Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 1 SC416915 Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider. It offers care for up to seven children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or may have experienced trauma that has left them vulnerable.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 2014.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

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

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 good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 27 February 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Outstanding 07/03/2023 Full Outstanding 01/02/2022 Full Outstanding 17/12/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have strong and positive relationships with staff. They feel well supported and loved. Children experience stability and some have lived in the home for many years. Children are openly affectionate towards staff in the home, and this is reciprocated. They willingly update staff about their day and how they are feeling, and staff respond with keen interest. All children identified staff and the manager to be adults who they would speak to if they had any worries. Children feel confident that any concerns raised will be addressed and responded to by staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place a strong emphasis on education. Children who have struggled to engage in learning in the past are now consistently attending school and making good progress. Staff prioritise engagement and partnership working with education staff in children’s schools. They ensure that they monitor children’s educational progress closely and support children’s learning at home. This ethos supports the children to develop aspirations. Some children are already considering what careers they might wish to pursue in the future.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is warm, inviting and homely. Photos of the children are displayed throughout the home. The house is maintained to a high standard. Children choose how their bedrooms are decorated, and these strongly reflect their uniqueness and individual interests.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that regular planned discussions with children are held. This is in addition to conversations which naturally occur, such as around the table at mealtimes. While the planned discussions are adapted to the specific needs of the child, they are consistent in providing a space for children to express their views, wishes and feelings.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are passionate and tenacious when advocating for children. This ensures that children are provided with the support and resources they require. On occasion, staff have sourced external advocacy for children at times of concern. Staff are developing awareness of the need to use advocates in a more proactive way.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled at supporting children when they move into and on from the home. Lots of thought and attention are given to ensuring that children are supported to manage change. Staff go above and beyond to promote positive first impressions and meaningful endings for children.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place importance on children being able to have a wide range of experiences. This includes children choosing their individual holidays, days out and engaging in community clubs and activities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 4

p.3

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

Staff are experienced and knowledgeable. They are up to date with all mandatory training and have attended some additional safeguarding courses relevant to the children’s specific needs. Senior managers have carried out a review of training to identify where there may be gaps in knowledge and skills. They have made plans to address these and enhance the training offer to staff.

p.4

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

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection. Staff carefully consider the dynamics of the house when assessing the possibility of new children moving in. Assessments of children are detailed and of a high standard.

p.4

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

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of children’s behaviours. They have developed trusting relationships with the children. The children are confident that staff will keep them safe. Children know that staff are consistent in their approach and are clear about the rules and expectations. As a result, children are settled and feel that staff have their best interests at heart.

p.4

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

Staff do not use physical intervention techniques to manage behaviour and are skilled at de-escalating difficult situations. They use appropriate and fair consequences when needed. Staff use praise and incentives to promote positive behaviour, and children respond well to this approach. Partner professionals speak positively about the care provided by staff. They comment on how staff understand and manage complex behaviours well.

p.4

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

There has been one allegation against a staff member since the last inspection. This was managed well with information quickly acted on and shared with relevant safeguarding agencies. A robust investigation was carried out which provided clear rationale for decisions and outcomes reached.

p.4

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

Children enjoy living at the home and the relationships they have with staff. As a result, they have not gone missing from the home in the past year.

p.4

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

Children have individual risk assessments which guide staff in how to support the child. On one occasion, staff failed to appropriately update a child’s risk assessment following a significant change in practice. As a result, this created ambiguity around how staff were to manage and supervise the child in the home. This led to the child and others being put at risk of harm.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has high expectations of the staff. She sets clear standards and models the care that is to be provided. This is recognised and valued by the children.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that children receive care that is as similar to home life as possible. The love, nurture and care for the children are at the heart of the support staff provide. Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 5 The manager has strong aspirations for the children. They instil clear expectations around routines, acceptable behaviour and rules. This provides children with the boundaries they need and belief in themselves to achieve to the best of their abilities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an extensive understanding of the children’s lived experiences. While the manager encourages children to strive to be the best that they can, this is done with the understanding of children’s starting points.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a strong presence in the home. They adopt a proactive hands-on approach to the emotional and practical care provided to the children. All the children recognise the manager as being critical in the support that they receive.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel well supported through regular supervision, training and the accessibility of the manager. They describe a ‘positive working environment’.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual is supporting the manager to better identify the strengths and weaknesses of the home and to reflect on the impact of decisions they make. Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 6

p.5

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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.6

Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child; (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)) 31 January 2025

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: SC416915 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Units 73 and 74 Maple Leaf Business Park, Manston, Ramsgate CT12 5GD

p.7

Inspectors

Kerry Howarth, Social Care Inspector Peter Jackson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC416915 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.

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