Children's home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

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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 and is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and was present throughout this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

One child currently lives in the home and their views were sought and considered as part of this inspection.

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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 outstanding

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Good 25/04/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home and one child has moved in. Some endings to the children’s time at the home were unexpected. One child moved to another home within the organisation due to concerns with incidents of bullying and the impact of this on the children’s relationships. This child’s transition out of the home was well planned and positive for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are cared for in a warm, nurturing and homely environment. Their sense of belonging is important, and they are supported to personalise their bedrooms and bring their outside interests and hobbies into their home. Children have positive and trusting relationships with staff. The child spoke fondly of the staff and expressed how the staff make them feel safe.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child now attends education. He has excellent education attendance and has been rewarded for good engagement. The manager strongly advocated for a review of the child’s education, health and care plan, which allowed for an appropriate education provision to be identified. This has had a positive impact on the child, who enjoys going to school and has started to form friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has opportunities to attend local clubs, such as football and a youth club. Despite some challenges, the staff continue to support the child to attend and engage to try to build social skills and friendship groups. Family links have improved and developed. The child regularly spends time with people who are important to them and has maintained their family connections.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to explore their own identity and beliefs and are being helped to understand different views. Children’s achievements and successes are celebrated, and these are recorded in creative ways that suit the needs of the individual child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are captured through children’s meetings, meaningful direct work sessions and regular conversation, which enable their wishes and feelings to be explored holistically. The manager undertakes individual work with the child to ensure that any thoughts and requests are followed up in a timely manner. This helps the child to feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has implemented a holistic care planning framework, underpinned by relevant theory, as part of the care planning processes for children. This captures the historical and current needs of the child, considering their previous life experiences. This enables the staff to monitor and track the child’s progress and have a better understanding of how to help them. Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 4

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

The child is being helped to learn more effective ways to communicate when they are distressed. This has helped to reduce incidents in the home. Staff are well trained in how best to support children who may be in crisis. Incidents that have involved staff holding children have significantly reduced because staff have a better understanding of the child and managing behaviour that challenges. Sanctions are used rarely in response to poor behaviour from children and, when required, these are proportionate and well considered.

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

There have been incidents of children going missing from care, although this is not a current concern. Staff have responded promptly to these incidents and followed the correct procedures to ensure that children return home safely. Children are supported to reflect on and discuss their reasons for leaving the home and this helps staff to have a better understanding of the children’s worries and concerns.

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

The risks and vulnerabilities of children are well managed. Children have comprehensive risk assessments, which provide staff with clear plans and strategies to support children and minimise any risk. There is a positive approach to managing risk, and children are supported to take risks that are appropriate to their level of understanding. For one child, this is mostly possible due to the strengths and knowledge of the staffing team.

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

The staff have demonstrated a good knowledge of online safety and risks attached to this. They have supported a child to understand the implications of their online use and have completed detailed work with the child to understand the risks when online or using a mobile phone.

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

Safe recruitment checks on some temporary staff were not available and this does not provide assurance that temporary staff who are employed to work at the home have been assessed as suitable to work with children. Not all temporary staff have had an induction, which means they have not been provided with information on how best to support children, manage any risks or the health and safety procedures, such as fire evacuation. This has the potential to place children at risk of harm.

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

The procedures for reporting complaints and allegations have not always been effective or in line with legislation and guidance. This was at a time when the home was operating under a different manager. The current manager has accepted the learning from this and recognised the need for improvement moving forward.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager of the home is inspirational. She sets high expectations for the staff and supports them to provide high standards of care for children. She leads by example, and her commitment and drive for children to thrive is embedded within care practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has high expectations and aspirations for the children and staff. They effectively model child-centred care, which is underpinned by theory, and this has helped Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 5 the staff to understand how best to support the children to improve their outcomes. The manager is a strong leader and has clarity on how she would like the home to further improve and develop. The manager is well supported by other managers in the organisation and senior leaders.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The training available to staff is of a high standard. In addition to staff complying with their mandatory training, the team engages in learning opportunities to access specialist training that is specific to the children they are caring for. As a result, the staff’s knowledge of trauma and attachment is excellent and has a direct and positive impact on the care provided to children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are well supported and have regular and reflective supervisions and appraisals. Staff receive a detailed and comprehensive induction, which includes a development plan. This means that staff are provided with opportunities to reflect on their practice and develop their knowledge and skills through discussion and meaningful performance goals, which are kept under review. Team meetings provide additional opportunities for staff to reflect and develop knowledge and skills. The therapy team attends regularly to provide their insight and overview of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly respected by both staff and external professionals. Feedback from professionals is positive and compliments the staff on their commitment to providing high standards of care. The psychologist working with the home commended the manager for her dedication to learning and taking her staff team on the journey of learning with them. Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 6

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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 registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home;

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Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(d)) 30 November 2024

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Recommendations

 The registered person must review the location risk assessment and ensure that the views of external agencies and professionals are considered as part of this risk assessment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, April 2015 page 64, paragraph 15.1)

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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: 2645906 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

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Inspector

Sarah Orriss, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2645906 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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