Children's Home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 1 SC023740 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes 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

The home is run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children who may experience social, emotional and mental health needs. There were three 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 July 2018.

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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: 17 January 2024

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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: SC023740 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/01/2024 Full Good 06/03/2023 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Good 04/03/2020 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection in January 2024, one child has moved back to their family home. Two children have remained living in the home and are making great progress. Another child has come to live at the home and is settled, which is a significant step for them. Staff are familiar with the children’s individual needs and provide support which follows routine and boundaries. Children have been able to form bonds with trusted adults, which has helped them to feel safe and better regulate their emotions and behaviours.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children like living in the home and are well listened to. They have lots of opportunity to talk about their ideas for the home and are supported to personalise their bedrooms. This offers children a sense of belonging and pride in their environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to enjoy a wide range of hobbies and are encouraged to explore their interests and try new things. The children like having time to both learn and play. There are photos of the children scattered around the home, enjoying exciting activities in the community and having fun together.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers advocate for children to have access to schools that will best meet their individual personalities and needs. Children have been successfully supported with difficult transitions into new schools, and one child is attending school regularly for the first time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff guide children at a pace which helps them to build self-confidence and keep safe. As a result, children are making meaningful positive progress in all areas of their lives. One child has been helped to learn to use the train and go to a local shop on their own for the first time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager is an advocate for the children’s relationships with their families. Support is carefully planned to ensure that children have positive contact with people who are important to them. For one child, special arrangements were made to have quality time with a parent when they came to stay in the local area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents are happy with the quality of care provided to their children and value the progress children have made. One child’s parent told inspectors that they felt staff at the home were ‘encouraging and positive’ and they can see the huge difference in their child.

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

Managers have a strong drive to help staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that they work together with other professionals to help improve children’s Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 4 experiences. Incidents are well managed, and necessary actions are taken to safeguard children effectively.

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

Staff use restraints appropriately in response to children displaying behaviours that could harm themselves or others. Staff are suitably trained and have managed difficult situations in both the home and community well. Managers’ oversight of incidents is good, and a restorative approach is taken to discuss incidents with children following restraints. This approach has proven to be effective as the frequency and duration of restraints have significantly reduced.

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

Staff have a good knowledge of how to manage and respond to allegations. An allegation made by a child was responded to appropriately. Discussions with the child were carefully approached to ensure that the child felt listened to and was able to explore their feelings.

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

The plans to guide staff on how to support the children and keep them safe are detailed and extensive. Risk plans are child-centred with clear guidance for staff around how to engage positively with children. However, not all staff have kept up to date with current approaches and understand how to adapt their responses to children’s changing needs. As a result, they are not always able to anticipate what might cause a child to become upset. This is being actively addressed by managers.

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

Managers take great care to make the home environment warm and inviting for the children. Children have space to play or have quiet time, and there is ongoing work to improve the home. Recently, new bathrooms have been fitted and decorated using a theme chosen by the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a detailed knowledge of the children’s individual histories, and how these impact on their current experiences. Managers are insightful about what support children need and are committed to providing high-quality support that will lead to the best possible outcomes. Where there are difficulties in accessing the support children need, this is challenged, and managers find creative ways to overcome the difficulties.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers work hard to ensure that staff are well supported through robust inductions, supervision sessions, regular meetings and working alongside them to model and coach good practice. Although there continues to be a turnover of staff, managers have a strong drive to ensure that care remains consistent, and children are provided with support and opportunities they need to progress. Staff feel well supported and listened to by managers.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have taken positive and proactive steps to develop extensive recruitment processes, to identify the best quality staff, support them to a have a successful start in the role, and ensure future stability and quality of care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 5 Arrangements for addressing practice concerns are good. There is an open culture where staff feel able to raise concerns with managers, who act on any issues raised. Managers follow appropriate processes to ensure that issues are investigated and appropriate follow-up action is taken. Managers are clear about the expected standards of performance, and where conduct is unacceptable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers work effectively with other professionals, and this makes a real difference to the children’s progress. Professionals speak highly of the manager and say they communicate effectively and go the extra mile to help children have good-quality care and positive outcomes. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff are aware of and follow current positive behaviour support strategies. Staff should understand factors that affect children’s behaviour and understand how to respond effectively for each individual child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 39, paragraph 8.13)

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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: SC023740 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspectors

Shirin White, Social Care Inspector Georgia Carty, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC023740 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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