Children's Home run by Rockhopper Children’s Services Limited in Coventry

Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 1 Registered provider: Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) 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

The home is owned by a large private provider. It is registered to care for up to five children who may have special educational needs and are likely to have social and emotional difficulties because they have experienced early childhood trauma. Five children are currently being cared for in this home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home was registered in October 2022. The manager has been in post since June 2024 and is working towards a level 5 qualification in leadership and management. The manager has submitted her application to Ofsted to become the registered manager.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 17/05/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home, and six have moved in. Four of the five children living at the home were spoken to by the inspector. Children moving into the home benefit from transitions that are thoughtfully managed and supported by staff. For example, before moving in, staff take time to meet with children and encourage them to visit the home to see what it is like and meet the other staff and the children. This supports children to reduce their anxieties and settle into their new home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living at their home; they receive good-quality, consistent care from the staff. Children are making progress in many areas of their lives. Staff respect children’s relationships with the people who are important to them. Children are supported to spend time with their families and previous carers. Staff work hard to develop positive relationships with children’s families and ensure that arrangements are in line with children’s plans. Because of this, children have improved their relationships with their family members and built attachments and relationships with the staff. When needed, children are supported to establish and develop relationships with important loved ones. This enables children to develop a sense of belonging and positive identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff regularly speak with children about their home and their care. Children benefit from structured routines. They know when they have appointments and planned visits with family or leisure activities. These consistent routines provide the children with a sense of certainty. This helps the children to feel more secure, and they can better manage their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a wide range of activities such as bowling, group adventure games and football. Staff have built relationships with local football clubs to support the children’s interest in this sport. This provides children with opportunities to build their confidence and form peer relationships in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to attend their routine and specialist health appointments. Staff attend regular consultations with clinicians to help give them an understanding of how to support children better. This has a positive impact on children because staff are able to help children understand their own needs better.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff who understand the importance of education and who work hard to ensure that children’s education needs are met. When children have difficulties attending school, staff work closely with education professionals to ensure that children are supported back into education. A creative approach has recently supported two of the children to complete recognised qualifications in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 4 Children live in a welcoming and homely environment; they are comfortable in their surroundings. The house is well furnished and decorated throughout. Rooms are personalised, including the lounge and children’s bedrooms. Repairs are undertaken promptly, which helps to ensure that the home is a nice place to live.

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

Children’s views are central to decision-making in relation to planning and responding to risk; children feel listened to. Children say they have trusted adults they can talk to in the home if they have any worries or concerns. When allegations are made, managers ensure these are shared effectively with appropriate agencies, managed in line with statutory guidance and effective action is taken to safeguard the child without delay.

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

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities and are effective in supporting children to stay safe. Children’s risk assessments underpin practice, and this means that children receive a consistent approach to their care. Risk assessments include details of all known and potential risks and contain clear strategies that support the reduction of risk. Important discussions between staff and children help children to develop an understanding of how to keep themselves safe.

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

The recruitment of staff is in line with safer recruitment practices. This ensures that only staff who are appropriately vetted and checked can work with children.

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

The arrangements for obtaining, storing and administering medication to children are effective. Staff have completed relevant training in the administration of medication and have a good understanding of the importance of children taking their medication as prescribed.

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

Because of the positive relationships with children, staff can de-escalate most incidents of challenging behaviour. It is rare that staff use physical intervention to help manage children’s behaviour or to keep them safe. When a child has been held, they have the opportunity of a debrief with a staff member who was not involved in the incident. However, the recordings of these interventions are not always clear. This hinders the opportunity to ensure that incidents are reviewed effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a child-centred manager and deputy manager. They are respected by the staff, who say they are well supported, and staff morale is high. The manager has a good understanding of children’s individual needs and the impact that the care provided has on their outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers work effectively with other professionals. This ensures that the children receive appropriate support and help when they need it. As a result, children benefit from consistent care and approaches to support from all the adults involved in their lives. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 5 The manager and the deputy manager ensure that the staff routinely access their essential mandatory training. This includes first aid, safeguarding and behaviour management. In addition, the staff receive more specialist training in such areas as supporting children with additional health needs. This provides the staff with the knowledge and skills to care for and keep the children safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and have their performance appraised annually. This supports staff to discuss the progress of the children and consider their own professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Overall, the manager has good oversight of the home and care provided for children. Children are actively encouraged to share their views and influence the day-to-day running of the home through their attendance at ‘children’s gathering’ meetings. The template for the recording of these meetings could be clearer to support children to have their voices consistently heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The requirements and recommendations set at the home’s last inspection have been met. Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. This is with specific reference to the recordings of physical interventions and children’s meetings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2692837 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kedleston (Wood Grove Childcare) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 8, Brook Business Centre, Cowley Mill Road, Cowley, Uxbridge UB8 2FX

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Inspector

Lisa Walsh, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2692837 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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Inspector

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