Children's home run by Affinity Childrens Care Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2779604 1 Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Care 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

A private company owns and manages this home. It is registered to provide care for up to two children who have had adverse childhood experiences that have led to associated trauma and complex behaviours.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted on 12 March 2024; she is suitably qualified and experienced.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2779604 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection. No other children have left or joined the home since it opened. The move into the home was carefully planned by managers, and they considered the needs of the child and the impact of moving into a new area away from family and all that is familiar to them. Introductory visits were completed to help the child feel at ease and prepared for the move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was not in school before moving in. The manager has worked to secure a home tutor to maintain learning. A new school suited to the child’s needs has been identified, and the staff team has been supporting the child to prepare for their first day. Additional opportunities have been secured for the child to support learning and social development, including a youth theatre group and volunteering opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has formed strong attachments with the staff team, feels safe and has developed a sense of belonging. The staff strive to understand the child’s individual needs, so they understand how best to support them. This enables staff to help the child explore their identity. Staff members are sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs. There is a culture of acceptance, and the child is developing in confidence and flourishing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A therapeutic approach underpins the care provided to children. Therapeutic clinicians are available to provide support to the child and meet with the management team monthly to discuss the child’s progress and how best to support them. Staff are developing skills which ensure that the child receives a consistent and therapeutic approach to their care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in good health and accesses local universal services. When there is a need for specialist support, the manager will seek to provide this. The manager noted that the child lacked self-care skills when they moved to the home and was resistant to attending medical appointments. Family and professionals have noted a marked improvement in the child’s development in self-care. As a result, the child’s emotional and physical well-being are promoted.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Weekly meetings take place to capture the child’s wishes and feelings. While the child’s views are captured, there is a lack of managerial oversight. The child has not been given feedback on how their views have been considered or any reasons as to how decisions have been reached for requests made. The use of language in some of the children’s meetings is also not restorative or child-centred. Inspection report for children’s home: 2779604 3

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

Staff understand the child’s behaviours and risks; they implement strategies to support the child, and as a result, the child is kept safe. Incidents are rare and staff prevent situations from escalating through a calm and measured approach. Risk assessments are kept under review to ensure that information to support the child is reflective of their current needs. As a result, a consistent approach is provided by the staff team. The child’s social worker remarked, ‘The staff understand how to calm the child and provide a nurturing response to meet their needs.’

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

There have been no episodes of the child going missing from care. The child has a missing-from-care protocol, and staff are confident in how to respond and follow procedure should they go missing from home.

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

Incidents of self-harm are sensitively managed. The staff team understands the risks associated with the child self-harming. Updated individualised risk assessments are in place which effectively address the child’s vulnerabilities and set out the action staff should take. When it has been necessary to conduct a room search following a self- harm incident, this is done with dignity and respect and with the child’s consent.

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

The manager is clear about, and follows, procedures for responding to concerns about the child’s safety. The child raised an allegation about members of staff in their last home. The manager has repeatedly challenged the placing authority and escalated and advocated the child’s concerns due to drift in the investigation and the outcome of findings not being communicated.

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

There has been no use of physical intervention. Positive behaviour is consistently promoted, and a range of rewards and incentives are used to recognise and celebrate achievements. The child feels a sense of pride and recognises the progress they are making as a result.

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

Staff are safely recruited. New staff attend a two-week induction programme and shadow more experienced colleagues working in the home. There is a comprehensive training matrix, and staff are expected to complete relevant courses before joining the home. Staff have commented that training is comprehensive and supports them to keep children safe and protected through bespoke training and learning opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A child-focused manager leads the home. She has an exceptional understanding of the child’s experiences, personality, needs and risks. As this is a new home, the staff team is forming but is stable and consistent since opening. All staff members have prior experience in residential care and hold the level 3 qualification. Any shortfalls in staffing are covered by existing staff or by staff from the neighbouring home who are known to the child. This means that the child experiences consistent care from staff that they know. Inspection report for children’s home: 2779604 4 The manager has high expectations for the child, and this culture is firmly embedded in the staff team. The staff have high aspirations for the child; they recognise progress, however small this may be, and celebrate the child’s achievements.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision is held monthly, and it is reflective and child-centred. Supervision records are made available to supervisees. They contain details of the discussions held and actions set to develop practice. These are reviewed and show a clear thread of learning and development from one supervision to the next.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers actively and regularly monitor the quality of care in the home. While monitoring systems are in place, they are not consistently effective. A shortfall resulted in a local authority document being missing from the child’s file, and this had been overlooked by the manager so was not chased with the other outstanding documents. This was promptly rectified and had no impact on the child but highlighted gaps in monitoring systems.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the needs of the child, and in-house plans are written to reflect the recommendations of the placing authority’s care plan. To support the effectiveness of the plan, the manager has forged strong working links with key professionals and with the child’s family to create a sense of belonging and commitment to their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is well presented with a homely feel and is well maintained. However, damage caused to the walls and an air vent in the child’s room are yet to be repaired. Inspection report for children’s home: 2779604 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets the needs of their children and is a homely, domestic environment. In particular, children’s bedrooms and outdoor spaces should be well maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that each child’s placement plan sets out the permissions that their placing authority has delegated to the registered person. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 30, paragraph 6.2)

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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: 2779604 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Affinity Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Azzurri House Walsall Road, Walsall WS9 0RB

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Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2779604 7 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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