Children's Home run by Strides Childcare Services Ltd in Redbridge

Inspection report for children's home: 2700344 1 Registered provider: Strides Childcare Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to five children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2022. There has been no registered manager since December 2023. A manager has been appointed and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living at 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: 26 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: 2700344 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2700344 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have positive experiences at this home. They receive good-quality care that meets their needs and helps them to make progress. For example, some children come to the home having struggled with school, and they re-engage in education because of the care and commitment of staff. When children do not attend school, they are supported to access alternative learning opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to move into the home through careful transition planning. Children visit the home before moving in, and those already living in the home are prepared for new children coming to live with them. This supports children to feel comfortable and to settle in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are given incentives to promote positive behaviour and attitudes. They are praised for their achievements, such as when they choose healthy lifestyles by reducing smoking and making improvements in their school attendance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers work closely with other agencies and families. The feedback from social workers, other external professionals and parents is positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s physical environment is maintained to a high standard; any damage is quickly repaired. The children say that it feels and looks like a family home for them.

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

Discussions with children focus on their individual needs and are in line with their plans. Staff use information about children to plan effective discussions. These help children to learn and develop important life skills, as well as how to stay safe.

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

Risk assessments for all children are up to date and include effective strategies to protect the children and mitigate risks. Staff understand children’s triggers and use de- escalation techniques when required. Room searches are conducted respectfully and used to safeguard children.

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

Children have a strong voice. They make significant contributions to their care plans, safety plans and behaviour contracts. Listening to and respecting children’s views, wishes and feelings are central to how staff relate to children.

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

Missing-from-home incidents have significantly reduced for some children since they began living at the home. Staff work collaboratively with the police and social workers to create effective strategies to reduce risk. For example, the staff use reward incentives to encourage children to return home on time. Staff also have regular discussions with children who go missing from the home about the risks and dangers involved. Inspection report for children's home: 2700344 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have worked hard to address the concerns identified at the last full inspection. They have taken effective action to ensure that the requirements raised at the previous inspection have been met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders and managers are ambitious and have high aspirations for the development of the home and staff team. Leaders and managers know the home’s strengths and areas for development. There are effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that leaders and managers constantly review the quality of care provided to children. Children’s records are comprehensive and reflect their everyday lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular and effective supervision. Appropriate training and supervision ensure that new staff complete a thorough period of probation. During supervision, staff discuss the children’s needs as well as their own development and learning. Staff also receive support from an in-house therapist. This ensures children’s needs are understood well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are regular team meetings. Staff performance and practice are reviewed annually. This helps staff to continually improve their individual practice and focus on their professional development. However, appraisals do not include the views of other professionals and children. This is a missed opportunity to gather independent feedback on staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff morale is very positive. Staff say that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. Inspection report for children's home: 2700344 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and of children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2700344 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Strides Childcare Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 39 Woodgrange Avenue, Enfield EN1 1EW

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Patrick Nnebedum

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Inspector

Melvin Davies, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2700344 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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