Children's Home run by Anchor Care and Education Ltd in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 1 Registered provider: Anchor Care and Education Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a small provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have social and emotional needs.

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Inspection date: 19 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 March 2024

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: 2680971 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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The care of children

Since the last inspection, one child has had a planned move to another home locally, which was considered more suitable for their needs. Another child who moved into the home had a positive transition. The manager and key staff went to meet the child several times, and the child came to the home to meet the other children and to see the home and their bedroom. This allowed the child to start making connections and developing relationships, which has helped them to settle well into the home. The manager completed a comprehensive risk assessment and plan to look at the impact on other children, the home and the team before the child moved in. This meant that the team was aware of how best to support the child.

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The care of children

Children are provided with safe, nurturing and consistent care, and as a result, they have become more settled in the home and are making progress. The staff team knows and understands the children and has positive and trusting relationships with them. Staff aspire for the children and are supporting them to improve their outcomes.

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The care of children

Children have made good progress in education, and they attend local colleges where they are undertaking courses in line with their interests and future career goals. Children have good attendance, and as a result, they have started to have positive achievements, such as passing the required course assessments.

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The care of children

Children are supported to engage in activities in the home and community, and this means they have started to make friends away from the home. One child has recently been to London to watch a women’s football match, and the child plays for a local women’s football team. Another child volunteers as a steward at local football matches. This has helped with developing confidence, social skills, hobbies and interests.

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The care of children

Children are helped to stay in touch with people who are important to them and have regular time with their families. These relationships have improved with support from the team, which has been creative in maintaining and facilitating visits.

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The care of children

Children have detailed and creative plans that identify where there may be gaps in their expected childhood development and how staff can support children to make progress in these areas. The plans consider where there may be barriers and how these can be overcome through tailored support plans. This means children are being helped to develop essential life skills and more independence in their daily lives. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 3 Children are safe at the home because staff know and understand the children’s needs well. Risk assessments are clear and detailed, although for one child, this risk assessment would benefit from a review to look at current rather than historic information.

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The care of children

Incidents have been well managed and have recently been reduced. There has been one missing-from-home incident, which is a significant reduction, and children are settled in the home. The manager provides effective oversight and evaluation for all incidents and identifies where lessons can be learned to prevent further occurrences.

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The care of children

Incidents that involve the staff resorting to the use of physical intervention have all received good management oversight and evaluation. Staff and children have both had debriefs, which provide opportunities for reflection and learning and give children the chance to raise any concerns or worries they may have.

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The care of children

Complaints and concerns are rare, and the manager has investigated when concerns have been raised. However, children do not always say whether they are happy with the outcome of their complaint or whether they would like anything further to happen in response.

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The care of children

Allegations have been well managed, and the manager has consulted with external safeguarding professionals for further advice and guidance. The management team members have all completed additional safeguarding training.

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The care of children

The manager is knowledgeable and aspires for the children, the staff and the home more generally. This is reflected in the developments since the last inspection. The management oversight and evaluation have improved, and new systems have been implemented to support the manager with their quality assurance processes.

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The care of children

Staff have a detailed training schedule that includes mandatory training and specific training tailored to the needs of the children. This means staff have been supported to develop their skills and awareness of how best to help and support the children.

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The care of children

Training has been sourced from external agencies to look at contemporary issues, such as knife crime. Staff and children had the opportunity to attend this training. This has supported them to gain a better understanding of societal issues that may impact on children.

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The care of children

Staff receive regular and reflective supervision that allows them the time to reflect on their practice and support their development through training analysis. The manager has started to implement staff development plans that focus on their skills, knowledge and career aspirations. This has helped staff to have more autonomy and responsibilities, and the team members feel well supported in their roles. The staff team has remained settled and stable, and as a result, there is improved consistency in practice, which helps the children to feel safe and secure. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 4 There have been notable improvements in the home since the last inspection, and all the requirements set at the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support children to share any concerns about their care or other matters or make a complaint and provide them with an outcome that includes the child’s view of any outcome in line with the complaint’s procedure. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Anchor Care and Education Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Saxon House, Moseleys Farm Business Centre, Fornham All Saints, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP28 6JY

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2680971 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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