Children's Home run by 360 Children’s Residential Services Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 1 Registered provider: 360 Children's Residential Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private organisation and provides care for up to two children. The home and the manager were registered in July 2023.

p.1

Information about this children's home

One child moved out of the home during the inspection. There are no children living in the home currently.

p.1

Information about this children's home

The term ‘adults’ has been used throughout the report to reflect the home’s preferred title to describe staff.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: 22 November 2023

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/11/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 3

p.2

improvement to be good

One child had lived in the home for almost eight months. In the earlier stages of them living in the home, they were supported to build positive relationships with the adults caring for them. They enjoyed some positive experiences in and out of the home, including nerf gun games, paintballing activities, and day trips to the beach. There are many photos for the child to recall positive memories of their time in the home, but they are not collated in a way that is meaningful for them.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child developed trusting relationships with some of the adults. This, at times, supported the child to seek help from the adults when they were away from the home, and to talk about the issues affecting their life. However, these relationships alone were not sufficient for the child to develop a strong sense of permanence and belonging to the home, or to mitigate the risks posed to them in the community. The child said that their experience of living in the home was ‘fine’.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child’s daily records provide an understanding about the child's life. They are written to the child and most records show the adults used calm and nurturing approaches to help and support the child. However, when the adults were most challenged by the child’s behaviour, a behavioural approach was often used that the child did not respond to well.

p.3

improvement to be good

The child was supported to develop their life skills. The adults taught them how to care for house pets, and they were involved with housework tasks, including changing their bed, and hoovering. In addition, the child took pride in their appearance. However, strategies to ensure that the child maintained healthy routines were not effective. The child stopped attending planned education sessions in the home, and there were significant concerns about their physical, emotional, and social development when they left the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

The manager ensured that the plans for the child to spend time with their family were regularly reviewed. They arranged time for the child to spend with their family, who live far away from the home.

p.3

improvement to be good

In the main, the adults implemented boundaries to help keep the child safe. However, approaches were not effective, and incidents were not always de-escalated effectively. Despite the adults’ efforts, they were increasingly challenged by the child’s behaviour.

p.3

improvement to be good

Risks identified in the community increased, including risks relating to violence, exploitation, and substance misuse. In the home, damage had been caused during Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 4 incidents. In addition, due to police attendance at incidents in the community, the child became involved in the criminal justice system. External support sought for the child was not effective in reducing the risks.

p.3

improvement to be good

An incremental approach was agreed with the child’s placing authority to increase the child’s time away from the home. However, they were out of the home for prolonged periods without being seen by adults. This did not safeguard the child effectively, and serious incidents in the community occurred. The manager recognised that the child was not being safeguarded, and shortly before the child left the home, they ensured that the child was seen during the day.

p.4

improvement to be good

The child was reported missing on 33 occasions during the eight months they lived in the home. When they were missing from the home, the adults made continual efforts to search for the child with varying degrees of success. When the child returned to the home they were welcomed back with emotional warmth. Safeguarding information was shared with relevant agencies appropriately and informed disruption activities.

p.4

improvement to be good

When the child self-harmed, the adults took prompt action to seek medical advice and attention.

p.4

improvement to be good

Recruitment procedures are followed, but there are not robust systems in place relating to the verification of references to ensure that the adults working in the home are supported and monitored in line with any previous practice concerns.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager understands the home’s strengths and areas for development. They are committed to improving the quality of the care provided, and to ensure that care meets the needs of the children moving into the home effectively. They have sessions planned with a clinical psychologist to increase a therapeutic care approach, in line with the home’s statement of purpose.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The adults benefitted from training courses that increased their awareness of exploitation and the child’s specific needs. This training directly informed their responses and collaborative approaches with partner agencies in response to the risks posed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home environment is welcoming. The furnishings and pictures in the home provide a homely feel. Repairs in the home are promptly repaired, but the child's bedroom needed redecoration to reduce the sight of repairs in their bedroom.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The adults working in the home receive regular supervision. Safeguarding scenarios discussed in these sessions support individual learning and practice development. However, records lack exploration of the care approaches provided to the child to continually improve the quality of the care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The adults described suitable inductions into the home, and positive experiences of working in the home. In the main, the child’s social worker was positive about the care Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 5 provided, but the child moving on from the home in an unplanned way was not a positive outcome for them. Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

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

p.6

Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(b))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that the adults caring for the child use strategies that reduce the risk of harm effectively. 1 November 2024

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff keep, and encourage children to keep, appropriate memorabilia of the time spent living at the home and help them to record significant life events. In particular, collate photographs and information so that they are organised for the child to look back on. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.5)

p.6

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: 2731541 7

p.6

Children's home details

Registered provider: 360 Children's Residential Services Limited

p.7

Children's home details

Registered provider address: 4 Minster court, Tuscam Way, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3YY

p.7

Children's home details

Responsible individual: Richard Ellis-Tole

p.7

Inspectors

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Helen Cushnie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2731541 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8