Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 1 SC468747

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Registered provider: Idem Living 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 children’s home is registered for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider has several other homes. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2023.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2023 Full Good 21/09/2022 Full Good 09/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness 27/04/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress in this home across a range of areas. The child who currently lives in the home was previously out of education for an extended period. They are now regularly engaging with a part-time alternative provision that is in line with their interests. This is helping them to engage with education, learn and gain confidence. On days where children do not attend formal education staff complete direct work with the child. These direct-work sessions help children learn about risks and safety issues pertinent to them, such as knife laws and risks. The child’s knowledge of these issues has improved since being in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child made considerable progress with the relationships they share with family members. This child’s mother praised staff for helping to improve the relationship she has with her child. The child also has good relationships with staff, and staff know the child well. The child feels that their views are listened to, they know how to make a complaint and they have an input into what happens in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The registered manager ensures that children’s health needs are met. For example, sourcing private specialists at times when it is known that children will not live in the home on a long-term basis. The registered manager has an in-depth understanding of the complexities around the child’s identity and how their experiences have impacted on them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have opportunities to engage with activities that are fun such as going to adventure activities and a theme park. The child in the home has been offered the opportunity to engage in some sporting activities where they can make friends. However, more could be done to help this young person make and maintain friends within the local area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child in the home is celebrated. There are photos of them and staff members throughout the home. Memories are preserved in physical photo albums and digital memory books. Staff speak affectionately of the child, and they are clearly kept as a considered focus within the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is well decorated and has a homely feel throughout. The child has a say in the decoration of their room and has various personal items on display.

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

When children go missing from home, staff actively search for them and try to maintain communication with them. Staff communicate with relevant professionals and children’s friends and family networks to ensure that they are brought back to Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 4 the home as soon as possible. When children return to the home, they are welcomed in a caring way, and they are supported to have reflective conversations with staff.

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

The registered manager has good relationships with external professionals and appropriately shares information around risks and vulnerabilities to try to keep children safe. The registered manager is pro-active in responding to safeguarding issues and ensures that knowledge is shared with other professionals as needed, to keep children safe.

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

Some learning has taken place from a young person’s time in the home which was brief and turbulent. Before this child moved into the home, leaders and managers considered whether they would be able to meet their needs. However, the complexities of this child and the risks associated with the child already in the home were not adequately considered, and this contributed to the child needing to leave the home after a very brief period.

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

Risk assessments and safety plans are brief and easy to use; however, they do not consistently include reference to de-escalation techniques that staff should use. This means that when staff respond to incidents in the home it is not clear if they always use a consistent approach.

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

The registered manager has implemented changes to staffing in response to significant incidents. Staff have training to help them manage these incidents; however, staff do not consistently understand some of their training, which will impact on how well they can apply what they learn.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic, experienced and knowledgeable about the child living in the home. There is an established team that provides stability and consistency to the child. The manager is committed to providing care that is of a good standard and leading the staff team well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers appropriately challenge professionals when proposed service provisions fall below expected standards.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings take place regularly and are an important arena to discuss incidents that have happened in the home, and staff are encouraged to use these meetings to reflect and learn from incidents. Supervision is undertaken regularly and includes reflection on incidents that have taken place in the home. When issues with staff practice arise, these are appropriately discussed during supervisions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have a clear vision for the development of this home and aspirations for children. Leaders and managers are aware of some staff vulnerabilities and have worked with staff to address these. When there are concerns around staff practice, these are responded to appropriately and referred to the local Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 5 authority designated officer as necessary. Investigations are completed in a timely way, and decisions are made effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff who work in the home say that they are well supported and they are proud of the children’s achievements and the progress that they help children to make. Social care professionals report very positively on the quality of care provided at the home, and they recognise the positive relationships that they have with the registered manager. Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that children are supported and encouraged to develop friendships outside of the home. 11 November

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

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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

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that the complexities of children’s risks and how these risks will interact with one another are carefully thought out, especially when consideration is being given to children moving into the home who present with considerable risks and have extremely complex backgrounds. 11 November Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 7

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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: SC468747 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Idem Living Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Stable Court Business Centre, Water Lane, Tarbock Green, Prescot L35 1RD

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Inspector

Min Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC468747 9 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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