Children's Home run by Tulip Care One Limited t/as TulipCare in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 1 SC361090 Registered provider: Tulip Care One Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care and therapeutic support for up to five children of the same gender who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were four children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since September 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

Date of last inspection: 12 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/09/2023 Full Good 09/08/2022 Full Good 17/11/2021 Full Good 31/07/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All of the children living at this home have made clear progress since the last inspection, and the home has welcomed a fourth child at a settled time. One child has grown in confidence with their independence skills and has started to take more responsibility for their health needs, such as attending appointments. Another child has been working on managing their emotions and has built stronger relationships with staff and peers as a result.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home feels welcoming, and the resident cat is highly valued by the children. Staff do their utmost to create a relaxing atmosphere and to allow children freedom of expression in their home. Staff speak about children with genuine interest and care. They also have a good understanding of children’s needs and are invested in their progress and outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spend time talking to children individually to understand their wishes and feelings. Children are consulted when decisions are made about their current care and future lives. Children are also consulted about their experiences in order to inform their care plans.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is an effective reward system in place. The system motivates the children and provides them with clear expectations and boundaries. It also means that children can earn a monetary reward to spend on an activity of their choice, such as shopping trips or visits to themed cafés and theme parks. Staff work together closely to ensure that children have a consistent experience of care, and they communicate skilfully with children so that they know what is expected of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have progressed in terms of their education outcomes and attendance. Staff have supported one child to engage with home tutoring as she awaits a school placement. Staff and the registered manager have worked in tandem with the child’s network to ensure her wish to attend an education provision is met. Two children are currently sitting their exams and anticipate positive results.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children also have opportunities to socialise with friends and family. Some children have broadened their social networks significantly since attending their education provision more consistently; others have shown a commitment to attending after-school clubs, such as cadets. This enrichment outside of the home helps the children develop their social skills and promotes their independence.

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

Staff demonstrate a good understanding of safeguarding and know how to respond to incidents safely and appropriately. They understand the vulnerabilities of the children and communicate effectively to ensure safety plans are carried out consistently. They Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 4 make good use of positive relationships with children to help them understand why adults may be worried about them and to help them make safer choices.

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

The provider has improved the timeliness of reporting serious incidents to the regulator. There have been no instances of physical restraint since the last inspection, and behaviour incidents have decreased in number. The trusting relationships that staff have developed with children enable them to talk through any challenging incidents constructively to help them understand what went wrong and how to manage things better in future.

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

Before children move into the home, any potential risks are carefully considered to ensure they are well understood by staff. Vulnerabilities for each child, and how they may influence each other, are carefully considered to ensure that the needs of all children living in the home are compatible. Children have the chance to visit the home and orientate themselves before they move in, and children already living in the home are consulted. There are times when the provider does not have all of the documentation relating to the child’s care in order to inform their care plans and risk assessments. In practice, however, staff understand the children’s needs, and plans and placements are otherwise well planned.

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

The training offer is well coordinated, and most staff are up to date with mandatory training. There are clear plans in place to address any gaps in staff’s training. For one member of staff, who is no longer working at the home, there were several areas of training that remained outstanding during their employment. While this is not currently having an impact on children, there is a risk that children may not receive the same quality of care from staff if they are not trained to a consistent standard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is flourishing in her role and is a confident leader. She is well supported and well integrated into the leadership team. The manager inspires confidence in the staff team and among the children. She has a solid understanding of the children individually, including their progress, achievements, vulnerabilities and behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders are working to ensure the therapeutic model of care is more strongly embedded at this home. The introduction of shift evaluation allows staff to reflect on the time spent with children and any team dynamics arising. Staff have a good understanding of trauma-informed and relationship-based work, which is explored during case consultations led by a consultant clinical psychologist. The impact of this can be seen in the relationships between staff and children, and also by the progress the children have made since the last inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision of staff is purposeful and child-focused in nature. Team meetings are also well attended by staff. These meetings focus on the needs of children and the workforce, as well as the overall management of the home. This ensures that there is Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 5 good-quality communication within the team and that any challenges can be identified and rectified in a reasonable timescale. The registered manager has had her appraisal and there is a plan in place to ensure she is able to complete the required qualification within the timescale set out in the regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that they feel well supported by leaders and feel fulfilled within their roles. Staff are integral to children’s progress, and support them during appointments and important meetings. They work with the wider network around the child effectively and advocate well to ensure children get the support and resources that they need. The registered manager encourages this engagement so that the children are supported holistically.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a good grasp of the strengths and areas for development within the home. Monitoring tools and trackers support the manager to have the information that they need to have effective oversight of a number of areas, such as care plans and incidents. The registered manager has completed her quality of care review to a good standard, but this was not submitted to the regulator within the required timescale, and therefore this recommendation is restated. Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they are in receipt of each child’s placement plan and permissions that their placing authority has delegated to them. Wherever possible, the home should secure the appropriate authority to support children to be involved in the same positive activities as their peers. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, pages 30-31, paragraph 6.2)  The registered person should ensure that all staff, including those employed as part time or bank, have resources to complete required and relevant training within a reasonable timescale. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should ensure that they submit the completed quality of care review to the regulator within the required timescale outlined in Regulation 45 to ensure that there is effective oversight. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations,

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Recommendations

including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: SC361090 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Tulip Care One Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 19-20, Bourne Court, Unity Trading Estate, Southend Road, Woodford Green, Essex IG8 8HD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Denika Minley Foster

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Inspector

Tash Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC361090 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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