Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC488961 1 SC488961

p.1

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to care for up to five children with emotional and social difficulties. Since the last inspection, no children have moved in or out of the home. At the time of the inspection there were three children living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is run by an experienced manager who is registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC488961 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 29/11/2022 Full Good 16/11/2021 Full Good 11/11/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC488961 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care that meets their needs. Staff know children well and provide them with emotional warmth and care. Children enjoy close and trusting relationships with staff. Staff and children spend time as a family, such as cooking and eating meals together, giving children a sense of belonging. As a result, children experience stability and make progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children feel heard and valued. Children are regularly consulted about their wishes and feelings, and have a say in the day-to-day running of the home. This includes, creating a music studio for a child who likes producing music. Staff encourage children and celebrate their achievements. This is through a variety of creative ways, such as photos of children ‘caught being kind’ or positive affirmations from staff in the form of ‘appreciation’ books.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children achieve in education. One child who was out of education for a long period has been supported to return to school. When children are unable to attend school, staff are creative in their approach to home learning. For example, children enjoy playing interactive educational games with staff. The registered manager and staff communicate well with teachers, ensuring children with special educational needs and disabilities, receive the right support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy good health. Staff teach children about the importance of healthy eating and being active. Some children’s personal hygiene improves, and they are able to manage their own health needs because of the sensitive support staff provide. Children are helped emotionally through one-to-one discussions with staff and feel safe enough to talk about their current fears and past experiences. Children receive additional support through weekly sessions with the in-house psychotherapist and counsellor. As a result, children’s overall health improves.

p.3

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

Staff understand the risks children can be exposed to. They respond well to children who are at risk of going missing and being exploited. Staff attend regular strategy meetings with the police where pertinent information is shared and risks are collaboratively reviewed. Children receive specialist support from an exploitation social worker. Staff have regular one-to-one discussions with children, helping them to make safer choices. As a result, children who have been at high risk of exploitation make significant progress when considering their starting points.

p.3

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

Staff respond well to children who are in distress. Staff implement firm boundaries with warmth and empathy. Staff have a deep understanding of how a child’s past experiences can affect how they think and behave. Children are helped to Inspection report for children’s home: SC488961 4 understand their feelings and emotions. Consequently, children feel accepted and understood, and challenges for children reduce.

p.3

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

Allegations against staff are well managed. Children’s concerns are taken seriously, and children receive appropriate support. The relevant agencies are informed, such as the local authority designated officer and Ofsted. Appropriate safeguards are put in place whilst investigations are undertaken, ensuring that children are adequately protected.

p.4

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

Occasionally, the use of restraint is required to protect children and others from harm. The least restrictive intervention is used. Children are supported throughout and after the incident. Records of restraint are detailed and informative. However, one incident of restraint was not reviewed and evaluated by a manager. A timely assessment of the support the child received was not therefore made.

p.4

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

Children live safely alongside their peers. Bedroom door alarms are in use to safeguard children at night. The use of alarms is dependent on the level of risk. There is no written consent from the local authority regarding the use of bedroom door alarms or regular review to ensure the least restrictive measures are in place.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is a strong and skilled leader. Staff feel supported by her and value her leadership. Staff enjoy working at the home and team morale is good. Staff have positive relationships with each other and work cohesively as a team. This provides a harmonious and secure environment for children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well trained. Staff are up to date with essential training, such as safeguarding and first aid. They receive training in relation to children’s individual needs, such as child exploitation and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The manager has high expectations for staff. Concerns about staff practice are promptly and effectively addressed, helping to raise and maintain good standards of care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with external agencies. She communicates effectively and works in collaboration with others. The manager is a strong advocate for children, ensuring their needs are known by other professionals, such as teachers and social workers. This helps children to receive the right support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has good oversight of the care provided to children. She knows what is happening in the home daily. There are effective monitoring and quality assurance systems in place. She knows the strengths of the home and areas for development. Learning from incidents informs practice and staff development. She is effective in raising standards of care in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC488961 5

p.4

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.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

p.5

Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to ensuring incidents of restraint are reviewed and evaluated by a manager. 31 August 2024

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance; (Regulation 24 (1)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to having written consent from children’s social workers for the use of door alarms and that their use is regularly reviewed. 31 August 2024

p.5

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: SC488961 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Drinsey Nook, Lincoln, Nottinghamshire LN1 2JJ

p.6

Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC488961 7 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7