Children's home run by Empower Residentials Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 1 Registered provider: Empower Residentials 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 owned by a private provider. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have emotional or social difficulties or learning disabilities. At the time of inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account good

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Overall experiences and progress of

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Overall experiences and progress of

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Overall experiences and progress of

Date of last inspection: 7 November 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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Overall experiences and progress of

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/11/2023 Full Good 05/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/09/2022 Full Inadequate 02/03/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand children well and they have effective ways to communicate with each other. Visual aids are available, but often verbal prompts are enough for children to understand staff or express their needs. Staff talk about children with love and real care. In response, children seek affection and attention from staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children do well in education. Both children are in full-time education and are making progress. Good communication between the staff and education means children are supported when there are difficulties. When one child was suspended from education, meetings took place quickly to resolve this and the child was able to return swiftly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The inspector met and spent time with both children living in the home. Children are busy with lots of group activities both inside and outside of education. They spoke with visible enjoyment about the activities they take part in and told the inspector what they look forward to doing. These activities also help the children to develop friendships. Holiday plans are fun filled.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

On one occasion, a lack of planning caused an incident. Staff had not been able to explain the day’s plans to the child effectively, which caused some distress. Although this was managed well, it was avoidable. Photo books help the children to hold memories. Creative online versions mean staff can update them easily.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are sought routinely and listened to. Children are included in menu planning and supported to have a balanced diet. Conversations about sexual health are beginning and are at the early stages.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and cosy. Photos of the children are on display and certificates of their achievements show how proud staff are of them. One child’s bathroom needs attention so that the drainage does not cause an unpleasant smell.

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

Staff know the risks to the children well. Records support staff to understand how to meet children’s needs. Each child has developed a close relationship with at least one member of staff that they can talk to. This helps children to feel safe.

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

The changes in the staff team over the last year have had an impact on the children. At times, there have been indications that children have felt anxious. For example, toileting incidents for one child significantly increased when there were staffing changes. The same child had no incidents at all when staffing was more familiar and settled.

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

There has been one incident of restraint since the last inspection, which was appropriate and proportionate. The minimal use of restraint demonstrates how well the staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 4 understand the children. When incidents do happen, conversations take place with the child and the staff member and learning is captured and shared.

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

Investigations into allegations are thorough and reported appropriately. Children are prioritised and staff are also supported.

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

Staff are assisted by having clear plans which help them to understand the child’s needs. Reports and children’s documents are generally well written and clear. At times, they are written as if the child has said these words, when in fact it’s an interpretation of what has been said. This may be confusing for the children and staff.

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

Children are supported to understand their feelings and staff take time to talk through situations with them. Positive behaviour is promoted, and incentives, like money or fidget toys, are given which both children respond well to.

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

Medication processes are clear. There was a medication error which had no impact on the child and was quickly reported and dealt with.

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

Safer recruitment processes are robust. This helps managers and leaders to make decisions about the safety of people working within the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager’s knowledge of the children and care for them is exceptional. The manager is nurturing and aspirational for the children in their care. This is reflected in the records about the children and supervisions with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective systems to monitor and review care are in place. The manager tracks patterns and themes in all aspects of the children’s lives, from their attendance at school to family time and toileting needs. This helps the staff team to really understand these children and what they need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers and leaders are reflective. Their oversight and consideration are seen throughout the records. The manager’s immediate responses are open and honest. They take on board the learning identified, and this is cascaded to the team. Close working relationships exist with wider professionals and family members. This supports children to feel and be safe. It also supports children to see joined-up relationships between the people that care about them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervision does take place. At times, this has been from other leaders in the organisation and has not been as child focused. There have also been gaps in supervision, and some staff struggled to recall when they last had supervision. However, all staff spoken to described how supportive their managers are and that they can discuss issues at any time. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 5 Team meetings help the staff to explore and understand the children’s needs and learn from each other. There have been difficulties with a number of staff leaving. This has impacted the children. There is now a more consistent and stable team that needs time to really embed the practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from professionals and one parent was overwhelmingly positive. They all spoke of a manager who goes above and beyond and places the children at the top of their list. Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. In particular, the registered person should carefully consider the appropriateness of recording the child’s information using first- person narrative when not using the child’s actual words. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should have systems in place so that all staff, including the manager, receive regular supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of the children within their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, one child’s en suite bathroom needs to be well maintained and any ongoing issues need to be reported and repaired promptly. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2595791 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Empower Residentials Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2, Prockters Farm, West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8QN

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Inspector:

Nickie Doney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2595791 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:

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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