Children's Home run by Heartwood RSR Limited in Lincolnshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 1 Registered provider: Heartwood RSR 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

The home is operated by a private company. It provides care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since April 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

This home is safe and secure for children. It is well presented, cosy and comfortable throughout. Children’s bedrooms are suitably furnished, and children are supported to personalise them to reflect their interests and hobbies. There is a large and well- maintained garden that children enjoy for playing. Children said they like living in their home and are consulted on the choice of decor. A professional said, ‘This is not just a children’s home, it is a family home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s experiences of moving to the home are good. In the event of a child moving to the home in an unplanned manner, the managers ensure that children are supported to maintain links with external professionals and family members, when this is right for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children said they like the manager and staff, and they feel listened to and able to talk about any worries or concerns they might have. The interactions between staff and children are warm and affectionate. Children freely and comfortably accept hugs and praise from staff. External adults, who know the children well, speak positively about their achievements and progress since living at the home. Children are encouraged and supported to access education to meet their needs. Additionally, children engage in fun and healthy activities, such as boxing, playing games and enjoying beauty products.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Good arrangements are in place to ensure that children’s physical and emotional health needs are met. Children are encouraged to participate in sports, and they can access emotional and well-being services. As a result, there are notable improvements in children’s health, emotional well-being and overall presentation.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are provided with opportunities to develop their independence skills and access local facilities. They are encouraged to participate in community activities and charitable events. For example, the children participated in a fancy dress walk, which raised funds for a local elderly persons’ care home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage and support the children to see their friends and spend time with friends in the community. This is closely monitoring by staff to ensure that children themselves and keep safe. Children are supported to maintain their links with their family in accordance with their wishes and feelings. The arrangements for seeing family members are monitored and overseen by the staff and managers in collaboration with social workers.

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

The managers and staff have a good understanding of children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Risk assessments are child-specific and robust. Good systems are in Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 4 place to regularly review children’s risk assessments and amend these as required to ensure that children’s risks are understood by staff.

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

The staff use a preferred therapeutic approach in supporting children. This approach incentivises positive behaviour, and interactions between children and staff are geared toward promoting children’s self-esteem and positive behaviour. As a result, children can openly express themselves, and they respond well to methods of distraction and de-escalation when struggling to manage their emotions. Consequently, the use of physical intervention is rare.

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

If children need additional support to help them with any emotional or mental health concerns, the manager and staff secure help from more specialist services. The staff will help and support the children to engage with these services. As a result, children’s risks have decreased, and they are gaining a better understanding of their risk and vulnerabilities. This is good progress.

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

The manager has good partnership working arrangements with key safeguarding agencies. External professionals reported that there is good communication, which includes regular updates and detailed reports on the progress of children. Children are supported to contribute to the review of their care plans and the day-to-day decisions about their care. Children can express their views and opinions, with managers and staff advocating for children should this be required.

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

The manager ensures good safeguarding practice when recruiting new staff to work in the home. The manager undertakes safer recruitment vetting, and as a result, they minimise risk to children, with only staff deemed as safe being able to work in the home. The manager and leaders take prompt action in the event of concerns being raised over staff conduct.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and senior manager are very committed and dedicated to providing children with a safe and comfortable home environment. They have worked hard and been successful in raising the standard of the physical environment of the home because they know how important this is for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has developed good oversight and quality assurance systems. These systems include a range of checks, including the review of documentation pertaining to the children. The manager is assisted by monthly independent visitor reports. These reports are sufficiently detailed and enable objective overview of the home and areas that may require some improvement.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is well supported by the responsible individual. The manager is increasing her confidence and is now feeling very established in her role as manager. The manager reports an excellent level of support, guidance and constructive challenge, which has been very welcome. Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 5 The manager has a clear vision for the home, which is shared by senior managers. The leaders recently requested a variation to the registered number of places for children, increasing from three to four children. This was agreed by Ofsted. Careful care planning is being used when considering new children coming to live at the home. This includes discussion with children living in the home and key external professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff say they feel valued and listened to. They are provided with regular, effective professional supervision. This helps them to reflect on their care practice, training and developmental needs. Team meetings take place regularly, and the manager encourages and supports staff to share their ideas and suggestions for the development of the care of the children and the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made. Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 6

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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: 2711833 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Heartwood RSR Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 416 Green Lane, Ilford, Essex IG3 9JX

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Inspector

Angela Duffus-Palmer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2711833 8 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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