Children's home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 1 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group 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

This home provides care for up to two children with complex needs. A private provider operates the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2024 and is suitably qualified and experienced.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection and both talked about their experiences of the home with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2023 Full Good 14/02/2023 Full Good 15/09/2021 Full Outstanding 09/10/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff and say they can talk to them about any worries they may have. Both children said they like living in the home and would recommend it to another child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a large, old property surrounded by fields. There is plenty of room for children and adults to eat together and spend time playing games or to have time apart when needed. Parts of the home have been redecorated and the home is clean and pleasant. Despite one of the children’s bathroom’s being replaced since the last inspection, problems with the water flow in the property has led to the toilet becoming unpleasantly stained again. This is currently being investigated to find a more lasting solution.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and both children’s attendance at school is excellent. One of the children completed mock exams this term and is looking at their post-16 options.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy getting involved in a wide range of activities in the home, celebrating festivals and holidays together with staff. They also explore their own interests in the community. As well as spending time with friends, one child is an RAF cadet and another completed a project to raise awareness about rescue dogs and to raise money for the local dog’s’ home. Memory books and photographs capture these special occasions, celebrations, and children’s achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are in good general health and are supported to attend their routine health appointments. Staff understand, and are confident in working within the home’s therapeutic model, a child focussed approach informs the strategies staff use to support children. Weekly therapy sessions are provided by an in-house therapist. Staff work with children to ensure they are prepared to take part in these sessions A flexible approach to arranging these sessions, for example by conducting them while walking a dog, has encouraged one of the children to re-engage with therapy after a period of not wanting to attend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are sensitive to children’s needs and supportive of them exploring and attempting to understand their identity. Children are supported to maintain their relationships with people who are important to them. Staff facilitate and supervise enjoyable activities, such as swimming trips and outings, so that children can spend time with family and friends in line with their care plans.

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

There have been no missing incidents since the last inspection. Protocols are in place, giving staff clear guidance about what to do should a child go missing from the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 4 No safeguarding incidents have occurred since the last inspection, but staff understand and can describe their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

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

Physical restraint is used infrequently in this home. It has been used twice since the last inspection as a last resort to prevent physical harm. The records of the incidents are comprehensive, and the reviews completed by the registered manager are reflective and include follow-up actions if they are needed.

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

Staff have regular important discussions with children about a range of topics, such as improving the relationship between the children, which can be difficult sometimes. Positive relationships between the children and the staff in the home, alongside careful consideration of when to encourage the children to spend time together, or pursue separate activities, contribute to both managing children’s relationships and building positive interactions between them.

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

Comprehensive risk assessments and behaviour support plans provide staff with guidance on how best to respond to an incident if it should occur. These include children’s views on how they would prefer any incidents to be managed.

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

Safer recruitment arrangements reduce the risk of unsuitable people being employed in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager moved to this home in January this year. Arrangements for the change of manager were managed well and have had limited impact on the children living in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has established a range of scheduled activities to ensure that she has good oversight of the running of the home and the care the children receive. Since starting in the home, the manager has been careful to introduce any changes sensitively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is an established and stable staff team in the home. Any gaps in rotas are covered by the team or from a pool of staff from other homes, which promotes consistency of care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision and appraisals take place regularly. However, the quality of recording of supervision varies depending on the supervisor and does not always reflect the quality of the conversation held. Team meetings are held regularly and are a useful forum for discussion about practice and the day-to-day care of the children. Training is relevant and up to date.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak positively about working in the home. They feel well supported and say the change in manager has not had a negative effect on the children or on the way the home is run. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 5 Children’s views are captured through informal conversations, key worker sessions these influence individual plans for children as well as things the children want to pursue or think could be done differently in the home. However, children’s meetings which are a nice summary of things that have gone well and do not routinely capture children’s views about how they would like to influence the development of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that appropriate repairs and improvements are made to a child’s en-suite bathroom. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure children’s views are gathered to influence the running and development of the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.24)  The registered person should ensure that staff consistently receive supervision that supports their understanding of their roles and responsibilities. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 54, paragraph 10.20)

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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: 1213416 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

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Inspector

Janet Fraser, His Majesty’s Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1213416 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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