Children's home run by Enabling Futures Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 1 Registered provider: Enabling Futures 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 provides care for up to two children with learning and/or physical disabilities. The home’s statement of purpose states that it offers bespoke packages of care for children with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder, behaviours of concern and/or mental health conditions.

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Information about this children's home

There is a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager in post, who is also the registered manager of a second home on the same site.

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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: 19 September 2023

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/09/2023 Full Outstanding 14/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is one child living at this home. They always have several staff with them during the day and the night. Staff work with the child in proximity, however, provide space for them to explore when assessed as safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged and supported to explore their varied interests. They are encouraged to develop independent living skills. They enjoy many positive experiences and develop hobbies and talents. Children access community activities regularly including long walks and visits to cafes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Local authorities say they trust this provider to care for their child. They say that incidents are reducing. They are optimistic of further reduction with a planned strengthening of the multi-disciplinary team, with input from speech and language and occupational therapy. This contributes to the stability of the child’s placement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This child has made progress in their communication skills. They can now use small sentences and have further developed their verbal language. This means that their ability to make their needs known is improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This child attends education at the home. They have a bespoke room for learning. Managers work closely with education providers. This ensures that there is effective partnership working to help children make good progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The team of staff is generally cohesive, and this has improved overtime. The team is a blend of employed staff and those employed through an agency. Staff know the child’s potential behaviour patterns well. They react early to try and ensure limited opportunities for dysregulation and increased anxiety.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment is specialised and made safe to meet the needs of this child. The manager has predominately ensured that the home is warm and welcoming.

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

Risk assessments and plans provide clarity and direction for staff to support and protect children. When there is an incident of concern, the manager and staff adjust plans if required. This means that for this child, whose behaviours fluctuate, staff are aware of the most up to date guidance.

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

Staff do use physical intervention at times in response to the child’s unsafe behaviour. However, there has been a reduction in the times staff have used a physical intervention. Local authority professionals say that the manager is a strong advocate for bringing together additional expertise, to try and maintain a further decrease in interventions. Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 4 This child enjoys the trusting relationships they have with the staff. Staff provide a strong and consistent routine, which the child benefits from. The child is growing in confidence and self-esteem. They are gaining further independence. This supports children to feel safe and secure.

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

Several staff have not shared their safeguarding concerns in a timely way. This delay has meant that this child could have been at additional risk of harm. Additionally, several staff had not made necessary records. This has meant that a child, at increased vulnerability due to living on their own, was not effectively safeguarded.

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

Medication administration procedures are safe. Managers have ensured that staff are well trained in this area of care, increasing their knowledge and confidence. Additional safeguards are in place, such as competency checks.

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

Managers have ensured that only staff that have been through a thorough safer recruitment checking procedure, get to work with the highly vulnerable children this home looks after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a strong and trusted relationship with the professional network. This means that care planning is a shared process, and when plans require strengthening, this is a joint approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel very well supported in their roles and day-to-day practice. The manager is visible and approachable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have ensured that staff receive a broad range of training in care. Where needed, further bespoke training is provided with a blended approach being online, in house and at venues from the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have focused team meetings. A culture of high aspirations led by the registered manager is embedded in staff practice. As a result, this child is thriving in a well organised and stable home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership work with external agencies is positive. During this inspection, professionals commended the manager and staff on the good communication with them, including appropriate challenge, and the quality of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have ensured that staff have regular supervision. However, some records of supervision are very limited in terms of detail of discussion about the child, and the length of the supervision session. Some records of supervision have limited evidence of managers being curious, and testing staffs safeguarding knowledge.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have ensured that when a complaint is made about the care provided, they are fully and robustly investigated. Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 5

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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, 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.

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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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(a)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to several staff not reporting a safeguarding concern immediately and without delay.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to several staff not making a record of a significant incident. 23 August 2023

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children's home is a nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 6  The registered person should ensure that they have systems in place so that all staff receive supervision of their practice which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2703224 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Enabling Futures Ltd

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: The Coach House, Millbrook House Estate, Manchester Road, Hollingworth, Cheshire SK14 8LA

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2703224 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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