Children's Home run by SW Education & Care Ltd in Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 1 Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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

Date of last inspection: 22 January 2024

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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: 2578677 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2024 Full Good 11/01/2023 Full Good 07/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming. The addition of a fish tank and reptile tank add to the homely environment. The large communal areas are furnished to a high standard. The child’s bedroom is full of their personal items. To meet the child’s current needs, carers have adapted a downstairs room into a temporary bedroom for them. They have moved essential items in line with the child’s wishes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has made progress. They have developed their understanding of risk and their awareness of the overall impact of their actions. This has led to a decrease in risk-taking behaviours. The child said that they have been able to progress due to the support provided by carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers recognise the significance and benefits of safe and positive family relationships. They have worked with other professionals and established open communication with the child’s family to progress family time. The child’s needs, wishes and feelings have been gained and considered throughout the process. This process has resulted in the child spending safe, quality time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers meet the child’s physical and emotional health needs. Medication is correctly stored, monitored and administered. They have supported the child to attend vital medical appointments and provided daily support in respect of their physical health. Carers work closely with the psychiatrist. This allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of mental health and has informed care planning and strengthened risk management.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Carers understand the importance of children receiving an education. They have supported the child to reintegrate back into formal education and to explore and apply for further education. An education professional spoke positively about carers child- centred approach to education and their ability to advocate for the child. When the child has been unable to attend formal education for health reasons, carers have consistently provided learning activities within the home environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is developing their independence skills and looking towards their future. In conjunction with the child, carers have devised and follow a working document setting out expectations for the development of independence skills, although timescales for completion of goals are not clearly defined within the plan. Carers and the child regularly discuss the child’s future, acknowledging that their move to semi-independent living is getting closer. Records of the child’s life are well written, providing a clear narrative of their experiences. These are complimented by a bright and informative memory book. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 4

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

The child said that she feels safe and well cared for, and she likes living in the home. She has formed positive relationships with carers and named carers to whom she can go. She said that carers have supported her to reduce risk taking behaviours. She trusts her carers and said that they have provided her with a higher level of support than she had expected during a particularly difficult time.

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

Carers have a good knowledge and understanding of risk. They know the child well and are committed to keeping them safe. They talk openly and honestly to the child about their concerns. This is welcomed by the child, who, in return, is open and honest with carers. Planning to support the child and manage risk is thorough. However, pivotal information may get lost due to the large volume of information that is included.

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

When there have been restrictions on the child’s liberty, carers have recognised the severity of these restrictions. Restrictions used were necessary and proportionate to the presenting risks. Reduction planning was completed at an early stage. Restraint has been used on two occasions. Both of these have been appropriate.

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

Documents that record serious events within the home are thorough and well written. They provide a view of the child’s and carers’ actions. Carers are reactive to the child’s behaviours and follow plans. Following serious events, reflective conversations are completed with carers and with the child.

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

When the child has been missing from care, carers have taken timely and appropriate action. They follow plans and make continuous attempts to contact the child. They have worked with other professionals to devise a trigger plan, which aims to promote a prompt response from all agencies. Carers discuss with the child the child’s reasons for going missing from care, and this feeds into risk assessments and planning. While managers have knowledge and insight into missing episodes, they do not record their oversight on documents.

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

Planning for the child to move out of the home for a temporary period and then back into the home was comprehensive. Carers continued to visit and support the child through this period, maintaining important relationships. They worked closely with a multi-agency team, appropriately challenging the views of others and advocating for the safety and best interests of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led by a robust leadership and management team. The manager is visible within the home, choosing to spend time with the child and carers. He is extremely reflective and strives to consistently improve practice and outcomes for the child. He has good oversight of the home. Decision-making is collaborative and child centred. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 5 Carers like working in the home. They said that they receive good quality support from leaders and managers, and this is reflected within written records of supervision. They describe a supportive working environment where the child is central to everything that they do. Carers choose to stay working at the home. This provides the child with a stable and consistent team, allowing them to build the trusting relationships that are evident within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers work effectively with other professionals, who spoke positively about the care provided to the child. They work as a team for the benefit of the child. Leaders and managers recognise the need to consult with other agencies and have done so regularly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are held regularly. Written records of these meetings are thorough and highlight the depth of reflection and discussion that takes place. The attendance of the psychiatrist further adds to the quality of child-centred discussion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers said that they receive the training that they need to enable them to effectively care for the child. When it has been identified that additional, more specific, training is required, this is promptly secured and provided to the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home practises safer recruitment. Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that carers have access to clear and concise information about children. This includes documents that detail risk, rationale for decision-making and ongoing care needs. This will lower the possibility of essential information getting lost or misunderstood and impacting on the quality of care provided. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person must ensure that there is written management oversight along with reflections on the issue of missing-from-care incidents within the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.31)

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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: 2578677 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SW Education & Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Node Cowork, Roundswell Enterprise Park, Barnstaple, Devon EX31 3YB

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Inspectors

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Helen Cushnie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2578677 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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