Children's home run by G&S caring for children and young people ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2685330 1 Registered provider: G&S Caring for Children and Young People Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to three children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a manager, who is registered with Ofsted. Since the last inspection, two children have left the home and two children have moved in. At the point of inspection, there were three children living in the home.

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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: 24 January 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: 2685330 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2685330 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. Photos of the children are proudly displayed, and soft furnishings provide a homely feel. Children love to spend time with staff. Staff replicate a nurturing family environment, where staff and children enjoy cooking and eating meals together and playing board games. Children have a strong sense of belonging and feel loved and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to achieve in education. One child is preparing to sit their GCSEs and is achieving well in mock exams. When children are unable to attend school, staff are creative in engaging children in home learning. Staff also work well with the virtual school and social workers to support children in returning to school.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met by staff. Staff teach children how to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Staff have regular and meaningful conversations with children to support their mental and emotional well-being. Children are able to talk freely to staff and confide in them. Additional support is sought from external agencies, such as mental health services and youth workers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them. Children’s views about seeing their family are taken seriously. Staff use advocacy services to ensure that children’s voices are heard. This has helped one child to see their family more often, reducing feelings of loss and supporting their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to explore and follow their chosen religion. Staff who practise the same religion share their knowledge and customs. This gives children the confidence and know-how to live out their cultural heritage and identity.

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

Staff understand the risks that children can be exposed to. Each risk is assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff support children to make more informed choices. There is a balanced approach to risk management, which helps to keep children safe while allowing them to take age-appropriate risks. This ensures an effective approach to safeguarding children.

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

Children trust staff and feel safe. Staff understand how children’s past experiences can shape how they think and behave. Staff implement firm boundaries with warmth and empathy. In dealing with behaviours that are difficult to manage, staff identify the underlying need and provide children with the relevant support. This helps children to learn while feeling understood and accepted. For one child, this has resulted in them no longer going missing from the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685330 4 Staff are safely recruited. All necessary checks are undertaken. Children are involved in the recruitment process by meeting applicants and asking them questions. New staff are robustly assessed through a probationary period, ensuring that they are competent to fulfil their role.

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

Occasionally, staff use physical restraint as a last resort to keep children and others safe. The least restrictive measure and force are used. Children and staff receive appropriate support following each incident of restraint. However, staff do not always provide sufficient details in their recordings. This remains an area for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is passionate and dedicated. She sets high expectations for staff and aspires to achieve the best outcomes for children. She is a strong leader, and staff feel well supported. There is a stable staff team that enjoys working at the home, and staff have positive relationships with each other. This provides consistency for children and a harmonious family atmosphere.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the home. There are effective monitoring and quality assurance systems in place. The manager knows what is happening in the home daily. She is proactive in improving the service and developing the team. Learning from practice, incidents and audits informs procedural improvements and staff training. This helps to maintain good standards of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. This includes opportunities for staff to reflect on their practice, and sessions cover important topics such as safeguarding.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained. They receive training in relation to children’s needs, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and gangs and county lines. The manager provides additional training through regular workshops, covering topics such as recording and the use of language as needs arise.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children know how to make a complaint. Complaints are responded to promptly, and children receive a written reply.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been one occasion where a child has alleged being harmed by staff. While this was thoroughly investigated by the home’s responsible individual, the required safeguarding protocols have not been followed, such as informing Ofsted and the local authority designated officer. This was rectified during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2685330 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40 (4)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to notifying Ofsted and the local authority designated officer when a child alleges that they have been harmed by staff. 30 April 2024

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are accurately recorded. This recommendation was made at the last inspection and is restated. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: 2685330 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: G&S Caring for Children and Young People Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Foxglove Close, East Goscote, Leicester LE7 3QS

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Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2685330 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 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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