Children's Home run by WiNurture Childcare Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 1 Registered provider: Winurture Childcare Ltd

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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 home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2024 Full Outstanding 17/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are thriving due to exceptional care from a skilled and experienced staff team. Staff accept and value children for who they are. Children’s personalities flourish whilst living at the home. The manager and staff have created a safe and playful environment which helps children to relax and be themselves. As a result, children have excellent experiences and make outstanding progress which goes beyond expectations.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The team use creative approaches which are highly individualised for each child. Children’s care plans reflect this, and staff review and update them regularly. There is an additional progress report that highlights all the areas of the care plan and how children have achieved their goals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have excellent opportunities to experience adventures and new challenges. They recently climbed Mount Snowden which was a significant achievement. The children raised money for a local charity. This made them feel proud because they were helping others. The staff encourage children to support other causes of their choice. As a result, children have developed valuable qualities such as empathy and kindness. Children have also grown in confidence from these activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff see education as vital to children’s lives. Children who have been out of school for a long time are now learning and achieving. They aspire for the future, including attending university or learning a profession. One young person has completed their GCSEs and they have been offered a college place. Another child has made considerable progress in core subjects in a short space of time. The child’s tutor said, ‘he is a real success story.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff support children with health and fitness. Children engage in sport and exercise daily. One child is playing for a basketball team and takes pride in his ability. Staff support children to eat healthily. Staff encourage children to try new foods in a fun way which helps them to increase variety in their diet. Children’s medication is well managed and safely stored. As such, children are in very good health.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Leaders and managers ensure that research is embedded in practice. They understand the importance of a trauma informed approach which they implement effectively. For example, the manager and staff understand the significance of attachment and loss in children’s lives. They have helped children to reconnect with family that they had lost contact with. One parent described how important this has been to her and her child.

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

The manager and staff have an in-depth understanding of the risks posed to and from children. Risk management plans identify clear strategies for staff to minimise known risks. New and emerging risks are responded to quickly and proportionately. This Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 4 increases children’s safety whilst enabling them to live full lives inside and outside of the home.

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

Children benefit from regular direct work to help them understand risks and keep themselves safe. Staff include children in developing their own risk management plans which makes this a meaningful and effective process. Where appropriate some older children have helped others to develop confidence in new situations. One example is in developing independence skills. This shows how confident children become in managing their lives.

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

The manager and staff ensure there is a calm and harmonious atmosphere. There are good levels of supervision where required. Children have trusted relationships with adults knowing that they will be listened to and heard. They do not go missing from home which is further evidence of the strong bonds they have with staff.

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

Children learn to manage difficult feelings and situations. This is with exceptional support from the manager and staff. They gradually learn to reflect on their responses so they can make positive change. Serious incidents involving children are rare. When they do occur, staff and the manager quickly resolve them, rarely requiring the use of physical intervention.

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

Leaders and managers take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously. The location of the home is well assessed and safe recruitment practices are used for new starters. There has been a particularly good response to a recent incident. The manager and responsible individual have involved the relevant safeguarding professionals in a timely way. There is a shared assessment of risk. As a result, staff have kept children safe and disruption to their lives has been kept to a minimum.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and responsible individual are extremely ambitious for staff and children. They have created stability and security for children. This enables them to grow and flourish. Their knowledge of the children and ability to relate to them is commendable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say they love working at the home. They feel incredibly well supported by managers and each other. New staff receive a thorough induction and training programme. Training includes topics specific to the needs of the children. There is a commitment to ongoing learning and development. This keeps practice dynamic and up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides regular opportunities for the team to reflect on their practice. Team meetings and supervisions are particularly valuable for staff development and sharing knowledge. Supervision is reflective with safeguarding at the forefront of discussions. The health and wellbeing of staff is also prioritised. This ensures that high standards of care are maintained and staff feel cared for and valued. Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 5 Leaders and managers ensure that there are extensive quality assurance processes in place. The manager knows the importance of monitoring and observing practice. He also talks to children to gain their wishes and feelings. The responsible individual has excellent oversight of the home and is incredibly supportive of the manager. She is very approachable to staff and children who value her presence in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak highly of the care provided. The manager has established excellent relationships with key external agencies. This ensures that children receive the services they need when they need them. The responsible individual and manager are both influential in decision making about children. This enhances the life chances for the children in their care. Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 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 children’s home: 2700591 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Winurture Childcare Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 8 Cheyne Walk, Northampton NN1 5PT

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Inspectors

Shaun Caplis, social care inspector Laura Walker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2700591 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

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