Children's home run by Silver Birch Care (Residential Services) Limited

Inspection report children's home: 2743668 1 Registered provider: SILVER BIRCH CARE (RESIDENTIAL SERVICES) 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 privately run 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 and the manager registered with Ofsted in January 2024. This is the home’s first inspection.

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Information about this children's home

There were four children living in the home at the time of this 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 outstanding

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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 children's home: 2743668 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a safe and stable home for children. The staff team know the children well, and they are aspirational about the children’s future. Children enjoy spending time with staff and with each other. Children say they are happy living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are welcomed by staff when they first come to live at the home. When possible, arrangements are made for the child to visit before they move in. Children who are considering moving into the home are provided with a video tour of the home, the children’s guide and “meet the adults” booklet with pictures and a pen profile of all the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children all attend school. Staff understand the challenges children face when starting a new school. Staff talk to children regularly about any problems they may have. Staff work with teachers to ensure that children are supported with their transition. Staff advocate on the children’s behalf and ensure support and advice is sought when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff praise and celebrate the progress that the children make, and show the children they are proud of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are registered with health care professionals and supported to attend their appointments. Staff support children to have a healthy lifestyle and routine. Children and staff eat and cook together and exercise together. Staff talk regularly with children about the importance of healthy eating and a good sleep routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take children’s views seriously. Children attend a weekly team meeting which is chaired by one of the children. Children can raise any concerns they have with staff and think together about solutions. Children help with activity planning and decorating the home. Children know how to make a complaint and say they feel listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are trained in a therapeutic model of care and children have access to an in-house therapist. This resource aides the staff in their support of the children. The care provided by staff supports the children to make progress physically, emotionally and educationally.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Family and friends visit the children at the home and staff plan activities for them to enjoy together. Staff take time to find out the children’s interests and encourage them to participate in activities such as ice skating and football.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large, spacious and newly decorated. There is a games room, a trampoline, bikes and art equipment for the children to use. The children’s artwork is on display and the children are proud of the home they live in. Inspection report children's home: 2743668 3

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

Children say that they feel safe. The management and staff team talk to the children to help them understand that their safety is important.

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

There have been relatively few incidents at the home, staff work well together as a team to address any concerns and reflect on how things can be done differently. As a result, the children have settled and they get on well together. However, incidents and consequences are not consistently recorded. This impacts on the managers capacity to review incidents and the effectiveness of consequences.

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

The leaders and managers have worked hard to reduce the number of missing-from- home incidents. They work collaboratively with professionals, the family and the child. The feedback from family and professionals is positive.

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

Leaders and mangers ensure that safer recruitment policies and procedures are followed. This provides assurances that staff have been appropriately vetted before they look after children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by a permanent, suitably qualified and committed registered manager. She has worked hard with the leadership team and staff to ensure the home offers the children consistent and reliable care. The ratio of staff to children is sufficient and ensures that children receive the individual care they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leaders and managers are proud of their staff and the care they provide the children. Managers are aspirational, advocate for the children and have high expectations of all those that work with the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff speak positively about the managers and feel supported and valued. Staff receive regular supervision. Team meetings are held on a weekly basis. Supervision and team meetings are used effectively to encourage staff to focus on the needs of the children. Ensuring the children feel settled and cared for is the primary focus of the management and leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have access to a wide range of face-to-face training. There is a culture of reflection and learning amongst staff and managers. There is a clear plan in place to ensure that staff have the opportunity to progress with their learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The in-house therapist also meets with staff. This provides opportunities of wider learning and reflection. Clear plans are in place for each child, and these are regularly reviewed. Inspection report children's home: 2743668 4

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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, 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other;

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this refers to ensuring that risk assessments clearly set out and evaluate all known risks to children. 26 July 2024

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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 children's home: 2743668 5

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Children's home details

Registered provider: SILVER BIRCH CARE (RESIDENTIAL SERVICES) LIMITED

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: S B C H House, 212 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London, N3 2LX

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Inspector

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2743668 6 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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