Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 1 Registered provider: Channels & Choices Kent LLP Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a private provider and provides care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties. At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2021

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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: 2624222 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2023 Full Good 22/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive personalised care that meets their specific needs. They make good progress because of the help and support of the staff. The staff have regular planned conversations with the children in which they explore current and relevant issues. Children have good relationships with the staff and know that they can go to them with any concerns they might have.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in all areas of their life. For example, the children sit at the table and eat together. They are attentive to what each other is saying about their day and give encouragement and advice. This is encouraging to see, and makes mealtimes feel more like a family experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to attend health appointments, and address their health needs well. Staff support the children with their anxiety when they visit professionals such as the dentist. Staff help the children to recognise the benefits, and make use, of the therapy available.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education. They work with a range of professionals to ensure that the children receive good-quality educational support. Flexible programmes are in place for some children who are unable to manage a whole school day. Staff facilitate educational activities which supplement any tuition provided. Because of this, children understand the value that staff put on their learning and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff consult children in all decisions that affect them. Planned conversations and daily discussions at the table encourage the children to be active participants in such decisions. Consequently staff know the children’s views and help them to express their wishes and feelings. Staff have debriefs with children following any incidents and the children are encouraged to be aware of their individual risk assessments. This supports the inclusive culture of this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the children have lives, activities and interests outside of the home that help them to develop as individuals. For example the children enjoy gymnastics, football, and music lessons. The wider organisation’s Sunday activity programme is well received by the children. As well as fun activities this provides an opportunity for children to build relationships outside of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff manage moves into the home well. They involve all the children in this process. The use of the ‘stepping stones’ programme ensures children’s readiness for moving on to foster families before this happens. The children have targets and rewards to work towards. They do not move on until they are ready, any moves happen at their pace. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 4 Staff ensure that children have time with their family regardless of the distance. This is well managed by staff. One social worker said that they were impressed with the staff commitment to ensuring a child have time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff build and maintain good relationships between people in the children’s networks. They provide daily reports to social workers to keep them informed. Social workers find this especially useful as it allows them to identify any developing themes.

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

Staff understand the risks that children are subject to. They work with a range of professionals to ensure that the children are safe. Children’s individual risk assessments clear and good control measures are in place to reduce risks. Staff review these risk assessments regularly to ensure they remain current. Staff encourage the children as appropriate, to give their views on their risk assessments. Sensors on each child’s bedroom door are in place as a safeguarding measure. Clear risk assessments are in place for their use and they are activated for no longer than required. One child is working towards no longer having this on their door.

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

Children rarely go missing from home. On the one occasion a child went missing from the home staff managed this well. Staff worked with the child and their social worker to try to understand why the child decided to leave the house without permission. Planned conversations with the child have helped them to express their feelings about this incident.

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

Each child has a clear positive behaviour support plan. Consequently staff know how to manage behaviours that challenge and how best to meet children’s needs. Staff maintain clear and consistent boundaries. They are firm while also being warm and understanding. As a result, children have good relationships with staff. Reflective conversations after incidents are thorough and effective. This means that children are clear on expectations for behaviour.

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

Good safeguarding arrangements are in place. Staff understand the processes for the management of any safeguarding allegation. They respond well to any concerns and support the child. The staff work with a range of professionals to ensure that they respond to concerns and safeguarding incidents appropriately.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A strong and effective leadership and management team is in place. Leaders and managers ensure high standards of individualised care. They have expectations that staff and children understand. Leaders and managers are confident in what children can achieve with the support of the well-trained staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes himself available to the children, and they know that they can speak to him at any time. The positive relationships he has built with the children means he knows them well and understands the progress they have made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 5 The manager is clear about the strengths and areas of development for the home. Senior leaders work together to drive improvement. They have recruitment plans in place to develop a full complement of full-time staff to create more consistency for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers create a positive working environment. Staff say they feel well supported. A good induction process is in place to help staff build their initial skills. The manager is effective in managing staff performance issues and provides good mentoring when staff are struggling.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager maintains close working partnerships with other professionals, such as the local school. He advocates for the children and confidently challenges other services when their responses are not effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work together to ensure diversity and inclusion. They celebrate difference and meet the cultural needs of children. The team work with the children to address discriminatory or racial language used. Staff ensure that children know what kind of language is unacceptable. Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 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: 2624222 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Channels & Choices Kent LLP

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atlas Chambers, 33 West Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RE

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Inspector

Vevene Muhammad, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2624222 8 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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