Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 1 SC466284 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This privately owned home cares for up to seven children who may have social and emotional needs. The home comprises of two separate buildings on the same site. At the time of the inspection, renovation work was being undertaken on the smaller building and no children were living in it. There were four children living within the main home.

p.1

Information about this children's home

An acting manager has been in post since March 2024 and is not yet registered.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children's home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2023

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2023 Full Outstanding 28/09/2022 Full Outstanding 04/10/2021 Full Outstanding 16/09/2019 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living at this home receive an exceptionally good standard of care. Staff provide children with care that creates positive memories and experiences. The acting manager and deputy manager inspire a nurturing team of staff, who keep children at the centre of everything they do. Staff provide care which is tailored to children’s individual needs. Children form trusted relationships with staff and benefit from high quality care and support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children to explore their wishes and feelings. Children’s meetings are held regularly. They include planning activities and meals and discussing topics of interest. The manager replies to children’s requests and shows interest in the discussions they hold. This is presented in a comic style making it interactive and more interesting for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide excellent support to progress children’s education. Staff engage in meetings with schools and other external professionals to ensure children get the support they need to help them make excellent progress. A member of school staff said, ‘The team are fantastic and really involved in taking an active role in his education.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise the value of continued family relationships. Children are well supported when spending time with their family. One parent said that staff plan family time well and consider the needs of siblings too. Another family member said, ‘he has come a long way since he has been there, and I am very impressed.’ However, one child is struggling to understand their childhood experiences so far. Although staff have requested the local authority undertake this work, this has not yet started.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment is child friendly, with photos on display throughout of children enjoying activities. The home is warm and welcoming, and children’s bedrooms are personalised. Children have requested an area be developed in the garden to grow their own plants and flowers. This is planned for the upcoming months and demonstrates that children’s views are listened to and acted upon.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff sensitively support children with their health and well-being. Staff seek specialist help when necessary and undertake research to meet the specific needs of the children they care for.

p.3

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

Staff have a detailed understanding of each child and how to provide the right support considering their individual needs. Staff know the children extremely well. Safety plans are detailed and provide information about children’s experiences and identify how staff can best support them. Staff encourage children to reflect on their actions and help them understand the impact of their behaviours on others. Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 4 Staff manage significant incidents very well. Staff use distraction techniques and emotional reassurance to support children who are struggling to manage their feelings and emotions. Physical intervention to manage children’s behaviour is only used as a last resort. Incident reports are very detailed and help understand what happened for all involved. However, not all significant incidents are reported to Ofsted. This restricts Ofsted’s ability to evaluate how well children are safeguarded in the home.

p.3

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

Children do not go missing. Safety plans do consider this, which ensures staff know what action to take if children do go missing. There have been no complaints made by children. If children make allegations, the manager takes prompt and appropriate action. Investigations are carried out thoroughly. External professionals are informed by the manager and staff, and plans are put in place to ensure that children are helped to feel safe and listened to.

p.4

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

Staff receive a range of training, including extended training in relation to the home’s preferred model of practice. This is supported by the in-house psychotherapist who meets with staff every two weeks to identify ways to further provide support for children. One member of staff said, ‘I receive the support and guidance I need to deliver a positive and nurturing figure to the children.’ However, one member of staff has not yet completed the necessary qualification within the required timescales.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager of the home is new in post but was already part of the well-established team. Staff say the management team work together effectively and that this helped children and staff prepare for the change in management. One member of staff said how the team dynamics are ‘really good’ and that everyone plays to their strengths.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The monitoring of the home is comprehensive. The manager and deputy manager have a system in place to continually evaluate the care and support given to children. Staff develop and improve their skills in caring for children because of the constant re- evaluation processes. The manager and staff are completely invested in children meeting their full potential and speak proudly of their achievements. One member of staff said, ‘I am proud to be a part of this team and to be able to work with fantastic children who thrive every day.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and staff communicate well with social workers and other external professionals. The manager involves external professionals in children’s care to ensure children’s needs are met. One social worker said, ‘Communication is fantastic,’ with a reviewing officer adding that, ‘reports are really comprehensive.’ This enables consistency of care for children and reinforces their feelings of safety and security.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy working at the home and are positive about the support they receive from the manager, deputy manager and each other. High-quality professional supervision for staff enables them to reflect on their practice regularly. One member of staff commented how the team show ‘incredible dedication’ and that there is a ‘supportive atmosphere.’ Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 5

p.4

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, 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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e)) 21 June 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare (England) (“the Level 3 Diploma”); or

p.5

Requirement Due date

a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

p.5

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or

p.5

Requirement Due date

in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016. (Regulation 32 (4)(a)(b) (5)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all staff are registered on the diploma and complete this within the set timescales. 21 June 2024 Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The importance of understanding who we are and where we come from is recognised in good social work practice, for example through undertaking life story work or other direct work. Staff in children's homes should play a full role in work of this kind. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,' page 16, paragraph 3.14)

p.6

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 for children's home: SC466284 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

p.7

Children's home details

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

p.7

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Barnett

p.7

Inspector

Kathryn Hurley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC466284 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