Children's home run by Above and Beyond Care Devon Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2764887 1 Registered provider: Above and Beyond Care Devon Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation and provides care for up to three children who may have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in January 2024. This was the home’s first inspection. This inspection was brought forward following concerns shared by the responsible individual about the management of the home and subsequent request from the registered manager to resign their registration with Ofsted. The home is currently being managed by the responsible individual and deputy manager while they recruit a new manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2764887 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good quality planning meant the child’s move into the home has been successful. The child was supported to visit the home and they were provided with pictures before their move to help them to become familiar with their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has remained at their same school. This provides consistency for the child and is important because the child has experienced many previous moves in their care arrangements. Managers and carers are working collaboratively with the child’s school to develop a greater understanding about the child’s needs and to increase their ability to communicate with the child, who cannot communicate their needs verbally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers provide care attuned to the child’s needs. They have quickly learned the nuances of the child’s non-verbal communication to respond accordingly. In the short period that the child has lived in the home, they have made progress in some areas because of the dedicated and attentive care being provided to the child. The child’s social worker recognises that the child has developed positive relationships with their carers and that their needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health needs are met well. Arrangements for managing medication in the home are safe and effective. Strong partnership working and proactive approaches support the child to participate in health reviews. For instance, it is arranged for the community dentist to visit the child at home. In addition, the managers’ knowledge about health interventions has informed referrals to specialist services, such as occupational services, to ensure care planning to support the child’s specific needs is comprehensive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has a positive structured daily routine. Despite high levels of carer supervision appropriate to the child’s needs, carers seek out opportunities to promote the child’s independence when this is safe to do so. The child is developing self-care skills, including brushing their teeth and dressing themselves. Carers speak with emotional warmth about the child and their achievements.

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

Carers are knowledgeable about how to care for the child safely. This includes safeguarding the child and promoting their dignity when personal care is provided. Managers said that they intend to review the child’s plans to ensure that they are succinct and reflect the strategies discussed by carers to keep the child safe.

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

When incidents occur, management oversight is robust. The deputy manager has in- depth discussions with carers to ensure that the child is cared for safely. In addition, Inspection report for children’s home: 2764887 3 they identify patterns and trends that directly contributes to improvements in the child’s daily routine and the quality of care delivered.

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

At times, body map records take too long to review. This delays any follow-up actions that may be required in line with child protection policies, including consultation with external agencies to agree next steps.

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

Restraint is not used by carers in response to behaviours that challenge them. They use a range of strategies, including distraction and vocal reassurance, to help calm the child when they are distressed.

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

Careful recruitment procedures are in place that reduce the risk of unsuitable carers providing care to the child. The responsible individual is knowledgeable about safer recruitment procedures, and necessary checks are completed for permanent and non-permanent carers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the home’s registration, the registered manager has left the home. The responsible individual has responded to practice concerns swiftly and kept the regulator updated throughout. Their oversight of the child’s care, alongside the deputy manager, is comprehensive. They are both very experienced practitioners and skilled to manage and lead the home effectively until a new manager is in post.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child was helped to settle into their new home as they are familiar with the deputy manager who worked in their previous home. Their knowledge about the child’s specific needs has undoubtedly contributed to the child’s positive care and experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The deputy manager has implemented monitoring systems to continually improve the quality of care. In addition, they ensure that permanent and non-permanent carers are provided with supervision to develop their knowledge and skills and to ensure that a consistent approach is implemented.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers said that their induction into the home was in-depth and that they received training that prepared them to meet the child’s needs. They spoke about their managers with high regard and said that they enjoy working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The child’s home is spacious. They enjoy spending time in different areas of the home. They have been involved with the personalisation of their bedroom, but minor repairs and decoration that are required have not been completed promptly. The child enjoys activities with staff away from the home, but they cannot fully enjoy the home’s garden yet because fencing for their safety and play equipment is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose is under review. Managers said that this will be sent to Ofsted following this inspection to accurately reflect the management arrangements and the home’s model of care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2764887 4

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that the effectiveness of the home’s child protection policies is monitored regularly. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, managers must ensure that their review of body maps and follow-up actions are completed promptly in line with child protection policies. 6 June 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered provider should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meets the needs of the child. In particular, minor repairs and decoration should be completed promptly, and the garden area secured for the child to enjoy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15 paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements to protect them. In particular, managers should ensure that the child’s plans are succinct and clearly define the strategies used by carers to keep the child safe, including when personal care is provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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 for children’s home: 2764887 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Above and Beyond Care Devon Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 1110 Elliott Court, Coventry Business Park, Herald Avenue, Coventry, West Midlands CV5 6UB

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Inspectors

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Stacey Pellow, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2764887 6 regulates and inspects 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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

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