Children's Home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 1 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties or with a learning disability. It provides short-, medium- and long-term placements with a therapeutic outdoor activity-based response for children in crisis.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, four children were living at the home.

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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: 6 February 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: 1249123 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Outstanding 05/11/2019 Full Good 20/11/2018 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have trusting relationships with staff who know them well. This provides them with a sense of security and belonging. One professional said, ‘[Name of child] is successful in school as they have positive relationships with staff. These mirror the relationships they have with staff in the home; they feel secure, which has a positive impact.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individualised plans that detail the support they need to make progress. However, one child does not have a pathway plan, and the manager has not been actively requesting this.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to attend school on a regular basis, and their achievements are celebrated. When children find attendance difficult, staff work with school staff to identify strategies to improve this. Children who are not in education, training or employment are supported to consider their options.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children share feedback about their care. They do this through discussion and weekly feedback forms, which are reviewed by the manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health is promoted. When children have health issues, staff are tenacious in ensuring that they attend appointments. This approach has led to one child being diagnosed with a health condition, and they are now receiving treatment. Children are educated via key-work sessions about all aspects of health, including sexual health and smoking. As a result, one child has stopped smoking and has a longer-term plan to stop vaping.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are given opportunities to take part in physical activities in the community. Children who do not wish to attend community groups take part in football and other games on the home’s field.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with family is supported by staff, which secures their identity. Staff know children’s families and facilitate the time children spend with them. When talking about staff, one mother said, ‘They are amazing.’

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

Children say they feel safe, and they can identify an adult to talk to about any concerns or worries.

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

There have been no incidents when children have been missing from home. Children are given independent time in line with their age and understanding. When children make decisions that present risks, these are quickly identified due to staff being professionally curious. Children are encouraged to reflect on mistakes and learn from them. Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 4 Children have individualised risk assessments that are updated after any incidents.

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

Children have individual behaviour management plans, and staff use effective de- escalation strategies in line with plans. This means that physical intervention is rarely used. Children are held as a last resort when it is necessary to keep them and staff safe. When children are held, records are clear and concise. Children are given time to reflect on their behaviours and emotions, and they do this in an open and transparent way, which demonstrates they feel safe and listened to.

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

Recruitment of staff is safe. Staff do not commence work with children until all checks are completed. When staff have personal links with each other, there are safeguards in place to minimise any impact on practice.

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

When there are concerns about staff suitability, the manager takes immediate action and introduces safeguards while investigations are undertaken. When concerns are substantiated, leaders and managers take appropriate actions and alert all relevant agencies, including the local authority designated officer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a suitably qualified and experienced manager who is well supported by two deputy managers. They know the children and staff well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands his role and responsibilities in keeping children safe. However, there has been a failure to notify Ofsted of a safeguarding concern involving the police. The manager has reflected on this and has accepted that this was a notifiable incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is operating in line with the statement of purpose. However, the restrictions on electronic cigarettes and vapes are not enforced. One child has access to a vape, and there were vapes on the premises.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There is a stable staff team, most of whom are qualified. Staff members who are not qualified are given the opportunity to achieve the appropriate qualifications on completion of their probationary period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by leaders and managers. They receive regular supervision, which follows a set agenda. Records of supervision are prepopulated in some areas to ensure consistency, but they do not capture reflective discussions that take place.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have annual appraisals, which are a two-way process between the appraiser and appraisee. They identify clear action plans for practice development. However, appraisals do not include feedback from children and external professionals, including teachers and social workers. Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 5 Team meetings take place every month. They are well attended, and those who do not attend are provided with minutes. Meetings are an opportunity to consider children’s progress, discuss issues and concerns and review policies and compliance with regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has systems in place for monitoring the care provided in the home. All incidents are reviewed by a manager, and lessons learned exercises are conducted. The manager seeks feedback, which informs the home’s quality of care report. Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 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 notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies, or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that they notify Ofsted of any incidents where the police are contacted in relation to a child or children at risk. 30 November 2024

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; 30 November 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 7 if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

Specifically, the registered person must ensure that missing looked after children’s documents are requested in a timely manner.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is operating in line with the statement of purpose. Specifically, ensure that any restriction in respect of electronic cigarettes is implemented. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.6)  The registered person should ensure that staff are provided with the opportunity to reflect and develop their practice in supervision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’ page 61, paragraph 13.2)  The registered person should ensure that staff appraisals take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of children and other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)

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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: 1249123 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

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Inspectors

Sarah Jackson, Social Care Inspector Deborah Turner, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1249123 9 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

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

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