Children's home run by Therapeutic Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2744902 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care 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

This children’s home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in October 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: 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: 2744902 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since registration, three children have moved into the home and one child has moved out. Children have been well prepared before moving to the home. Unfortunately, one child left the home a short while after moving in. However, the manager worked closely with other professionals and took all necessary steps to minimise any disruption for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home itself is clean and nicely presented. There are photos of the children around the home that staff update regularly. Children are supported to keep their bedrooms tidy.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are receiving an education. One child is not able to attend their school currently for reasons outside of the child’s control. However, the staff ensure that he is not missing out, and they have arranged for online tutoring as an interim measure as well as proactively seeking alternatives for the child to visit different schools. One child, who has high aspirations for his future, is struggling to attend every day. Again, the manager is working closely with the child and other professionals to address this to reduce any impact on his achievement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings on their daily life matter to the manager and the staff, and these are acted on. However, children do not have independent advocates to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views in a wider context.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to maintain and rebuild relationships with their families and friends. Staff will drive long distances and remain available in the area to ensure that children can safely spend time with those important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy new experiences and achievements. One child went camping for the first time during a cycling event. Both children have expressed an interest in construction, and so one staff member supported them to make wooden catapults and has further projects in the pipeline.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well met, and the manager ensures that appropriate referrals for services and assessments are made in a timely manner. Staff are supported by a clinical psychiatrist who supports them in caring for the children. However, life-story work has not been considered for one child, who has raised issues around their understanding of their identity and family relationships.

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

Children are supported by staff who understand their individual needs and have the knowledge and skills to keep children safe. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744902 3 On one occasion, a child was not at the agreed place to meet staff after spending time with friends and was reported as missing from home. This was for a short period of time, and the staff took all appropriate actions. The manager ensured that the child had a return home interview, and an appropriate consequence was put in place, which has been effective.

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

Restraints are rare, and when these have been used, they have been necessary to safeguard children. Records have been appropriately evaluated by the responsible individual when the registered manager has been involved to ensure independent oversight. Evaluations are reflective and detailed.

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

Incidents in the home are rare. The staff and children enjoy positive and trusting relationships. There are occasions when children have been given consequences. However, the children are included in what they will be, and the manager ensures that they are reviewed for effectiveness. If they are not working, he will look at alternatives.

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

Children are well introduced to the area when they move in. The manager includes children in discussions around the potential risks in the area, and children are asked if they are aware of anything additional. This ensures that children have the knowledge to help keep themselves safe when they are out in their local area.

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

Room searches are only completed when necessary. Staff are sensitive to the child’s feelings about this and inform them first.

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

There has been one allegation made by one child during a restraint. The allegation was managed and investigated thoroughly, and there were no concerns. The manager follows safer recruitment processes to reduce the risk of unsafe people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified and has worked at the home since it was registered. All staff are complimentary of the manager’s leadership and say that they feel supported and receive regular supervisions. Team meetings are held regularly, and they are child-centred and allow the staff time to reflect on progress and development areas.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has robust monitoring systems in place that he also delegates to senior staff to help support their development. The development of the team is important to the manager, and he ensures that opportunities are available for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff have received the appropriate training to give them the skills to meet the needs of the children. Staff evaluate this training as being important in them being able to meet the children’s needs effectively. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744902 4 The manager is a good advocate for the children. However, he does not always liaise or escalate concerns with the relevant professionals in the best interest of the children. For example, he did not follow up on a referral he had made to the local authority designated officer to ensure that they had received the information. Additionally, although these have been requested, the children do not have up-to- date care plans from the local authority. There has not been any consultation with the police to help inform the review of the premises. Although the manager has requested these, he did not escalate his request. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744902 5

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Statutory requirement

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

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs;

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that he escalates requests for care plans for children.

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Requirement Due date

This further relates to the manager ensuring that he consults with and shares information with other professionals in a timely manner to ensure that children are appropriately safeguarded. 28 June 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are supported to understand who they are and where they come from, for example through supporting children with life-story work. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.14) Inspection report for children’s home: 2744902 6  The registered person should ensure that children have access to appropriate advocacy support to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their lives and the care they receive. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)

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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: 2744902 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Therapeutic Care, Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jacqueline Titterington

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Inspector

Kerri Lynch, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2744902 8 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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