Children's home run by Holistic Care Service Nationwide Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 1 Registered provider: Holistic Care Service Nationwide 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

This home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/08/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Moves in and out of the home are planned and managed in a child-centred way. The child now living in the home has developed positive relationships with staff who know them well and are attuned to their needs. The child said, ‘I like the house and the staff. I have never had people who have worked with me like this to get me to where I want to be.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager ensure that the child is supported to maintain relationships with the people who are important to them. Members of the child’s family are supported to spend time with them in their home, and an office has recently been converted into a family room to allow for a more natural environment. The child is supported to build relationships with their peers, giving them opportunities for social interaction. The child takes part in a wide range of activities and has also enjoyed a recent caravan holiday. The child is encouraged to build up their independence skills in an age-appropriate way by helping with cooking, shopping and budgeting.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is able to express their feelings and wishes. Staff support the child to express their views on their care in local authority meetings. Regular discussions take place with the child on important issues, such as staying safe, substance misuse, sexual health and managing relationships. The child has access to a therapeutic practitioner in the home who helps them to make sense of their past experiences and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and the manager ensure that the child’s cultural identity is promoted. They have employed a member of staff who is originally from their family’s country of origin so that family time can be better supported and the child can learn about the history and customs of the country.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child’s health needs. The child has had a history of non- engagement with health services. After encouragement from staff and the manager, the child is now accessing a range of health services. When children have presented as being heavily under the influence of substances, medical advice has been sought and staff have followed advice. However, there have been some occasions when medical advice has not been obtained after low-level substance misuse. There is no multi-agency agreement in regard to when medical advice should be sought for the child. Furthermore, referrals to substance misuse services have not been made in a timely manner for the children in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is receiving education through a home tutor. The manager is working with education and social care professionals to source a suitable provision. Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 4 The home is a safe environment for the child. It is furnished and decorated to a high standard and is well maintained. The property feels homely.

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

The child has positive and trusting relationships with staff in the home. Positive behaviour is promoted at the home through rewards. When negative consequences are given, they are proportionate, fair and usually take a restorative approach.

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

When children are deprived of their liberty through a court order, staff follow strict protocols to ensure that they are kept safe. They have worked with professionals and the child to reduce risks and allow for progression of the plan and restrictions to be removed.

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

Staff and the manager are proactive in attempting to prevent missing-from-home episodes. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘The child has made significant progress. There have been no missing episodes, and when they have threatened to run, this is managed well, and they return.’ When there have been missing-from- home incidents, these are generally well managed, and staff work with a range of agencies and individuals to locate children. However, when children have been missing and known to be outside of the local area, staff have not always searched for them consistently.

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

There are clear plans in place that help the staff to understand how to meet each child’s individual needs. Incidents are generally well managed, and staff are trained and skilled in de-escalation techniques. This promotes a positive and non- confrontational culture. Physical intervention techniques are rarely used. When they are, they are proportionate and necessary. Children and staff are given the opportunity to discuss incidents, which encourages reflection and learning.

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

There are clear boundaries in the home and measures in place to identify risk to children. Children’s phones are checked when necessary, and there is education around keeping safe on the internet and social media. Staff complete room searches after incidents or suspicions of substance misuse.

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

There have been several new members of staff recruited, which means that there is now a consistent staff team in place to support the child. However, safer recruitment practices have not always been followed. In one case, a reference from the most recent previous employer has not been provided. Staff complete a broad range of good-quality training in safeguarding matters and know how to escalate safeguarding concerns.

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good

The manager has been in post for four months and is currently applying to register with Ofsted. Her practice is child-centred and meets each child’s needs. However, Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 5 there have been several changes of manager and responsible individual. Consequently, leaders and managers have not always had effective oversight in the home, which has led to opportunities for learning and improvement of the care provided being missed. While the current manager and responsible individual have a clear vision for improving the home and are putting systems in place to facilitate this, they are not yet embedded.

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good

Staff say that they feel well supported by the manager and the responsible individual. Staff receive regular practice-related supervision, which allows them to reflect. Team meetings are used as a forum for discussion and learning and are held regularly.

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good

Some staff are qualified and experienced in childcare. New members of staff complete an induction before being enrolled to attain a recognised childcare qualification. Staff do have access to a range of training. However, the manager has not always ensured that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of individual children.

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good

Staff and the manager work effectively with other agencies and professionals. They provide effective challenge when necessary to secure the best outcome for the child and ensure that their voice is heard. However, the most recent care plan and health assessment for the child have not been received in a timely manner. This could hinder progress in relation to healthcare for the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 6

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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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)(c)(f)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of each child, including those who are misusing substances.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the registered person must ensure that they have effective arrangements for oversight and monitoring the care provided to children. 16 November

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)) 16 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that referrals to specialist services to support children with health needs, including substance misuse, are made in a timely manner.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that a reference is gathered from staff members’ most recent previous employer. 16 November

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that they receive the most recent care plan and health assessment for the child from the local authority. 16 November Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 8

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Recommendations

 The registered person should convene a multi-agency meeting in order to formulate an agreed plan in relation to low-level substance misuse by children living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.7)  The registered person should ensure that when a child is missing from home or away from the home without permission, staff search for the child consistently. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)

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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: 2632889 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Holistic Care Service Nationwide Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Midge Hall Farm Whitewood Lane Scarisbrick PR9 8AW

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2632889 10 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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