Children's Home run by Solace Care ClayHall Ltd in Redbridge

Inspection report for children's home: 2645038 1 Registered provider: Solace Care ClayHall Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The privately owned home provides care for up to five children aged between eight and 17 years who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered with Ofsted in October 2021. The post of registered manager has been vacant since March 2024. A new manager joined the home in April 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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: 21 November 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: 2645038 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/11/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2645038 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children say staff are helpful and supportive. They identify the staff as people they trust and would approach with any concerns or worries. One child said, ‘We get on well.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have planned moves into the home. Managers consider the needs of any new child and the needs of children who are already living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are proud of the children’s achievements and support their learning and future ambitions. Children’s school attendance sometimes fluctuates and when this happens, staff are quick to bring in additional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in a range of activities. Staff support children to try new things, such as attending music workshops.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s voices are heard. There are regular house meetings and children know how to make a complaint and are aware of the role of the independent visitor.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to see their families. One child was on holiday with their family at the time of the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their independence skills at a pace that suits their needs and considers their anxieties. As a result, children are developing their self-care and learning how to cook.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is safe and welcoming. However, there are minor repairs required. This includes repairs needed to the bathroom shower rail, garden furniture and some furniture in one of the children’s bedrooms.

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

Children feel safe. One child described the home as ‘the best place to live’.

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

Staff are aware of the children’s vulnerabilities and their responsibility to protect them. Staff talk to children about well-being and keeping safe. These discussions help children to make safer decisions.

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

Children occasionally go missing from the home. Staff ensure that they stay in touch with the child and inform their family and the police. However, staff do not always report the children missing in line with the local authority’s advised timescales. Inspection report for children's home: 2645038 4 Risk assessments provide information about what action staff should take to ensure that children are safe. However, they are lengthy documents and hard for staff to follow.

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

Children’s plans do not evidence the progress children make. For example, through the support of the staff, one child has stopped drinking alcohol. The positive impact on the child, including on their health, is not recorded.

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

When children raise allegations against members of staff, managers act promptly.

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

Staff use rewards to recognise children’s progress and achievements. Staff only use physical restraint when there is an immediate risk of harm. Staff recording of these incidents is good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, a new manager and a new responsible individual have started at the home. The manager has not yet applied to register with Ofsted.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are passionate about the care and experiences children receive. They have brought in effective monitoring to help to begin to evaluate staff practice and identify areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a workforce development plan in place. However, some areas for development are still in progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel valued and supported to meet children’s needs. One member of staff said, ‘We work together, and I love working here.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision. This provides them with opportunities to reflect on their personal development and to discuss the needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive annual appraisals, however, these do not help staff to consider their future development. Inspection report for children's home: 2645038 5

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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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)) 30 July 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff consistently follow the home’s policies and procedures for the benefit of the children in the home’s care. Everyone working at the home must understand their roles and responsibilities and what they are authorised to decide on their own initiative. There should be clear lines of accountability regarding when to report a child missing. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.2)  The registered person should ensure that the appraisal enables in-depth review of staff’s performance, including the views of the supervisor, supervisee and, when appropriate, others. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that the children are provided with a welcoming and homely domestic environment. In particular, this refers to ensuring that any

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Recommendations

repairs are carried out and the home’s decor is refreshed when required, especially in regard to the bathroom and shower and garden furniture. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children's home: 2645038 6

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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: 2645038 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solace Care ClayHall Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2A, 420 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex IG2 6NQ

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Inspectors

Richard Wyper, Social Care Inspector Christine Kennet, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2645038 8 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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