Children's Home run by Guiding Light Care Limited in North Northamptonshire

Inspection report children's home: 2746282 1 Registered provider: GUIDING LIGHT CARE LTD

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

There was one child living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children's home

The registered manager position has been vacant since 26 February 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: n/a

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2746282 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2746282 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child enjoys living at this home and the child and staff have strong relationships. Staff speak positively about the child and progress she has made. The child said, ‘I like living at [house name]. I feel safe living here it is very homely. The staff are good and helpful. We do lots of fun activities. I am very happy here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in full-time education. Her attendance at school is good. Staff support her with homework and encourage her to enjoy learning and achieving well. There is good partnership work between the care and school staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the acting manager promote a healthy lifestyle for children. The child in placement is registered with local doctors, dentists and opticians. Staff promote healthy eating and activities that involve exercise. This includes swimming, gym, walks and horse riding.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that they have regular one to one session with the child. These address a wide range of topics that are specifically relevant to the child. The child can also express her wishes and feelings in children’s meetings. The responsible individual also has regular time with the child to gain her views about living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is very good and covers all areas of the child’s life. However, it could be presented more clearly. The manager is aware of this and has created a clearer template. A child-friendly version of the plan is also being introduced. This is to ensure that the child’s views contribute to their plan.

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

Staff understand risks to children. Risks are identified and the level of risk is rated. There is guidance to staff on how to recognise behaviours early. Preventative measures are identified. However, the document used does not separate historic and current risks. The manager has devised a new way of presenting the information. This identifies the current impact of the risk on the child.

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

The child is comfortable spending time with staff. She can identify adults she trusts and can talk to. Staff spend time helping the child understand how certain behaviours affect her and others. As a result, the child feels safe and well cared for.

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

The child is being helped with her wellbeing. A referral for specialist support has been made. The child is accessing equine assisted therapy. This has been specifically sourced owing to her love of horses.

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

The child has occasionally left the home without permission. Clear procedures are in place for when this happens. Staff have been persistent in following the child and Inspection report children's home: 2746282 4 actively encouraging her to return to the home. This has meant that the child has very rarely been missing. This ensures that the child is not affected by the known risks of children being missing from the home.

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

Staff respond well to the child’s unwanted behaviours. They know the child well. Behaviour is understood and managed without the need for physical intervention.

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

The manager ensures that safe recruitment procedures are used for all new employees.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager of the home was promoted to the position of responsible individual. A new manager was recruited and took up her position and quickly settled. The manager understands the importance of becoming registered with Ofsted and this is a priority for her. Staff speak highly of the manager and the support they receive. They also praise the support of the responsible individual and other senior leaders. One member of staff said, ‘I like it here. I have had good support from managers. [manager] is fantastic.’ Despite some changes to the management of the home, oversight and support to children and staff has remained consistent and of good quality.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is creative and ambitious for the home. She is aware of the strengths of the team and areas that still need developing. Changes to recording systems have been made. Additional training has been sourced for staff to learn better ways to record information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels extremely well supported by the responsible individual and directors. She receives regular supervision and support is available at any time. The responsible individual visits the home daily. As a result, the manager feels valued and happy in her role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive a thorough induction programme. This includes comprehensive training. Therefore, staff feel they are welcomed to the home and prepared well for their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that staff receive regular one-to-one supervision sessions. These are constructive and are well received. Staff feel they learn from the manager and can raise any concerns. Monthly team meetings also provide opportunities for staff to discuss practice and develop as a team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the home well. This includes daily observation of practice and clear role modelling. A range of quality assurance tools are used. However, these are currently not fully co-ordinated. The manager has clear plans for use of templates on the new recording system. This links together the various monitoring and audit methods. Inspection report children's home: 2746282 5

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Recommendations

 Children should be encouraged by staff to see the home's records as 'living documents' supporting them to view and contribute to the record in a way that reflects their voice on a regular basis. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 58, paragraph 11.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home's policies on record-keeping, and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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 children's home: 2746282 6

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Children's home details

Registered provider: GUIDING LIGHT CARE LTD

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 12 Willow Road, Bedford, MK42 0QU

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: 2746282 7 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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