Children's home run by Next Step Independence Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 1 Registered provider: Next Step Independence Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home registered in July 2023 and provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties and/or have learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

A new manager commences in post from 9 December 2024.

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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: inadequate

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: During the full inspection on 13 and 14 August 2024, Ofsted judged the home to be inadequate. There were significant concerns about the standard of accommodation, poor daily routines for children, and a failure by senior leaders to ensure that safe care is provided to the children. Requirements were issued requiring the provider to address the concerns. A monitoring visit completed on 26 September 2024, found that the provider was taking steps to improve the service. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2024 Full Inadequate 31/10/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Time was spent during the inspection talking to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is regularly attending school and progressing well in education with the support of staff, who help them with homework and revision. School staff say that the child is settled and happy, that attendance has improved, and staff communicate regularly and are always quick to help when needed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child said they feel safe and enjoy living at the home and that they have good relationships with staff, who they trust. Staff interactions with the child are warm and caring, and there are nice conversations and friendly interactions. The child enjoys eating dinner with staff where they express their wishes and feelings and take part in household discussions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff recognise the importance of building positive relationships and using a trauma- informed approach. They spend time listening and talking to the child and ensuring that the home environment is nurturing. There are positive routines and boundaries in place. Professionals say that the home is now stable. They receive weekly reports, so have regular contact with staff and know how the child is doing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are not teaching the child independence skills. The child has basic skills, but staff have not focused on the wider practical skills needed for the transition into young adulthood and independent living. This includes teaching the child how to use a washing machine and how to cook.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff take part in activities that the child enjoys. For example, they take the child to theme parks, the cinema, and they go for walks. Staff support relationships that are important to the child. The child has friends home for tea and spends quality time with their family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is clean, tidy and welcoming. There are soft furnishings and paintings on the walls, so it feels homely for the child, who helped with the decorating plans. The child has recently chosen new paint and wallpaper for their bedroom, which was decorated during the inspection. The child is given incentives to keep their bedroom tidy, and this has been successful with the support of staff.

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

Since the last inspection, there have been no safeguarding concerns and no incidents of missing from home, and staff have not used restraint. However, staff understand safeguarding protocols, and leaders and managers have worked hard to address these previous shortfalls to ensure that awareness significantly improves and staff understand risks and how to mitigate these. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 4 The child said they understand how to keep safe online and if there are any concerns, they are comfortable speaking to staff. However, the child uses social media platforms which not all staff are aware of. This means that device checks are not taking place, which potentially places the child at risk.

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

Staff have regular discussions with the child, covering a range of topics. These often take place while walking or shopping, which is when the child talks freely and staff can engage them in day-to-day matters, such as healthy relationships, career plans and decorating plans for the home.

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

Leaders and managers take appropriate and immediate action to address concerns raised about staff. They ensure that information is shared with relevant external agencies in a timely manner and that internal and external protocols are followed in the best interests of the child.

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

A compliance manager carries out health and safety checks to ensure that the home is safe for the child. Leaders and managers review the report and share required actions with staff. Photos of the areas needing attention are included, and strict timescales are given so that any concerns are addressed in a timely manner.

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

Leaders and managers have regular oversight of all key records. Since the last inspection, they have ensured that this area is a primary focus, so there is effective monitoring all of documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers recognise and understand the shortfalls that were identified during the last inspection. They admit this has been a strict learning curve, but they have worked hard to raise practice standards and provide a safe and nurturing home for the child. They have implemented robust measures to ensure that the learning taken from the previous inspection is demonstrated in the home and in the quality of care provided to the child. There has been a lot of reflection and support to help the child progress, by focusing on training and strengthening the staff team and by providing the child with a good-quality environment. Leaders and managers have shown commitment to raising standards, and the importance of this continues to be embedded in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said they feel supported by leaders and managers. They said that they enjoy working at the home and have built positive relationships with the child. Staff share examples of progress and show they understand the child. They said that there have been significant improvements in the running of the home, home conditions and safeguarding learning since the last inspection. There is now a robust induction programme, so staff have improved confidence and knowledge, and the home feels stable and settled for the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have focused on recruiting staff who bring skills and expertise to the home. A new manager commences in post in December Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 5 2024 and transition plans are already in place to ensure that there is robust planning and a positive impact on the home. Agency staff do not work in the home, but occasionally bank staff cover shifts and are known to the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Following recent failings, leaders and managers have improved training opportunities in the home. All staff are up to date with mandatory and additional training, in line with the child’s needs. The previous training programme was fragmented so there were gaps, and staff were not equipped to meet the child’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have regular supervision and there is a strong focus on safeguarding in these meetings. Staff explore safeguarding scenarios to widen their learning, consider risks and how to manage these. Staff take part in regular safeguarding quizzes to further enhance their learning. Leaders and managers have worked hard to improve staff safeguarding practices to ensure that the child is safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Effective monitoring and review systems are in place. Leaders and managers each carry out internal quality assurance audits each month, so they are all involved in evaluating all aspects of the support provided to the child and they monitor areas where improvement is needed. Leaders and managers have strengthened this process since the last inspection, so there is robust oversight. Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 6

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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 quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. (Regulation 6 (1)(a) (2)(vi)) 5 March 2025

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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

help each child to understand how to keep safe. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(ii))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the child is supported to recognise and understand online risks and how to keep themselves safe online. 1 January 2025

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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: 2730493 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Step Independence

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wellington House, Queen Street, Taunton TA1 3UF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bridget Drew-Spyer

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Inspector

Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2730493 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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Inspector

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