Children's Home run by Purple Ash Limited in Leicester

Inspection report for children’s home: 2691652 1 Registered provider: Purple Ash Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately run and provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 2 May 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. Both children moved into the home in the last six months. Another child has left the home since the last inspection as part of a planned transition.

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

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2691652 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/08/2023 Full Inadequate 16/05/2023 Full Inadequate 17/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2691652 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, significant changes have been made by the provider and an experienced manager has been appointed. One child moved on from the home in a planned transition. Another child has experienced stability following a series of placement changes. This is an achievement.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager understands the impact of drift and delay in care planning for children. The manager has raised a formal complaint on behalf of a child, which has led to a positive outcome and resolution.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive positive and nurturing care. Despite the relatively short length of time the children have lived at the home, staff have promoted strong and stable relationships with them. A child said, ‘I give staff 9.5 out of 10. I have good relationships with staff.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are engaging in education. They are making good progress from their starting points. The manager is proactive in advocating for children when there are barriers to learning. For one child, this has led to a significant improvement in their attendance and engagement in education. Children now speak about the positives of being in education and are aspirational for their future. Staff understand the importance of education for children, and, when necessary, they ensure that that there is effective escalation with other agencies.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to take part in a variety of enjoyable activities. This supports them to develop positive relationships with staff and enhances their life skills. One child is an avid football supporter. Staff have been proactive and arranged a trip for him to attend his favourite football team’s ground. The child was delighted with this experience.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are in the process of developing the home environment. It needs some further attention to support the home to be warm and welcoming. The manager has identified this, and this work is in progress. There had been some remedial actions that staff ensured there was a prompt maintenance response to.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have daily opportunities to share their views, wishes and feelings, for example during key-work sessions and children’s meetings. Children are listened to and responded to by staff.

p.3

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

Children are supported to be safe. Staff use their knowledge and experience to recognise risk and take immediate action to reduce this. There is a strong multi-agency safeguarding response to any incidents of concern. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures. Staff know what action to take if they have any concerns about a child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691652 4 Positive and nurturing relationships, alongside clear expectations, help children to reduce behaviours that challenge. Staff know to use their skills and positive relationships to support children to de-escalate behaviours. As a result, the use of physical interventions has reduced. When the use of physical interventions has been necessary, it has been as a last resort to keep children safe. There are appropriate debriefs with children and a good level of management oversight. Key agencies are notified.

p.3

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

There is a well-coordinated approach from staff and external professionals when children go missing. Staff make every effort to locate children quickly and ensure that all relevant processes are followed. Safeguarding agencies are notified, and risk assessments are reviewed and shared with staff to try and prevent further incidents of children going missing from the home.

p.4

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

Staff recruitment is safe. Staff who are working at the home undergo appropriate vetting and are suitable to work at the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is experienced and qualified. She has introduced several systems and processes to drive improvements in the home. She has worked closely with the responsible individual to progress a clear action plan following the last inspection.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates good oversight of the home. There are management monitoring processes in place to ensure that children’s needs are well met and understood. This has been supported by the introduction of a new online recording and management monitoring system.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Stakeholder feedback is positive. A social worker said, ‘Staff have been brilliant with him. they are persistent and because of this, [name of child] feels safe and secure.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers take appropriate action to address any shortfalls in staff practice. This includes using the organisation’s performance management processes when necessary. The manager does not hesitate in taking appropriate action to manage and improve staff performance.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and deputy manager know the children well. There is a clear commitment to achieving good outcomes for children in their care. This is demonstrated through their tenacity in advocating for children. Where redress is required with partner agencies, children should be supported to access independent advocacy.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular support from the manager via supervision sessions and team meetings. The manager is in the process of implementing development plans for staff. She coaches staff and is a good role model. The provider has a clear vision to upskill and develop the workforce. Inspection report for children’s home: 2691652 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. In most cases, children’s homes are homely, domestic environments. The home must comply with relevant health and safety legislations, such as alarms and food hygiene. However, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Independent advocates can support both the child and the home to seek redress of issues which affect them, such as lack of contact with their social worker, contact with family and leaving care grants, in addition to issues about their care in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.17)

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 for children’s home: 2691652 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: West Midlands House, Gipsy Lane WV13 2HA

p.6

Inspector

Bev Allison, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2691652 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.

p.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7