt action to safeguard them. They work with children, placing social workers and children’s families effectively to ensure that children safely use social media in line with their age and development. This includes the use of child-friendly risk assessments, which means that children, as well as adults, are clear about the expectations and how these will keep them safe.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and managers now ensure that children’s risk assessments are kept up to date. The format of these is under review to make them clearer and more accessible.

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Findings from the inspection

The frequency with which children go missing from the home has decreased. Staff take appropriate action when children go missing and ensure that they return to the home as soon as possible. The registered manager has reviewed the location risk assessment, and this now includes known risks, including information from partner agencies.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and leaders take all reasonable steps to ensure that safe adults care for children. Safer recruitment processes are now in place. The interim manager manages allegations effectively and her proactive steps ensure that children are safeguarded. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 3 The interim manager has developed improved monitoring and review systems. As a result, all but one of the requirements raised at the last inspection have been met. All documents identified at the last inspection as requiring review have been updated and records are now being kept contemporaneously.

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Findings from the inspection

The interim manager listens to the independent visitor and uses their perspective as a critical friend to support the development of the care provided to children.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s up-to-date records are now held in the home, such as looked after children’s review minutes and plans and health assessments. This means that managers and staff have important information to help inform their care of children.

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Findings from the inspection

Most staff have completed the level 3 qualification or equivalent within the required timescales. A tracker supports leaders and managers in having improved oversight of this. However, one staff member has not completed their level 3 qualification within the required timescales. The requirement raised at the last inspection is therefore repeated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/06/2022 Full Good 15/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/07/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 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

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

the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform.

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Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

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Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) ("the Level 3 Diploma"); or

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Requirement Due date

qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home. (Regulation 32 (2)(a)(b) (3)(b) (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)) 28/06/2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cove Care Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 16 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, West Midlands WV1 4BL

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Inspector

Rebecca Quested, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC397933 7 regulates 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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