Children's Home run by South West Childcare Services in Plymouth

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277304 1 Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a national provider of children’s homes. The home is registered to provide care for two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager, resigned from their post in September 2023. The new manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection.

p.1

Inspection date: 14 March 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 14 March 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 1277304 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Leaders, managers, and staff work effectively with the local authority and other professionals to help children move positively to their next home. If appropriate, staff keep in touch with children when they leave. Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and two new children have been welcomed sensitively to the home. Both children are being supported to learn and attain high attendance at their schools, based on their individual timetables. Staff have built effective relationships with the schools. Staff advocated for one child, who voiced a desire to change schools, to successfully move to the school of their choice. If a child is excluded from school, staff support educational activity throughout the day until the child can return.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The home is fully staffed by a dependable staff team, and agency staff have not been used. This ensures that children receive consistency of care from adults they know well. Supervision and appraisal arrangements for staff are robust and additional staff training is arranged to meet the specific needs of the children.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff feel valued and are passionate about doing their very best for the children in their care and helping them to experience positive outcomes. They spoke with genuine pride about how well the children have settled into their new home. Staff have quickly formed good and trusting relationships with the children and children have staff they can share their worries and fears with. Staff conveyed the trust they have in the manager, and how they are encouraged to progress and develop their skills.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Staff promote children’s welfare and help them to feel protected and keep themselves safe. Staff impart clear boundaries so that children are aware of what is acceptable, and they support children to manage their feelings and behaviours safely. When children go missing from home staff follow a strict protocol and effectively work with external agencies to help children return home safely. The children currently living in the home get on well together and help support one another. Neither child has been involved in any serious adverse incident, they have not gone missing from the home and physical restraint has not been used.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Action has been taken by staff to meet the requirements made at the last inspection. No recommendations or requirements have been made during this inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277304 3

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/08/2022 Full Good 21/12/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 21/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277304 4

p.3

Children’s home details

Registered provider: South West Childcare Services

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Maybrook House, Second Floor, Queensway, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 4AH

p.4

Inspector

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1277304 5 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.

p.4

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.5

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.5

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.5