Children's Home run by Allesley Children's Care Ltd in Coventry

Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 1 Registered provider: Allesley Childrens Care Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who may have learning disabilities and other complex health needs.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. The inspectors engaged with both children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since 31 October 2023.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have lived at the home for over two years and are very settled. They have formed strong and secure relationships with the staff team, and throughout the inspection, warm and nurturing interactions were observed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home. This was a positive experience for the child. The staff team worked closely with the child’s social worker, which supported the child to settle and removed any anxieties they had about leaving. Staff continue to visit the child and provide ongoing support. Professionals praised staff for the support they provided to the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children attend school and have excellent attendance. The children enjoy going to school and are making progress. Staff communicate with education professionals and advocate for children to ensure that their learning needs are met. One teacher said that staff are very proactive in meeting the children’s learning needs.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s complex health needs and ensure that the children’s health needs are met. Staff work closely with all health professionals to ensure that children’s health needs are managed effectively. For one child, staff have been proactive in creating a health journal to record and monitor the frequency of their seizures. This has helped staff to understand the triggers and put in place strategies to reduce the child’s seizures.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy a variety of activities, including swimming, trampolining and visits to the local park. Recently, the children enjoyed a short break at a holiday park. Photos of the children engaging in activities have been thoughtfully captured in a photographic memory book.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to spend time with people who are important to them. Staff know the children’s families, and they are welcomed into the home. One parent said that they love coming to the home, and they always feel welcome when they visit.

p.3

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

Children feel safe and trust staff. Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of the children’s risks, needs and vulnerabilities. The children have detailed risk assessments that are regularly reviewed when there are any changes to their needs or risks.

p.3

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

Staff use behaviour management strategies effectively to support children when they are upset or anxious. Staff understand the children’s behaviours and use a nurturing approach in response. As a result, no physical interventions have been used since the last inspection. This helps children to feel safe and enjoy secure relationships. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 4 Since the last inspection, there have been two complaints. Managers have acted swiftly to ensure that these have been explored thoroughly and that issues have been resolved.

p.3

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

Staff are trained in the safe storage and administration of medication. Medication is managed well by staff who are competent. In addition, there are clear procedures in place for the safe storage and administration of medicines. This ensures that children receive their medication in a safe and correct way.

p.4

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

When new adults come to work in the home, managers ensure that safer recruitment practices are used. This helps to protect children from adults who may be unsafe.

p.4

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

Safeguarding incidents in the home are rare. Managers ensure that staff have the required training to understand their role and responsibilities in keeping children safe. However, on one occasion, the responsible individual failed to notify Ofsted following an incident whereby a child was admitted to hospital. This did not impact on the child’s safety; however, it does not allow the regulator to have information that would enable it to have oversight of what is happening at the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There is damage to some areas of the home and some areas need redecorating. This detracts from children having a comfortable environment in which to live. The responsible individual has recognised this, and there is a plan for this to be addressed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The registered manager left in October 2023. A manager was appointed and provided oversight of the home between February and July 2024. However, at the time of the inspection, there was no proposed registered manager in post.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

In the absence of a registered manager, the responsible individual has increased their time spent in the home. Furthermore, two deputies have been appointed to oversee the day-to-day management of the home. The deputies are enthusiastic and committed to developing staff practice.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have made improvements to their oversight and monitoring of the home. Managers have developed systems such as weekly and monthly checks of the home, as well as monthly audits and practice observations. This ensures that managers have a clear oversight of the continuity of care that children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The home is appropriately staffed by a stable team of adults who are suitably qualified and trained. Staff enjoy working in the home, and they spoke positively about the leaders and the management team. One member of staff said there is good communication between staff and managers.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have practice-related supervision that is purposeful and reflective. Regular team meetings allow staff the opportunity to discuss any issues in the home and ensure everyone is kept up to date with the children’s progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 5 Leaders and managers have good relationships with other professionals and communicate well with other agencies. Feedback from professionals is overwhelmingly positive. One child’s social worker said that the care and support they provide their child is amazing. Another child’s independent reviewing officer stated that their child has made great progress while living in the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 6

p.4

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

is an organisation or a partnership. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the provider appointing a registered manager. 9 December 2024

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment is appropriately furnished and maintained in order to provide children with a warm and welcoming home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that they notify Ofsted if there is an incident relating to the welfare of a child living in the home that the registered person considers to be serious. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63 paragraph 14.10)

p.6

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: 2647110 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Allesley Childrens Care Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3 Marlston Walk, Coventry CV5 9LG

p.7

Inspectors

Lydia Isaac, Social Care Inspector Charlotte Tippett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2647110 8 regulates 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.

p.7

Inspectors

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspectors

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

p.8