Children's home run by Back on Track Children’s Services SE LTD

Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 1 Registered provider: Back on Track Children’s Services SE 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 a privately owned home, providing care and accommodation for up to five children who may experience social, emotional, or mental health needs. The provider operates several other homes in the local area. There were two children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since January 2024.

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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: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in this home are happy and have started to develop positive relationships with staff. Interactions are relaxed, and staff are warm and nurturing. This approach supports children to share their views, wishes and feelings. Children make choices about their food, activities and bedrooms. Children are aware of their rights and entitlements and know how to make a complaint.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into this home are warmly welcomed. Effective planning ensures that children’s needs are suitably matched. Additional information is sought, when required, to ensure that the members of the staff team have a full understanding of children’s needs prior to their move. Furthermore, children’s views are gathered before they move in to enable the staff team to plan for their arrival. For example, one child requested items for their bedroom, which were purchased for them. This helped the child experience a positive move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children spend time with their families in line with their agreed plans. Family time arrangements are kept under regular review, with children’s views at the centre of decision-making. As a result, one child has recently resumed planned visits with their family following a significant gap, helping to rebuild relationships. One family member described staff as ‘supportive’ and explained how they have helped their child to settle and feel comfortable.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to look after their physical and mental health. Referrals are made for relevant health services and children are supported to attend planned appointments. One child has recently resumed treatment from a local health service after moving into the home. The child’s health needs have been kept under review and treatment plans have been amended as necessary. As a result, the child’s emotional well-being is improving.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has very recently moved in and does not yet have an identified education provision. The other child has experienced a significant gap in their learning. The child has been supported to access an alternate provision that suited their interests and has engaged in some structured activities to encourage informal learning. However, plans are not always clear about how staff should promote consistent daily routines and strategies in order to maximise the child’s engagement with learning. The manager maintains regular contact with the professional network to advocate for the child’s return to formal education. Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 3

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

Safeguarding is embedded in practice at this home. Staff have a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and know how to escalate concerns. Risks for children are identified and individual plans contain clear information and guidance for staff. Staff support children to understand how to stay safe through regular discussions and planned key-working sessions.

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

Allegations of harm from children are infrequent. Any allegation of harm is taken seriously and fully investigated. Relevant professionals and authorities are notified in line with legislation. Children are sensitively supported to understand the outcomes of investigations, and restorative work is completed to rebuild relationships with staff.

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

There have been occasions when children have gone missing from the home. Staff respond to these incidents promptly, following children’s individual safety plans. Return home interviews are requested and provided in line with statutory guidance. This ensures that children are given the opportunity to share any concerns that they may have with an independent person.

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

Children are supported with their behavioural needs. Safety plans provide guidance and de-escalation strategies to promote positive behaviour. Physical intervention is used as a last resort to keep children and others safe. However, monitoring systems have not identified that one child’s safety plan has not been kept under review in order to reflect the child’s current presenting behaviours and support needs. The impact of this is mitigated by the positive relationships that children have developed with staff, who have a clear understanding of their needs.

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

Consequences are rarely used. However, one consequence issued to a child was not recorded in line with regulations. While the consequence was proportionate, the manager had not reviewed the consequence or spoken to the child about it. This prevented the manager from determining the effectiveness of the consequence and identifying any learning outcomes or areas for improvement in practice.

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

The home environment is safe. Communal areas are well-furnished, spacious and comfortable. However, maintenance is required to rectify damage to some fixtures, including the staircase and a bedroom doorframe, to promote a positive and nurturing environment. An internal maintenance team is available, but tasks are not always prioritised to ensure timely rectification of issues. The registered manager has taken action to address the current maintenance tasks with senior leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is overseen by a passionate and knowledgeable registered manager. He is supported effectively in his role by an experienced and stable senior leadership team. Close partnership working with other managers in the organisation also provides opportunities to share good practice and identify areas for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 4 The registered manager maintains effective working relationships with external professionals. One child has moved on from the home following increasing concerns for their safety. The registered manager advocated for the child, outlining his concerns, and requested further support. Additionally, the registered manager has arranged a meeting with the child’s key professionals to complete a joint review to identify any further learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a small, consistent staff team. Staff enjoy working in this home and there is a culture of positivity. Staff are supported effectively by managers. One member of staff reported that managers, ‘Will always find time to talk to me and check in with me.’ Additionally, staff undertake ongoing training to ensure their continuous professional development and ensure that they can meet the specific needs of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular, practice-based supervision. Children’s needs are central to conversations, and staff are encouraged to reflect on their practice and experiences. This approach enables staff to identify what has gone well and any areas for development. Team meetings are held monthly and enable a further opportunity for wider reflection and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has a clear understanding of children’s individual needs and their progress. Monitoring systems are in place to support the registered manager in maintaining oversight of the home. However, monitoring processes are not yet fully embedded. As a result, some children’s key-work records that have been poorly recorded by staff have not been reviewed effectively, preventing further learning and development of practice. Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 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, 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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that children’s records, including safety plans and key-working sessions, are reviewed effectively. 27 September 2024

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Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and 27 September 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 6 within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(ii)(iv)(v)(vii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that records of consequences contain all required information.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should support children not participating in education to engage in suitable structured activities through consistent daily routines to encourage informal learning. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)  The registered person should provide a nurturing environment that meets children’s basic day to day needs and physical necessities. In particular, to ensure that maintenance tasks are rectified in a timely manner. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)

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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: 2743221 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Back on Track Children’s Services SE LTD

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 185 Dover Road, Walmer, Deal CT14 7NB

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Christopher Campbell

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Inspector

Chris Warren, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2743221 8 regulates 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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