Children's Home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 1 Registered provider: Five Rivers Child Care Limited

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider and offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. The two children who were living in the home at the time of the last full inspection continue to live here.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 19 February 2024.

p.1

Inspection date: 7 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Inspection date: 7 November 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

p.1

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: 2642842 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The inspector spent time with both children living at the home and observed their interactions with each other and with the manager and staff.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The children have fun and there is lots of laughter and chatter in the home. The environment is child friendly and there is a sense of this being their home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The children’s bedrooms are well decorated in colours they love, and their individual interests and personalities are fully captured in the space. They have their own games, toys and certificates showing their achievements on display. The children are encouraged to keep the space tidy and free of clutter. However, when this has not been achieved by a child, the staff have not taken the required steps to ensure that the bedroom is routinely kept clean and tidy.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff provide appropriate boundaries for children that help them to feel secure. These boundaries do not restrict staff from providing the children with nurturing care that includes reciprocated hugs and cuddles. When the children go to bed, there are sensors on their bedroom doors to ensure their individual safety. The necessity for these restrictions is not recorded and regularly reviewed.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff have made significant efforts to support the children’s relationship with each other. However, the children’s different ages and the impact of their individual needs on one another mean that they do not always get along together well. The staff and the manager have identified serious risks to keeping both children safe. The manager is reviewing how they can further increase the safety for both children while also supporting a positive planned move for one child.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The children receive positive care from staff who know them well and keep them safe. The staff respond to difficult moments between the children with patience and calmness. When restraint is used, there is robust oversight by the manager to evaluate what happened and why. The manager challenges staff’s actions and takes effective action to ensure safe practice in the home.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff encourage the children to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. The children are given healthy snacks and can help themselves freely to these. Treats are stored away from them. While the current rationale for this is clear, a plan to progress the children’s development with learning how to manage treats for themselves is not in place.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

When children make comments or raise concerns about the staff who care for them, these risks are fully identified, and action is taken. For one child, an individual protocol is followed which directs staff to consult and refer the concerns to Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 3 appropriate agencies. All comments made are appropriately investigated by the manager.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

The manager has responded to prior inspection feedback that the children’s plans are very long documents and has separated the plans into three more-focused areas. These documents are informative and effective. They provide staff with clarity about the children’s needs and how to meet these. The children are making progress in line with their plans.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The manager provides the staff with clear direction. There is a culture of safety and openness in the staff team. The manager displays a restorative leadership style of high challenge and high support. Staff feel supported and receive regular and reflective supervision. Staff receive a written record of the supervision session, which captures the discussions well. There is stability in the workforce, and the manager supports the progression of the team effectively.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The children are supported to have their health needs met. They are supported to attend full-time education and to achieve their academic potential. The manager is proactive in their challenge when these needs are not met and advocates on behalf of the children. However, the manager is not currently fully using the formal processes of escalation when professionals do not meet their obligations to the children. Additionally, the children do not currently access any advocacy service. Given the challenges and their current needs, further consideration about this would be beneficial.

p.3

Findings from the inspection

The requirements and recommendations raised at the full inspection are met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 4

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 06/06/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 07/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 24/01/2022 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home, the home challenges them to meet the child’s needs. This relates specifically to using the escalation process effectively to ensure that there is no drift and delay with challenge. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that any decisions to limit a child’s access to any area of the home are made to safeguard the child’s welfare. All decisions should be informed by a rigorous assessment of the individual child’s needs, be properly recorded and be kept under regular review. This specifically relates to the use of alarms on children’s bedroom doors. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all children have access to appropriate advocacy support. Where possible, this should be provided by a person who the child chooses. Looked-after children are entitled to an independent advocate to advise them and ensure that they have the support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 23, paragraph 4.16)  The registered person should ensure that staff seek to meet children’s basic needs in the way that a good parent would, recognising that many children in residential care have experienced environments where these needs have not been consistently met. This is an important aspect of demonstrating that the staff care for the children and value them as individuals. Specifically, this relates to ensuring that staff consistently maintain children’s bedrooms to ensure that they are clean

p.5

Recommendations

and tidy and support children to develop their independence in managing snacks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Five Rivers Child Care Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Five Rivers Childcare, 47 Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy-John Matthews

p.6

Inspectors

Ashley Arkless, Social Care Inspector Paula Lahey, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2642842 7 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

p.6

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 .

p.7

Inspectors

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.7

Inspectors

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspectors

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

p.7