Children's home run by Nelbro Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 1 Registered provider: Nelbro Group Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. The home provides care for up to six children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Five children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to registered with Ofsted.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

20/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are making exceptional progress in several domains. With careful planning and a compassionate approach, staff support children to make meaningful changes to their lives. One child is now able to sleep soundly throughout the night, three children have secured school placements after some time out of mainstream education, and another has attended a longstanding health appointment. The positive impact of these achievements for the children concerned is profound.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

A strength of this home is the impressive array of stimulating activities offered to children. They enjoy one-to-one boxing coaching, swimming lessons, scootering clubs and horse-riding. These activities offer social enrichment and reflect children’s strengths and talents. A committed staff team help children overcome barriers to their personal development and encourage them to pursue their interests. The benefit of group activities and the value of family time is not underestimated at this home. Special occasions, such as birthdays, are keenly celebrated and efforts are made to ensure that children invite their friends and loved ones too.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive respectful and empowering messages from a skilled team of adults. Staff support children to understand and accept themselves, and they also promote the understanding of difference in immersive and educational ways. For one child, this approach has had a huge impact on their motivation to embrace diversity and the importance of inclusivity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This home’s ethos is that education and learning is a high priority for children. Staff ensure that children are well-prepared before they join a new education provision and work well with other agencies to secure school placements in a timely way. Staff oversee children’s educational progress and record ‘wins of the week’, in a format that makes them important keepsakes for children. Children’s achievements and awards are displayed within the home and education providers praise the approach of the staff and leaders towards children’s learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s time spent with loved ones is actively encouraged at this home. One external professional said that staff go ‘above and beyond’ to ensure that children experience meaningful and valuable time with their families. There is a reflective and considerate response to children’s extended networks also, which helps to maintain positive relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are invested in the home’s incentive scheme and are committed to achieving their goals. They are motivated and stay on track because of their involvement in the process and guidance they receive from staff to make them achievable. Whilst progress is not always linear, there are measurable positive outcomes. One child was able to build up their screen time allowance by completing key work sessions on internet safety, Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 4 whilst another earned a trip to a theme park by speaking more openly about their emotions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children understand how to make a complaint and say that they are confident in the response they receive. One child said they felt ‘heard’. Children’s wishes and views are actively sought by staff, who ensure there are numerous opportunities for children to voice their feelings and opinions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children play active roles in the home, which teaches them independence skills and also means they take ownership and pride in their living space. One child enjoys watering the plants in the garden and others take it in turns to cook the evening meal for everyone. Children are well-informed about their daily timetables and consulted about their plans for the week. This offers a sense of stability and security for children as they know what to expect. It also allows children to make changes if they wish, offering them the best chance of success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Newcomers who move into the home are welcomed by caring staff. New children can visit the home and begin to build relationships with the other children and staff prior to moving in. Plans consider the compatibility of children living in the home before they arrive and thereby reduce the likelihood of any instability. If children do feel unsettled by the changes, staff draw on their knowledge of the children they care for and offer emotional support to reduce their anxieties.

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

Staff work cohesively with children to promote feelings of safety and to help children understand their vulnerabilities. There is a multiagency approach to developing and reviewing risk assessments where there is high or escalating risk. The provider takes steps to ensure that children understand the actions staff are taking to help keep them safe and how children can contribute to their own wellbeing.

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

Key work sessions are focused and form part of the wider risk reduction measures in place to protect children. Staff help children to explore difficult emotions and find safe strategies to express them. A consultant psychologist helps to shape the direction of these discussions and also completes direct work with children where this is most needed.

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

Physical restraint is sometimes used to keep children safe. When children need to be held, records are detailed, and good management oversight ensures that measures are safe and proportionate. Children are offered the opportunity to discuss their feelings with trusted and independent adults. Learning is derived from incidents at this home and communicated transparently with external stakeholders.

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

The provider ensures that the referral and assessment process is detailed and collaborative. Assessments are holistic and take account of the most relevant information provided before children move in. There is an ongoing review of compatibility that is Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 5 undertaken alongside external professionals. This process is innovative and effective at ensuring the ongoing safety and wellbeing of all children living in the home.

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

Staff have a solid understanding of safeguarding procedures, and their knowledge is regularly tested by the home’s manager. The manager ensures that relevant agencies are informed of any safeguarding concerns, including when allegations are made against staff. There have been a small number of occasions where these have not been notified to the regulator for oversight but have otherwise been responded to meticulously.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers provide compelling support and guidance to staff. They model the values of the home to create a nurturing and wholesome environment for the children to live in. Leaders have high aspirations for the children and speak about their achievements with pride. Children have been well-prepared for the planned changes to the leadership structure and have developed warm relationships with senior staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from living in a home where there is good leadership and monitoring. The manager completed thematic reviews each month, taking account of incidents, progress, and contextual factors. Through this detailed analysis, managers formulate clear plans that have meaningful impact. These evaluations help staff understand the experiences of children, and what actions they can take to support behavioural change. Leaders are receptive to feedback and take effective action in a timely way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Recommendations from the independent visitor are taken seriously and have contributed to improvements in supervision templates and recording of consequences for children. During this reporting period, there was one complaint received from an external party who is an important part of one child’s network. The concerns were addressed comprehensively and thoughtfully by the home’s manager, which helped to preserve trust and rapport with the complainant as well as the child. Additional training was provided, and a new protocol was formalised for staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from good quality supervision and induction. Annual appraisals focus on enhancing staff practice through additional learning. Staff are dedicated to the welfare of the children and the overall stability within the team is good. Staff say that they feel motivated and confident in their work as a result of the support they receive from leaders. Staff recognise the importance of maintaining their own wellbeing too. This is fully supported by leaders, who recognise the importance of a healthy and happy workforce. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 6

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Recommendation

The registered person should ensure that the regulator is notified without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.10)

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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: 2744556 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Nebro, Unit D, 31-33 High Street, Carshalton SM5 3AX

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Inspector

Tash Williams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2744556 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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