Children's home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Ashford

Inspection report for children’s home: SC037327 1 SC037327 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for up to eight children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is run by a registered charity.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2023.

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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 children’s home: SC037327 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/03/2023 Full Good 11/05/2021 Full Outstanding 24/09/2019 Full Outstanding 09/10/2018 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC037327 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy warm and nurturing relationships with a consistent team of adults who care for them. Children make progress because they feel safe and are central to the adults’ planning. Staff write child-friendly plans and records for children to help them to understand their experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work closely with education and therapy staff. Consequently, children experience consistent support. When issues arise, staff liaise well with partners to ensure the best possible outcomes for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend education in the provider’s on-site school or in local schools and colleges. Staff understand the factors that may be a barrier to children attending education and work well with education professionals and social workers to increase children’s engagement. Children also enjoy a wide range of socially and emotionally stimulating activities and spend time with their friends in the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. They learn to make healthy meals and snacks and enjoy home-cooked meals. Children are active and enjoy going on bike rides, using scooters and playing in the garden. Children’s physical and emotional health needs are well met. Staff help children to attend health appointments and reduce children’s anxieties about these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who live significant distances from their families are well supported to maintain their relationships with the people who are important to them. Staff support children to celebrate the cultural differences of being from different parts of the United Kingdom.

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

Children are confident in their home and with the staff who care for them. Staff know each child’s vulnerabilities and do all that they can to keep them safe. Safeguarding and child protection concerns are responded to swiftly. Processes for reporting concerns to partner agencies are strong.

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

Strong analysis of any incidents and close working with the therapy team help staff to consider how to reduce risks. Staff know that all behaviour is a form of communication and respond consistently when children are distressed. This allows children to learn what is expected of them. Staff carefully consider the use of physical interventions and rely on their relationships with children to avoid these whenever possible.

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

Children do not feel that bullying is a concern. Issues within friendships and relationships are managed through a restorative approach, and children learn how others may feel. This leads to a more considerate and settled home environment. Inspection report children’s home: SC037327 4 Staff support children sensitively when using the internet and online tools. They put suitable checks and blocks in place when needed, while recognising the need for children to learn to use the internet safely.

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

Children are protected from avoidable risks through regular checks of the fire systems and other health and safety processes. The home has recently been refurbished and has a warm and homely feel.

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

Staff recruitment practice in the main is strong. However, a risk assessment for one member of staff, whose checks have not all been completed, is not strong enough. This was acknowledged and reviewed by leaders and managers during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is highly aspirational for all children at the home. She leads by example and staff are adapting their practice in line with her therapeutic and child-focused approach to care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported by the manager and senior leaders. They have reflective spaces in supervision and team meetings, which particularly helps to inform the practice of the newer staff. The more experienced staff recognise that they are a relatively new team and are committed to continued development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Training is extensive and covers a wide range of topics to help staff to support children physically and emotionally. Staff are confident in their skills and practice and know that they can refresh their training at any time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s progress is monitored effectively through regular reviews of plans and targets. Social workers are positive about the progress that children make and the approach that staff use to support them. The use of child-centred language in all plans and records means that staff think carefully about what they write and make sure that it is the most helpful account for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager makes good use of internal and external monitoring systems to continually develop the service. An upcoming change in independent visitor is being welcomed as an opportunity for fresh critical evaluation of the service provided. The home’s development plan shows the manager’s aspirations and commitment to keeping children at the centre of any changes. Inspection report children’s home: SC037327 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may permit an individual to start work at the home despite the fact that the requirement in paragraph (3)(d) has not been met if—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person has taken all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters in Schedule 2 in respect of the individual, but the enquiries in relation to any of the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2 are incomplete;

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information in respect of the individual has been obtained in relation to the matters in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 2;

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Requirement Due date

the registered person considers that the circumstances are exceptional; and

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Requirement Due date

the registered person ensures that the individual is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties, pending receipt of any outstanding information on the matters in paragraphs 3 to 6 of Schedule 2, which is then considered satisfactory by the registered person.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must take reasonable steps to ensure that any individual who is working at the home and who does not fall within paragraph (2)(a) and (b) is appropriately supervised while carrying out the individual’s duties. (Regulation 32 (7)(a)(b)(c)(d) (8)) 17 May 2024

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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) Inspection report children’s home: SC037327 6 Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Inspection report children’s home: SC037327 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC037327 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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