Children's home run by Fledglings Child Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2669905 1 Registered provider: Fledglings Child Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2024.

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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: 1 November 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2669905 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2669905 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have lived in the home for nearly two years. They are happy and settled and have developed a strong sense of permanence and belonging. Children benefit from a stable team of staff who provide them with stability and consistency in their lives. A social worker said of one child, ‘They’re doing really well and have good relationships with staff.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with well-planned, highly personalised care that promotes their needs effectively and contributes to change and improvement in their lives. Children enjoy warm and trusting relationships with staff and sustain their positive attachments. A child said, ‘When I do leave, I will always keep in touch with staff. I am coming back for Christmas dinner.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health needs of children are promoted effectively by staff. Staff ensure that children have access to the health services they need to be healthy. They support children to attend their health appointments and encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle. Staff ensure that children’s medication is stored and administered safely.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children go to school and show improvements in their overall attendance and engagement in learning. Staff work closely with the providers of children’s education to promote children’s educational attainment and achievement. A social worker said, ‘They have attended all but two of their exams and have put in a real effort.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide children with positive activities. One child attends martial arts classes regularly while the other child enjoys going to the cinema and playing bingo and board games with staff. Staff promote family time to ensure that children sustain their close relationships with the people who matter most to them.

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

Staff maintain effective partnerships with social workers and other safeguarding agencies to promote the safety of children. There are no current safeguarding concerns and there have been no complaints or allegations since the last inspection. Staff prioritise the safety of children effectively.

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

Children benefit from staff who understand their specific needs and vulnerabilities. Staff keep children safe and protect them from harm. Children feel safe and have developed a very strong sense of personal safety. A child said, ‘I do feel safe here. It’s fun. Some staff are like friends and others are like supportive grandparents.’

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

Self-injurious behaviours have reduced significantly for children. Restraint has not been used and there have been no missing-from-home episodes since the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2669905 4 Staff receive training in de-escalation that enables them to manage behaviours that challenge safely and effectively.

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

Staff praise, reward and reinforce positive behaviour. The use of negative consequences is kept to an absolute minimum. A child said, ‘The rules are fair.’

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

Staff provide children with a physically safe, appropriately secure, comfortable and homely living environment. Health and safety matters are managed effectively by staff to ensure that a safe environment is maintained for children to live together safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in the leadership and management of the home since the last full inspection. The new manager was recruited in January 2024 and registered with Ofsted in April. The manager is experienced and suitably qualified. He has been warmly received by both children and staff. A child said, ‘He’s a sound manager. He’s probably the best manager we have had.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has become a strong and visible presence in the lives of the children. He has consistently high expectations of staff and high ambitions for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads staff by example and provides them with a clear sense of purpose and direction. A member of staff said, ‘The manager always seems to be here. He’s very fair, honest and approachable.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular practice-related supervision. The manager holds child-focused team meetings to monitor and review the progress and experiences of children. Staff benefit from good-quality training which enables them to meet the specific needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children benefit from having stable, caring and committed staff. Staff employed are carefully selected and vetted to ensure that children are protected from unsuitable individuals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An independent person visits the home on a frequent basis to review the quality of children’s care and the arrangements made to promote their safety and well-being. These visits help the manager and staff to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the care provided for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager conducts regular quality assurance audits and uses external monitoring activities to tackle shortfalls, ensuring continuing improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no breaches in regulation and no requirements or recommendations are made as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2669905 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: 2669905 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fledglings Child Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fledglings Child Care, 163 Kingsway, Manchester M19 2ND

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Inspector

Anthony Kyem, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2669905 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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