Children's home run by Axis Residential Care Solutions

Inspection report children's home: 2747049 1 Registered provider: Axis Residential Care Solutions 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 small, private provider owns this home. The home offers care for up to two children who have experienced trauma and have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first inspection after registration with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager recently resigned. A new manager who holds a relevant qualification has commenced their role and intends to apply to Ofsted to become registered.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2747049 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived at the home since it opened. One child has since moved on. Managers and staff ensure that children are prepared well for moves into and on from the home. Children are given the opportunity to visit the home before they move in. If this is not possible the manager visits the child and provides them with information about the home. When a child moved on from the home, staff supported them well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children build trusting relationships with staff who understand their needs. Staff seek children’s views on what they like and don’t like. This information is used to inform children’s plans and involve them in making decisions about their care. Children enjoy a wide range of activities that support their social skills and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Healthy lifestyles are promoted. Staff ensure that children are registered with local health services and attend routine appointments. They are encouraged to eat a varied, healthy diet and participate in regular exercise. Children’s routines recognise the importance of sleep and support children to manage their personal hygiene.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage children to engage in learning. One child returned to school promptly after moving into the home and was given the opportunity to complete exams that they had missed. Another child, who was not previously engaging in any learning before moving to the home, participated daily with tutors who visited the home. Staff also extended his learning opportunities through play. However, managers did not challenge a child’s placing authority strongly enough in respect of the education plan for one child to enable him to be able to access education in a school setting, rather than at home. This was a missed opportunity to advocate for this child and support his learning further.

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

Staff support children to understand their emotions more. This helps children to say when they find situations difficult. As a result, staff were able to use strategies to reduce and manage challenging behaviours.

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

Children are helped to understand behaviour that is not socially acceptable. Staff use a range of restorative consequences to help children to learn about their behaviour and how it can affect themselves and others. In addition, they use praise and reward effectively, celebrating children’s progress.

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

Restraint is used only as a last resort and by trained staff to keep children safe. Sometimes, children are spoken with afterwards by the staff member involved in the incident. This is not always helpful in enabling children to raise concerns about what happened, should they need to. In addition, managers do not always review the effectiveness of the restraint measure used. Inspection report children's home: 2747049 3 When children raise concerns, these are carefully considered. Managers and staff liaise with relevant professionals to share information and follow advice on what next steps to take. This good practice helps to keep children safe. When learning for staff is identified, this is shared quickly and taken on board.

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

For the most part, safer recruitment procedures are in place. These help to ensure that suitable people are employed to care for children. On one occasion, managers did not explore a gap in a staff member’s employment history. The manager is taking steps to address this now.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is decorated and furnished to a good standard. It is well maintained and feels homely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes within the staff team. However, these have been managed well and children continue to be cared for by staff who they know.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have not always received supervision regularly. The new manager has implemented a supervision plan that identifies dates when staff supervision will take place. In addition, staff have not always received consistent and clear guidance. This led to some conflicts between staff. Leaders have identified these concerns and are addressing them. Fortunately, these issues did not negatively affect the care of children. Staff now feel supported and well led.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager and two staff who work in the home hold a relevant qualification in the residential care of children. Unqualified staff who have completed their probation period are enrolled on and are in the process of completing their qualification. Staff receive training relevant to their role and more training is planned.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The provider has an electronic recording system in place. Information is stored in various locations, making it difficult to find specific records or records that show where action has been taken. This is an area identified for improvement. Inspection report children's home: 2747049 4

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Recommendations

 The registered manager should ensure that records of restraint are kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. In particular, children should be given an opportunity to speak with a person who was not involved in the incident. There should also be a review of the effectiveness of the measure. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.59)  The registered person should maintain good employment practice. In particular, they should ensure that staff receive regular supervision that is of good quality. In addition, ensure that recruitment checks identify and address any gaps in a person’s employment history. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should act as an effective advocate for or on behalf of a child who may be experiencing difficulties with education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.12)  The registered person should ensure that records are kept up to date and stored securely. (‘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 children's home: 2747049 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Axis Residential Care Solutions ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 15 Heritage Park, Hayes Way, Cannock WS11 7LT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Kerry Hutchinson

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Inspector

Helen Dunn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2747049 6 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report children's home: 2747049 7

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