Children's Home run by Impact For Change Ltd in Somerset

Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 1 Registered provider: Impact for Change 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 registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager of the home has been registered with Ofsted since August 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there were two children living in the home. Since the previous inspection, one child has moved out and one child has moved in.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

08/08/2023 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good 19/01/2022 Full Inadequate 14/01/2020 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Time was spent with both children during the two days. One child involved the inspector in a game of hide and seek, and another demonstrated their keen gymnastic skills. Observations of the children identified that they feel both happy and relaxed in their home, and that they have close trusting relationships with their carers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet the children’s individual needs. The team focuses on the progress and development of children from their unique starting points. The staff provide a nurturing environment which supports the children’s emotional and physical well-being needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with external agencies and are focused on meeting the needs of the children in their care. Leaders and managers promote the importance of education, and the children both attend school. At times, this has been a challenge to maintain, and the team has worked closely with external agencies to ensure the children’s educational needs are being met. Staff communicate regularly with the children’s family members, and tailor this communication to best meet the needs of each parent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff meet the health and physical needs of the children. They support children to attend appropriate appointments, and advocate on behalf of them when necessary. Children’s views are listened to and they are involved in decision-making around the home. The staff ensure that children’s wishes in relation to activities and interests form part of the daily decision-making. Staff support and promote family time, and this is adapted to meet the needs of children and their family members.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The environment overall is homely and meets the needs of the children. There are some areas within the house where the cleanliness is lacking. The staff offices are attached to the main house and the door is kept locked. Children were seen attempting to come through these doors, and not being permitted to enter. This makes children feel that there are parts of their home which are not accessible and is not in keeping with a homely environment.

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

Staff identify safeguarding concerns and follow policies and procedures to ensure that information is shared appropriately and to the right people. This keeps children safe in the home and ensures that their needs are met. Staff understand the potential vulnerabilities of the children and are focused on helping them to feel safe.

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

When there have been safeguarding concerns, leaders and managers have managed these in a proportionate way and in partnership with other agencies working with the children. However, leaders and managers did not clearly record their decision making following one concern raised by a child during an incident. Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 4 Staff focus on supporting children to understand their feelings and to express them in a healthy way. The team understands the importance of children forming healthy attachments to adults and the positive impact this can have for them in the long term. Staff support children to identify potential concerns and help to educate them on healthy relationships.

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

Staff support children’s behaviour using natural consequences and use curiosity to understand why incidents may have occurred. Staff use creative tools to attempt to help the children to explore their emotions and ‘big feelings’, which has resulted in an overall improvement in children being able to understand why they may feel a certain way. Staff use physical intervention as a last resort, and only when a child is deemed to be at significant risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager provides good-quality nurturing care for children. He is ambitious for the children and strives to ensure that the care provided is based on their unique needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers understand the children and their starting points. They are focused on enhancing their progress and in ensuring that they are developing in all areas, with a particular emphasis on emotional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they are happy working in the home and feel very well supported by the manager. They say he is approachable, and that they are helped to learn and develop through supervision and more informal conversations. Staff say the training they receive helps them to meet children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the home and his staff team and is able to identify any areas for development, such as the impact that the office being attached to the home may be having for the children. The manager acts when areas for improvement are identified and there are plans in place for future developments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff and the manager have positive relationships with external professionals, and they work together to effectively meet the needs of the children. Leaders and managers provide challenge when necessary, to external agencies but also within the team and to each other. The manager’s oversight of incidents includes reflection and identifying where practice can be improved.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is acting to fill staff vacancies and is focusing on ensuring the right people are employed for the children and current staff team. Senior leaders are encouraging this approach. Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 5

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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 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

Are familiar with and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that detailed records are kept demonstrating their decisions and actions taken following concerns raised by children. 1 January 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home environment meets children’s basic needs and physical necessities. This includes ensuring that the home is kept clean throughout, as would be expected in any family home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  The registered person should ensure that the home remains a homely, domestic environment. The use of office space should be reviewed to ensure it is furnished in a way that is consistent with what would be expected in a family home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 6 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: 2484443 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact for Change Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Canns Down Press, Beaford, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8LZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Scribbins

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Inspector

Helen Cushnie, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2484443 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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