Children's Home run by Unique Care Group Ltd in Shropshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2766159 1 Registered provider: Unique Care Group Limited

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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 company. It provides care for up to four children who have learning difficulties. Children may also have other conditions such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager were registered with Ofsted in March 2024. This was the first inspection since registration.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children's home: 2766159 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home. No other children have moved in or left.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before the child moved to the home, the manager completed comprehensive assessments to make sure they could meet the child’s needs. As a result, the child has settled quickly into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a child-focused, nurturing approach to care. This has helped the child to form positive and trusting relationships with staff, and they are able to express their views and worries.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have helped the child to make progress. Despite only living at the home for a few months, the child is enjoying activities they had not previously taken part in. Staff have encouraged the child’s interests, such as playing football and learning about all things Korean. Staff have taken the child to a Korean supermarket and cooked Korean food.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have helped the child to form friendships through social groups. This includes the child attending a dance and mentoring group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has been helped by staff to explore and understand who they are. Staff have used a variety of learning opportunities to help the child understand their neurodiversity and how they see themselves and the world.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Previously, education had not been a positive experience for the child. Since moving to the home, staff have helped the child understand the importance of education. The child’s attendance at school has been excellent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff make sure the child stays in touch with their family. No matter the distance, staff take the child for visits and make sure the child can keep in touch by phone.

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

The child is kept safe by a knowledgeable staff team. Leaders have developed robust risk assessments and behaviour plans which support staff to understand how to help the child and keep them safe. Plans are reviewed when new risks emerge.

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

Staff use strategies well and, on most occasions, this has helped pre-empt and defuse behavioural incidents quickly, without the need for physical intervention. On one occasion when physical intervention was needed, staff found it difficult to apply. Staff reflected on this and discussed it with the trainer. An alternative strategy was adopted to help ensure staff are better equipped to manage similar incidents should they occur again. Inspection report for children's home: 2766159 3 The child is settled at the home and has not tried to leave without staff permission. If they were to do so, staff understand what action to take to find and return the child to the home as quickly as possible.

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

Staff have listened to the child when they have wanted to talk about their previous experiences. Concerns have been taken seriously and reported to appropriate professionals. When the child has had to relive these experiences when talking to external professionals, staff have been there to support and reassure the child.

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

When staff have been concerned about the child’s mental health, leaders have sought advice from external professionals. This has resulted in training and advice being given on how to better support the child, helping to increase staff’s knowledge and skills in responding to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior leaders are ambitious and have high expectations for themselves and the care given to the child. However, they have found shortfalls in the skills of the registered manager and their monitoring of the home. This has meant the responsible individual has had to provide additional support to the registered manager to ensure there is no impact on the child and that the quality of care is maintained.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is a stable staff team at the home and no staff have left. Those spoken to were complimentary about the registered manager and said that he is supportive of them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff receive regular reflective supervision and a wide variety of training, including child- specific training. This helps develop staff skills and knowledge in caring for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff and the manager have built positive relationships with external professionals and work effectively with them. All were complimentary about the home and said the child has made good progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager takes time to listen to the child. The child has expressed their views about the home, and their likes and dislikes. Suggestions are acknowledged and action taken to meet the child’s requests. This has included their choice of bedroom, how it is decorated, and things for the house and garden. Inspection report for children's home: 2766159 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the registered manager having the skills to monitor the home, address shortfalls and take action to improve the quality of care. 25 October 2024

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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: 2766159 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: School House, Westbury, Shrewsbury SY5 9QX

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Inspector

Debbie Bond, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2766159 6 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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