Children's Home run by Affinity Childrens Care Ltd in Walsall

Inspection report for children’s home: 2690163 1 Registered provider: Affinity Childrens Care 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

A private company owns and manages this home. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 12 March 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

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: 2690163 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was living in the home at the time of inspection. No other children have left or joined the home since it opened. The child has formed strong attachments with the staff team, feels safe and has a sense of belonging. The staff strive to understand the child’s individual needs, so they understand how best to provide support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager considered the needs of the child and planned a sensitive and welcoming move into the home. This included visits to the child in their previous home to meet them and provide reassurance and bring personal items over in preparation for the move. The child experienced a positive move and was prepared and informed. This has meant they have continued to build on their relationship with the staff team, and they feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since living in the home, the child has been out of education for several months and is anxious about returning to education. The manager has identified a three-day vocational-based opportunity for the child to attend, and home learning is completed on alternate days. The staff team provides a broad range of learning materials and educational visits to support learning and maintain structure and routine. The virtual school has praised the ‘excellent support’ the home is providing and their ongoing support to prepare the child’s return to formal education. The manager has been instrumental in identifying a suitable education provision for the placing authority to explore and ensures the child’s education remains a priority.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Health and well-being are promoted well by staff. They ensure the child leads an active lifestyle. The child is enjoying growing produce, harvesting and cooking fruit and vegetables from the garden. The child is supported to attend all routine health appointments. Staff identify if specialist health services are needed and assist the child to access this support. In-house therapeutic support is available and can be accessed weekly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s passions and talents are encouraged. Since moving into the home, the manager has identified a new riding school for the child and has ensured that hobbies are supported and continue to be part of the child’s usual weekly routines. The child has thrived in the home and feels valued by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The well-being of the child is central to the care provided by staff. Staff clearly understand the child’s individual needs. Staff provide opportunities for the child to express their wishes and feelings, and they understand what is important to the child.

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

Staff understand the child’s risk and vulnerabilities. They work hard to ensure that the child feels safe and protected and that they know how best to provide support. They Inspection report for children’s home: 2690163 3 consider the child’s past experiences, so their responses are appropriate, and boundaries that reflect need are implemented. The child has strong relationships with staff and can identify trusted individuals to talk to. The child said they feel safe, that staff ‘make me feel like I am not in care’ and ‘I feel welcomed and loved.’

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

Staff understand the child’s behaviours and risks; they implement strategies to support the child, and as a result, the child is kept safe. Risk assessments are live documents that are reviewed regularly or following an incident, ensuring that the approach to mitigating harm and potential risks remains effective.

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

Staff have the skills to help keep the child safe online. An age-appropriate response to online safety is applied by staff. This ensures that the child’s online access is not disproportionately restricted, and they are well supported to safely use the internet. They receive guidance and education from staff around online risks and so can use technology safely.

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

There have been no missing-from-home episodes since the home opened. Staff are aware of what to do in the event of such an incident. The urban location of the home and the additional risks associated with this have been considered. Links with local safeguarding agencies in the community have been forged, with the manager forming links with key partnership agencies.

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

Incidents are rare and there has been no use of physical intervention. Positive behaviour is consistently promoted, and a range of rewards and incentives are used to recognise and celebrate achievements. The child feels a sense of pride and recognises the progress they are making as a result.

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

Staff are safely recruited. The manager has actively sought the expertise of the local authority designated officer (LADO), when staff practice issues have been raised, so action is taken promptly and fairly. The home environment is well presented and homely, providing a safe and comfortable environment for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A child-focused, experienced manager leads the home. She has a clear understanding of the child’s experiences, personality, needs and risks and has built a strong relationship in the short time she has been supporting the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This ethos is embedded in the staff team. Staff demonstrate commitment and warmth in their approach, and they have also developed meaningful relationships with the child. A consistent staff team, with minimal changes since the home opened, has meant that staff know the child well and how best to provide support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring takes place. Leaders and managers work in partnership to oversee the home and track the progress of the staff, the child and the physical environment. Despite clear oversight, there has been one incident of a delay in reporting a notifiable Inspection report for children’s home: 2690163 4 incident to Ofsted. Prompt reporting to the LADO and immediate action was taken regarding the incident so this had no impact on the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In-house plans and the child’s records are detailed and kept under review. However, the child’s in-house care plan had not been updated to reflect the actions from a recent local authority review. Consequently, this did not provide a true reflection of the child’s current circumstances. There have been challenges obtaining updated local authority plans, but clear attempts to obtain them have been made by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that staff have the right opportunities to develop their skills to enable them to meet the child’s needs and respond with sensitivity. New starters are provided with a clear induction into the home and paired with experienced members of the team. Staff have consistently said that they feel ‘supported and confident in their role’.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is regular, reflective and child centred. New members of staff are given more frequent support during their probation to facilitate their learning and development while settling into the role. Supervision records are made available to supervisees. They contain details of the discussions held and actions set to develop practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers build positive working relationships with the professionals around the child. Strong working relationships are fostered to create a holistic approach to the child’s care. There is clear evidence of partnership working, most noticeably in the proactive approach to securing education for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2690163 5

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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 registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; and

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Requirement Due date

are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)) 15 November 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: 2690163 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Affinity Childrens Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Azzurri House Walsall Road, Walsall WS9 0RB

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Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2690163 7 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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