Children's Home run by Sunflower Children Care Services in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 1 SC449099

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Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children who have emotional and social needs.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection. Both children were seen and spoken with.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered in August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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The care of children

Since the last full inspection on 7 and 8 May 2024, there have been two children in placement. This has given the manager the opportunity to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of care to be provided and establish new systems and processes.

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The care of children

Both children are making good progress in education. The team takes education very seriously, advocating on behalf of children to secure the right educational provision. As a result, both children are now attending education; this is good progress.

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The care of children

Staff support children to participate in a wide range of activities, utilising the home’s resources and those in the wider community well. Children are also supported to have hobbies and attend clubs. One child is learning to play the clarinet, another child attends weekly dance classes. This enables them to grow in confidence and self-esteem and develop crucial social skills they will need later in their lives.

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The care of children

Improvements have been made to how staff consult children to ascertain their views, wishes and feelings. Staff are skilled at observing children and picking up on non-verbal cues and changes in their behaviour. This is used alongside key-work conversations to support children to make decisions about their daily activities. However, when children do not use speech, this is less effective. Communication training for staff has yet to be embedded fully into daily practise. This has meant that staff do not respond to all of the children’s attempts to express their wishes, feelings or any concerns.

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The care of children

The overall environment has improved, especially the interior. Children now have access to a sensory room. However, parts of the exterior remain neglected and in need of improvement.

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The safety of children

Children enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff. Inspectors observed positive interactions between staff and children, with laughter, lots of smiles and children presenting as happy and relaxed.

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The safety of children

Staff have received safeguarding training and are aware of how to report and escalate concerns. However, safeguarding is not discussed in staff supervision meetings. This is a missed opportunity to further check staff’s competence. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 3 There has been a low number of incidents which required children to be held. When holds have been used, staff make a clear and well-written record. When any incidents of challenging behaviour take place these are reviewed by a member of the management team. This oversight means that managers can be confident that staff remain successful in trying de-escalation techniques before any child is held.

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The safety of children

The recruitment of new staff is managed well and designed to safeguard children. Safer recruitment practices and protocols are followed. This means that new staff are only employed subject to clear vetting processes. This reduces the risk of unsuitable adults working with children.

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The safety of children

When allegations are made, managers share information appropriately with safeguarding agencies, including the local authority designated officer. The regulator is informed.

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The safety of children

Children understand how to make complaints. When they do, the registered manager oversees the investigation. Children are written to with an outcome. However, for children who do not use speech or are unable to read words, the complaint procedure is less effective.

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The safety of children

Children have access to an extensive outside area to play and relax. This area has several activities, including a trampoline and a scooter. However, staff continue to smoke in this area. This means that children are not always provided with positive and healthy role modelling by adults.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The registered manager is well supported by a deputy manager. At the last full inspection, several requirements and recommendations were set. Following that inspection, the manager has taken action to address many of these shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is identifiable progress, with positive impact for both children. The manager has identified the strengths in the home and the areas that need further improvement and development in an effective manner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

There is now an effective monitoring system of the quality of care in the home. The home is being run in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. While improvements in how the home is run are evident, a period of embedding the improving practice is required.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

Staff can identify several areas for support and guidance. Supervision is regular and provides the opportunity for managers to meet individually with their staff. Team meetings are used to share updates and pertinent information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers

The manager is creating a supportive environment for staff and working hard to embed the new ethos in the home to make sure that care remains positive and consistent. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 20/03/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 28/06/2022 Full Good 10/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 5

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Statutory requirement

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 children’s views, wishes and feelings standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

help each child to express views, wishes and feelings;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how the child’s views, wishes and feelings have been taken into account and give the child reasons for decisions in relation to the child; and

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Requirement Due date

regularly consult children, and seek their feedback, about the quality of the home’s care. (Regulation 7 (2) (a)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff consistently use the child’s own method of communication to help them communicate their views wishes and feelings. 26 November 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children are aware of the complaints procedure and be reminded of it as necessary. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meet the needs of their children, and that this children’s home will be a homely, domestic environment. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food hygiene etc). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure staff should work to make the children’s home an environment that supports children’s physical, mental and emotional health, in line with the approach set out in the Statement of Purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 33,

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Recommendations

paragraph 7.3)  The registered person should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 6 risk to them. (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Quantum Care UK Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2 Barton Close, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester LE19 1SJ

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Inspectors

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Zoey Lee, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC449099 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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