Children's Home run by AVB Enterprises Ltd in Leicester

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 1 Registered provider: AVB Enterprises Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider. It offers care for up to three children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The post for a registered manager has been vacant since September 2024. There is an acting home manager appointed.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home and their views were sought.

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Inspection date: 28 November 2024

Date of last inspection: 17 September 2024

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Inspection date: 28 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 28 November 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has 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: 2777336 2

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Findings from the inspection

This visit was carried out to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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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.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has recently moved to the home and has been there for a relatively short period. Staff are getting to know the child by spending time with them and listening to them. Good communication with the local authority and educational professionals means that a suitable education provision has been sourced and the child will shortly begin their reintegration into education.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff undertake training in safeguarding alongside specific training in relation to the children’s individual needs. The acting manager and responsible individual have identified a gap in training and have acted swiftly in arranging an alternative training provision to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff understand the children’s risks and vulnerabilities. Concerns around missing from home and exploitation have been explored in a recent team meeting, which external safeguarding professionals attended. This provided the opportunity for staff to consider strategies and protocols for managing the known risks to children. Alongside this, staff now benefit from regular supervision that provides them with the opportunity to reflect on their practice and consolidate their learning.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know the risks that children can be exposed to. Risk assessments are regularly reviewed, updated, and shared with staff. This provides clarity and direction when any incidents occur, and staff follow these plans consistently. One professional said, ‘Staff are really trying to do what they can, they do everything as advised and have challenged when needed.’

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager responds to concerns around missing from home and exploitation and has developed strong relationships with partner agencies. This contributes to a network of support for the children. Furthermore, this multi-agency network collaboratively assesses risk and balances this between keeping children safe and allowing them to take age-appropriate risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Safeguarding incidents are responded to appropriately. The recording of incidents has improved and includes management oversight and reflection. The acting manager ensures that the involved safeguarding professionals are made aware following an incident. However, not all serious incidents are referred to the regulator, and this remains an area for development.

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Findings from the inspection

The acting manager has increased his oversight in the home and taken action to strengthen areas previously identified for development. The acting manager knows what is happening in the home daily. He regularly reviews staff recordings and Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 3 incidents and shares reflection and learning to staff to aid their development. Staff now fully utilise the online system, and additional training has been provided to support this. However, some areas of the system are undergoing review to adapt to suit the requirements of the home. Therefore, this remains an area for development.

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Findings from the inspection

Some progress has been made against the previously set requirements and recommendations. These have been restated and will be reviewed at the next inspection. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 5

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

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

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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

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account the information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(vii))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers ensuring that staff implement the home’s safeguarding policies and procedures during incidents. 26 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to their full potential; and

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Requirement Due date

promotes their welfare. 26 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 6 In particular the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager and leaders having oversight and monitoring systems in place for all aspects of the child’s care and recordings.

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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 an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(b)(c)(e))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to leaders and managers making appropriate notifications following serious incidents. 26 February 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home works in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child, but particularly with the child’s local authority and statutory social worker. The registered person and staff at the home cannot force a relevant person to engage or work productively with them and regulation does not require this. The registered person should evidence what they have done to achieve engagement, including any actions taken to escalate concerns. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 11, paragraph 2.3) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: AVB Enterprises Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5 University Road, Leicester, Leicestershire LE1 7RA

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Inspector

Caroline Coop, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2777336 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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