Children's home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC366093 1 SC366093 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group 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

A private company owns and manages this home. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

An experienced and qualified registered manager is in post.

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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: 30 January 2024

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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: SC366093 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2024 Full Good 18/01/2023 Full Good 09/06/2021 Full Good 24/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC366093 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The same two children are living at the home as at the time of the last inspection. Both children are settled, have lived at the home for a long time and have built strong and trusting relationships with staff. Most staff have cared for the children since they came to live here and so understand how best to support their needs and promote their interests. One child will be moving on from the home. The manager has challenged the local authority to ensure that a clear plan is finalised soon. Staff are working to support and prepare the child for their final weeks in the home and their return home to family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are a priority to the manager and staff. One child is not attending school due to suspension. The manager is working closely with the child’s school and social worker to advocate for their planned return to education. Staff support children with home learning and provide creative learning experiences to help them to maintain structure and routine.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s hobbies and interests are encouraged, and staff inspire children to achieve their goals, which they celebrate. One child has been supported to join a local football team; staff members voluntarily go to show their support at matches. Another child has gained part-time employment alongside education. Staff understand the social benefits of additional opportunities away from the home. Children are more confident and independent because of these experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have developed strong relationships with the children. As a result, children have a strong sense of belonging. One child said, ‘This is not a house but my home.’ Staff place children at the centre of everything they do. Children feel secure and safe at the home and as a result, they are settled and incidents are rare.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good health. They have access to universal health services, and are supported to attend all routine appointments. Therapeutic support is available to children. Staff are in tune with children’s emotional well-being and can respond quickly when children need additional support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to maintain positive relationships with their family. As a result, children have meaningful relationships with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Internal care planning documents are detailed, and children are encouraged to contribute to their plans. Plans are reviewed monthly and updated to reflect goals for children. The quality of children’s records is mostly good, but there are some shortfalls. Some statutory review documents are missing and some inconsistencies about one child’s education were noted in different documents. Inspection report for children’s home: SC366093 4

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

Children’s risk and vulnerabilities are clearly understood by staff. The manager and staff know children well and provide care that considers their needs. Detailed risk assessments and behaviour plans for children are in place and are reviewed each month. All staff members are competent and consistent in how to support children. As a result, children are safeguarded effectively.

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

Episodes of children going missing from home are rare. Despite low risk, the manager ensures that each child has a missing-from-home protocol and a risk assessment, which are kept under review. As members of staff are not regularly experiencing missing-from- home incidents with children, the manager ensures that staff knowledge is maintained through peer discussions at team meetings and in supervision.

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

Staff are effective at de-escalating challenging behaviours that children sometimes present. There have been no instances of physical restraint since the last inspection, but there have been instances of aggression at school. Children are supported to identify positive strategies to help calm their feelings and manage conflict without hurting anyone. One child is encouraged to go outside and kick a ball to release feelings of anger. The manager ensures that there are clear boundaries, and a consistent approach is used by staff to support children.

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

Children are treated with dignity and respect. The manager and staff strive to provide personalised experiences that are specific to the child. Staff recognise the individuality of each child and help them to build emotional resilience and develop their own identity. Children are encouraged to express their autonomy and voice their opinions so that the manager and staff can support them and provide experiences that are aligned with children’s views and interests.

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

Online safety is effectively managed. The manager understands the importance of children being educated and supported so that their online use is safe and they know how to identify potential risk and protect themselves. A proportionate approach is applied to ensure that children are not restricted from the online world. Consideration to their age and needs and how best to manage risk is made, and appropriate safeguards are applied, such as checks on devices. All staff are trained in internet safety, and online child-specific courses are provided to children.

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

Overall, the home is well maintained and provides a safe space for children to thrive. However, one child’s bedroom was cluttered. Cups and plates had been left under the bed and a large bottle of water with no lid was positioned near to an extension lead used for multiple appliances. This created a potential hazard, which could have resulted in harm to the child. This was addressed during the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has high aspirations for children. This approach is reflected within the staff team and their supportive attitude and responses when caring for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC366093 5 Staff are safely recruited, and the home only uses staff from neighbouring homes during times of shortfall on the rota. Children are consistently cared for by trusted adults who they know.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff training is comprehensive and child specific. The manager is proactive in identifying learning opportunities that are led by the needs of the children. Additional training has helped staff to feel confident in their role when complex situations arise, understanding how best to offer support. Children have benefited from staff’s increased knowledge and awareness. In addition, new staff follow a detailed induction training programme before commencing their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of monitoring systems are fully implemented. The manager uses a range of systems to track children’s progress and to ensure the effective running of the home. Children’s progress is measured through a baseline assessment process. This is used to support care planning and identify areas of need as well as celebrating progression. The manager fully understands children’s plans and what areas of support are required to help children reach important milestones and have continued progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is regular, reflective and child centred. Staff also benefit from an annual appraisal. New members of staff are given more frequent support during their probation to facilitate their learning and development while settling into the role. Supervision records are made available to supervisees for their records, as well as being kept on file in a secure location.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers build positive working relationships with professionals around the child. Strong working relationships are fostered to create a holistic approach to children’s care. There is clear evidence of partnership working. However, the manager will challenge professionals effectively when she has concerns around a child’s care plan, to affect a positive change.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been one shortfall relating to the reporting of a significant incident. Although action was taken to support the child and report to their social worker, leaders and managers overlooked the reporting of the incident to Ofsted. Inspection report for children’s home: SC366093 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support children to be aware of and manage their own safety both inside and outside the home to the extent that any good parent would. In particular, ensure that any hazards in the environment are identified and addressed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home’s Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should notify Ofsted and other relevant persons if one of the situations specified in regulation 40(4)(a)-(d) occurs, or if there is an incident relating to the protection, safeguarding or welfare of a child living in the home which the registered person considers to be serious (40(4)(e)). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that records are kept up to date and are accurate. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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: SC366093 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

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Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC366093 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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