Children's home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2506232 1 Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned. It provides care for up to 12 weeks for up to three children with complex needs. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 22 December 2020.

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Information about this children’s home

The staff in the home are referred to as adults in the report, in line with the language used in the home.

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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: 2506232 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/01/2024 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good 21/06/2022 Full Inadequate 08/12/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2506232 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress in the short time that they live in the home. The 12- week programme is constantly adapted and streamlined to ensure that children’s progress and areas for further development are continually reviewed. Adults help the children to make the most of their time in the home and to reset and think positively about the rest of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Four children have lived in the home since the last inspection. Their moves into the home were exceptionally well planned, even when at short notice. Children quickly settle into a routine and have stable and consistent care, allowing them to have positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move on from the home, the adults provide comprehensive information to the placing authority social workers. This ensures that children’s successes are highlighted and that they are supported when they move into a new home that is right for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are overwhelmingly positive about their time in the home. They feel that they get time and support, which allows them to understand previous risks and how to move on from these situations. One child said that they wanted to stay in the area as they felt safe and were embracing the chance to start again.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views form and shape how the home is run. Each new child can share how they would like to be looked after and what routine would best suit them. Adults work alongside the children to ensure that they have healthy and safe routines. Children who live far from their home visit their family regularly. Adults stay close by to provide help if needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are positive about their relationships with adults. They know that adults advocate for them but will also challenge them when they are acting in a concerning way. Adults listen to the children’s views and help them in a nurturing and thoughtful way to develop and change their patterns of behaviour. Social workers and parents are highly complimentary about the home and the care provided. They acknowledge the extensive progress and achievements that children have made in a short time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children engage in education through the company’s education provision, including during the school holidays. Adults recognise the children’s barriers to learning and implement strategies and plans to help them engage. Adults attend the school with children if needed. Similarly, teachers visit the home to build relationships with the children. Children complete a wide range of accredited awards. This helps them to build their confidence and knowledge. Inspection report for children's home: 2506232 4 Children learn about healthy lifestyles and what this means for them. They are involved in budgeting and making meals, which they enjoy. They learn the risks of vaping and substance misuse and discuss healthy and safe relationships. Children enjoy a wide range of freshly cooked meals and exercise in the home’s gym. They also enjoy going to the local trampoline park and taking walks in the local area with adults. Children have

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

access to the home’s therapeutic lead, who visits regularly, and other specialist mental health and emotional well-being support services as needed.

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

Children are safe in the home. They flourish and feel safe and comfortable with the adults who care for them.

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

Children are open with adults about the dangerous situations that they have been in. Adults listen and support them without judgement, showing children kindness and care. Children develop the skills to help them to be safer in the future.

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

Adults understand and help children to manage their vulnerabilities and support them with their changing needs and behaviours. Adults understand that children’s behaviour is a form of communication, and help children to develop new coping strategies.

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

Adults know how to respond should they be concerned for a child. Joint working with partner agencies is a particular strength of the home. Managers link with specialist police officers to help children to learn to trust the police and for adults to understand the current risks locally.

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

Adults regularly receive therapeutic-based training which reinforces their current skills and helps them to develop new ones. This has led to a significant reduction in incidents as adults have developed an excellent understanding of children’s anxieties and emotions and how these present. There has been little use of physical intervention for several months and missing-from-home incidents have also reduced.

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

Children are protected from avoidable risks through regular checks of the home and grounds. Children understand what to do in the event of a fire and how to be safe around the animals on the smallholding. Safer recruitment practices are followed to prevent children being cared for by inappropriate people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has high aspirations for children and the home is run with children at the centre of any decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults are consistent in their approach and the manager expertly guides the team. Consequently, children receive high-quality care and know that they will be looked after. Effective joint working with other professionals ensures that children have the best opportunities to succeed after they move on from the home. Children’s plans are highly Inspection report for children's home: 2506232 5 individualised and regularly updated to ensure that they benefit from the best care possible.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Adults are extremely well supported by the registered manager and the wider team. Team meetings and supervisions are valuable learning experiences. Adults fully engage in the sessions with the therapeutic lead and use their knowledge to improve the quality of care and support for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The training and support that adults receive ensure that they have the skills to meet the children’s constantly changing needs. Adults have an interactive QR code system which allows them to share their views about how to improve the quality of care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are constantly seeking to improve the service provided. They make good use of the monthly monitoring visits by the independent person and continually review children’s progress and the adults’ approach to care.

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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: 2506232 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Advantage, 87 Castle Street, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7SN

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2506232 7 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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