Children's home run by Gracewells Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 1 Registered provider: Gracewells Care 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 operated by a private provider and is registered to provide care for two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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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: 15 November 2023

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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: 2725367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. One child was present during part of the inspection and spoke with the inspector. The child said they had recently come to live at the home and were getting to know staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff place children at the centre of their practice. Consistent and clear boundaries are in place. Reward systems, positive behaviour plans and incentive charts are used to celebrate and encourage positive behaviour. This supports children to manage difficult feelings, which has led to one child accepting more personal responsibility.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress from their starting points. One child has successfully completed their exams and is now attending college. Before this, they had been out of education for a significant period.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are ambitious about children’s plans for their future. Staff understand the barriers to learning and have advocated for one child to attend a school specific to their needs. In addition, the child has been supported to develop their interests and they completed a course in vehicle maintenance. As a result, the child is learning and is developing confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to develop their independence according to their individual needs. One child has been enabled to move to semi-independent living. Staff challenged one local authority when they had concerns about the timing for a child to leave care. As a result, the child will continue to be supported so that they develop the skills and knowledge needed for when they leave the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into the home and those already living there have their needs and risks assessed to ensure they are suitable to live together. Staff ensure that any moves are planned, so that children are prepared. The manager ensures that the staff team has the skills to meet children’s needs.

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

Children have trusted and secure relationships with the manager and staff. Having a consistent and stable staff team means that children experience a sense of permanence and belonging.

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

Children are supported to manage their feelings and behaviours safely. Incidents such as self-harm are taken seriously. Staff understand their roles and responsibilities and clear plans set out what actions they need to take to safeguard children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 4 Children are supported to understand risks outside the home. For example, they have been provided with training, including from local coastguards, to develop their understanding of how they can be safe.

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

Children understand what action staff will take should they go missing from home. Children are aware that staff will search for them and visit known addresses to locate them. On their return, children are provided with an independent interview to explore their reasons for going missing. The combination of these strategies means that children rarely go missing from home.

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

Children understand that should they need to be held to keep them and others safe, this will be done as a last resort. One child has been held on several occasions. Staff are trained to do this safely. Children are supported to understand the reasons for this, and staff are given a debrief to reflect on the intervention. The manager has clear oversight of incidents and ensures that holds have been proportionate and necessary.

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

Children enjoy spending time with family and friends and have enjoyed holidays abroad. Staff understand the importance of these relationships and clear risk assessments are in place to ensure arrangements are safe.

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

Safe recruitment processes are in place to ensure that the adults caring for the children are suitable to do so.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023. The manager is aspirational and places children at the centre of her practice. She leads by example and is suitably experienced and qualified.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has created a learning culture and has effective systems in place to monitor and review the progress children are making. This means that staff have the opportunity to reflect and develop their practice through regular meaningful team meetings, peer supervision, supervision and appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team is highly skilled. Training is provided when new risks emerge, such as sexualised behaviour. Additionally, staff complete training each month specific to their own learning and development. This means that staff can deliver high-quality care to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has clear oversight of what is happening for children each day. This is used to inform any changes needed for children, such as additional support from external services.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have excellent relationships with external professionals, children’s families and friends and the home’s neighbours. Children are supported to attend community groups such as football sessions. This helps them to experience a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 5 There were no requirements or recommendations set at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 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: 2725367 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 36 Jubilee House, East Beach, Lytham, Lancashire FY8 5FT

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Inspector

Nicola Forrester, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 8 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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