Children's home run by Surrey County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: SC040633 1 SC040633 Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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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 managed by a local authority. It provides care for up to five children who are experiencing emotional and social difficulties. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 2007.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC040633 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/01/2024 Full Outstanding 21/03/2023 Full Good 25/05/2021 Full Outstanding 21/10/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC040633 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide high-quality individualised care for children. They understand children’s needs and build strong, caring relationships with them. Children trust staff and say that they are happy living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make significant progress because risk-taking behaviours have decreased, independent living skills are promoted and children form strong and trusting relationships with staff. Staff are instrumental in helping children to progress and achieve their potentials.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most children attend school full time and make good progress. When children do not have formal education placements, leaders work quickly and effectively to support them back into education.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s identities are well supported and staff go above and beyond to ensure that children understand their backgrounds. For instance, staff supported a child to visit their birth country as they had not been for many years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children develop their independent living skills in an age-appropriate manner. They are supported to complete basic household tasks and manage their finances.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff exceed children’s expectations by supporting them to undertake various activities and go on holidays. Children’s memory books capture a holiday in Marrakech, where children learned about the culture and had fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff hear children’s views, wishes and feelings and support children to achieve their goals and ambitions. If requests cannot be met, staff clearly explain the reasons for this and advocate for children when needed. All children state that they have no complaints and would inform staff if they are not happy about something.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children get on most of the time and staff ensure that the interactions between children are safe. When disagreements occur, staff ensure that children are safe from harm.

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improvement to be good

Children say that they feel safe. Staff are trained to identify and understand the potential risks to children. Staff’s knowledge of children and trusting relationships allow children to be helped and protected by staff. Consequently, the frequency of incidents has significantly reduced. Staff supported one child to stay away from undesirable people, which reduced the possibility of exploitation. The registered manager worked with other professionals to ensure the child was protected. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040633 4 Children rarely go missing. Appropriate actions are taken by staff when this occurs. The staff communicate their concerns to other professionals without delay. Children are helped to understand that staff care about them, and that they are worried about their safety during these times. Extensive work is completed with children to enhance their understanding of risks.

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improvement to be good

Staff use their positive relationships to de-escalate potential incidents. Consequently, restraint has only been used on one occasion. Following this incident, the registered manager sought advice as required.

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improvement to be good

Managers do not always take effective, timely action when allegations are made. There are sometimes unnecessary delays in sharing allegations with the designated officer for the local authority and Ofsted is not always notified in a timely way. Allegations have also been shared inappropriately with staff. Furthermore, managers do not always robustly consider safe working practices for staff and children immediately after an allegation is made.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced and passionate about the best outcomes for children. She is well supported by two enthusiastic deputies and a caring senior practitioner. Senior leaders also have good oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A range of positive feedback was received about the registered manager’s practice, vision and achievements. Staff said that she is supportive and is a positive role model. They also felt that the registered manager goes above and beyond for children. The registered manager is in the process of changing roles and there are clear plans in place for the new manager to start.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive supervision, and managers take an interest in staff welfare and how they could be better supported. Staff meetings take place weekly and are used to review children’s progress and the positive strategies used to support them. On some occasions, the registered manager invites external professionals to staff meetings. This enhances joint working and informs staff learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and staff listen to children and take their views seriously. Managers challenge professionals appropriately to ensure that children receive the best care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend all required training. They also attend additional training to meet some children’s complex needs. This helps to ensure that staff have the skills that they need to care for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC040633 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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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

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(vii)(b)) 28 October 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: SC040633 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Surrey County Council, Quadrant Court 35, Guildford Road, Woking GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC040633 7 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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