Children's Home run by Action for Children in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 1 Registered provider: Action for Children Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide short breaks for up to seven children who have learning and physical disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since July 2023. She holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were no children receiving short breaks.

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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: 2538785 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/03/2023 Full Good 20/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager ensures that a thorough risk assessment is carried out prior to new children coming to the home. As a result, children are well matched and have positive experiences when they stay for a short break.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy coming to stay for short breaks and spending time with staff. Staff value the children. Each time a child comes to stay in the home, staff gain the most up-to-date information regarding the child’s current behaviours, as well as their likes and dislikes. This has enabled staff to tailor children’s stays to meet their needs and interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to share their views, wishes and feelings regularly. At the end of their stay, children are encouraged to complete a feedback form. This has allowed children to share what has gone well for them during their stay, also anything which they would like to be included in their next visit. Staff act on children’s views by ensuring that there is a plan to meet any requests where possible. Children have not made complaints; however, staff support them to understand how they can raise an issue.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that they support children to develop their life skills. This includes supporting children to develop their independence skills, including cooking and attending to their own personal care where possible. This prepares children to become more independent while living at their family home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There has been positive feedback given by parents and carers. One parent said: ‘They always think a step ahead on how they can support my child to meet their full potential. They are always excited to go, and it has helped develop the relationship with their brother.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of children’s health needs. There are clear risk management plans in place for children with health conditions such as epilepsy. Staff have a good understanding of signs to look out for, as well as of how to administer each child’s medication. This enables children to have safer experiences in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is arranged to meet the needs of children. Children’s bedrooms are made bespoke to them prior to stays; this includes personalised bedding, books and toys placed in the bedroom. This allows children to feel that they are at a home from home. However, there have been ongoing issues over the last few months with the extractor fans in the bathroom. This has led to growth of mould in the shower rooms used by children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 4

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

Children view the short-breaks service as a safe and happy space. There have been no incidents of children going missing from the home. There are clear risk assessments and protocols in place for children. This enables staff to have a clear understanding of what to do should any incidents occur.

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

Physical interventions are carried out safely and in line with children’s individual plans. Staff are appropriately trained and use techniques such as redirection and calm speaking effectively to manage children’s behaviour. They do this while using their positive relationships to support children.

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

Fire safety is well managed in the home. Annual checks are completed by external agencies of the fire equipment and alarms. All actions have been promptly rectified to ensure that the home environment is safe. Routine fire drills take place with staff and children in the home. Children have clear Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans in place which are understood by the staff team.

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

Staff have a good understanding of children’s risks. Behaviour management plans are clear and detailed; this supports staff to understand how to respond appropriately to any changes in children’s behaviours. As a result, there have been a low number of incidents in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is committed to her role in developing staff to provide the best care for children. She has a positive relationship with the staff team, who are consistently offered opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge. As a result, the members of the staff team are more motivated to achieve the best outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing shortages have led to the decision being made to reduce the days of service from seven to five days a week. The responsible individual has shared an action plan which shows how they aim to support families during this time to ensure that children are still being provided with additional support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been an improvement in staff supervision and appraisals. Staff receive good-quality monthly supervision sessions from the manager. Appraisals have also been completed in a timely manner to aid staff development. This has allowed staff to feel valued and supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has effective monitoring systems in place. The manager monitors the updating of children’s statutory documents, recruitment and retention and the quality of care provided by staff. As a result, the manager has been able to identify shortfalls at the earliest opportunity. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 5 Staff qualifications are mostly completed in a timely manner. However, one staff member has just fallen out of timescale following a period of absence from work. There is a plan in place for this staff member to be supported to complete their qualification. Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 6

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Recommendations

 For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) This includes ensuring that extractor fans are working effectively.  Where a registered person identifies gaps in qualifications, they should act to ensure relevant units or qualifications are completed in a timely manner at an appropriate level. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 68, paragraph 1.4)

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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: 2538785 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Action for Children

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

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Inspector

Chanel Bryant, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2538785 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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Inspector

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