Children's Home run by Williams Welfare Limited in Bedford

Inspection report children's home: 2643709 1 Registered provider: Williams Welfare Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

The privately-run home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered since January 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: Following the assurance inspection on 15 February 2024, the inspector found that leaders and managers had continued to fail to meet the requirement that had been raised previously in respect of recruitment checks. Ofsted served a compliance notice on 23 February 2024 in relation to these shortfalls. The inspector found at this full inspection that the provider has met the steps set out in the compliance notice. Inspection report children's home: 2643709 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/06/2023 Full Good 24/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2643709 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child recently moved out as the home could no longer meet their changing needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move out was well planned and their needs were carefully considered. The child’s social worker said that the child had made excellent progress but it was the right decision for them to move. Staff supported the child with the move and took them to their new home. Endings are important for children and staff managed this in a caring and considered way.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are also carefully planned. The manager considers the skills and strengths of staff. This helps to inform which children move in next, ensuring that staff have the skills to meet their needs. The children’s guide has been updated to include current photos of the home and a new ‘all about me’ document has been designed to enable staff to get to know children better.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have education plans tailored to their needs. The staff work closely with education providers to ensure that any challenges that children face are managed quickly. Children are provided with incentives to attend education. One child has been supported to gain a part-time job coaching football and mentoring children. This child would like to work with children in the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate important events for children; planning and careful thought goes into this. One child was recently supported to take part in an important annual religious event. Staff had a timetable to help this child wake up early and they provided support and encouragement. This was important for the child and helped them to develop their cultural identity and sense of self.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to have advocates. One child was supported to make a complaint against their local authority. The local authority wanted the child to move onto semi- independent accommodation but the child wanted to remain at the home. Following an independent review that stated the progress the child was making; the complaint was upheld and the child can stay at the home until they are 18 years old.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in a range of activities that encourage their independence, health and well-being. One child is taking driving lessons. Children have been on holiday to Wales, they visit the gym regularly and they learn about different foods and cultures. Children have been supported to donate food to the food bank. The child living at the home has a helicopter experience booked in the Peak District. Helping children to have a range of opportunities and experiences increases their well-being and builds positive memories.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Improvements have been made in the home’s environment and it is now more homely and comfortable. The manager has further plans to decorate. The child currently living at Inspection report children's home: 2643709 4 the home has helped with lots of the decorating. This helps the child to feel invested in the home.

p.3

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

The staff are warm and friendly. They are dedicated to their roles and they know children well. Children’s plans are well written and are up to date.

p.4

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

There is a high staffing ratio that enables staff time to spend with children. There is a low turnover of staff, which enables children to build positive relationships. This consistency of staff allows predictability for children and helps them to feel comfortable. One child’s parent said, ‘He has told me he is happy; he likes the staff [at the home].’

p.4

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

There are few missing-from-home incidents but, when these do happen, they are recorded well. Staff are proactive in looking for children and regularly try to get in touch with them. Staff understand the protocols very well. The manager is proactive in asking for independent return home interviews.

p.4

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

Staff have had training in child exploitation, and this is regularly talked about. The location risk assessment has up-to-date information on gangs in the area and the manager is well informed. Good local knowledge and awareness of exploitation helps to keep children safe.

p.4

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

The staff have not needed to use any physical interventions with children since the last inspection. The manager said that this is due to the positive relationships that staff have with children. A social work team manager also noted this as positive practice saying that the staff at the home communicate very well with children and this removed the need for any physical intervention even in challenging moments.

p.4

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

Staff only use positive incentives and rewards with children. Children are offered praise and encouragement for positive behaviours. For example, one child helped to paint the kitchen and received some money towards new trainers. Smaller achievements such as being a good role model or offering good advice to a peer are also recognised. Having a system of reward and praise helps children to build their self-esteem and confidence.

p.4

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

The manager has reviewed all the recruitment files and all the required information has been recorded for each staff member. The manager has also completed further training on safer recruitment. This reduces the likelihood of unsuitable people working at the home.

p.4

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

All staff know who to report allegations to. They understand the role of the local authority designated officer. Inspection report children's home: 2643709 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a dedicated and efficient manager. She has good relationships with children and models good practice to her staff. The manager was described by a social work team manager as ‘accommodating, supportive and caring’.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has met all the requirements and recommendations raised at the assurance inspection. She has a detailed improvement plan and has already achieved many of the targets in it. The manager has helped staff to understand the social care common inspection framework and how it relates to the support that children receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is developing several new records that will help staff to support children. These include ‘keeping safe’ booklets and ‘all about me’ plans. She has created an independence booklet that helps staff to record children’s skills and knowledge as they approach adult life. These areas of development are helping staff to offer more targeted care to children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The workforce development plan shows the manager’s ambition to further upskill staff through training and support. Staff have each taken a specialism that will help the team to meet a variety of children’s needs. The manager has created some senior roles at the home, offering the opportunity for continued professional development for staff.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A high number of staff commented on the improvements that have been made since the manager started in her role. Staff feel well supported by her and all gave extremely positive feedback. One staff member said, ‘The manager has fostered an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone's input is valued. The manager’s guidance and support has been instrumental in driving positive change and a culture of continuous improvement.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager builds strong relationships with other professionals. She has received very positive feedback for this. These networks help her to access further resources for children. The manager takes part in reflective learning and wants to learn from practice to improve the experiences and care for children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report children's home: 2643709 6

p.5

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 children's home: 2643709 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: Williams Welfare Ltd

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 81 Mount Pleasant, Ruislip HA4 9HQ

p.7

Inspector

Mary Costello, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2643709 8 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.

p.7

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 . 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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8