Children's Home run by Star Bright Living Limited in Derby

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 1 Registered provider: STAR BRIGHT LIVING LIMITED

p.1

Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home. The home is registered to care for up to two children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

p.1

Information about this inspection

At these inspections, the inspector evaluated:

p.1

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: 2737432 2

p.1

Findings from the inspection

The inspector 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 home was inspected in August 2024 and was judged as requires improvement. One child has left the home. There was one child living at the home, who the inspector spent time with during the visit.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

A number of requirements and recommendations were set following the home’s last inspection. Progress in addressing the shortfalls is positive. However, the requirements and recommendations have been restated to allow the provider time to demonstrate that the changes can be embedded into practice. The manager has identified the strengths in the home and the areas that need further improvement and development. There are plans in place to continue to drive improvements forward.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

All the staff have received safeguarding training. Safeguarding issues are discussed in team meetings. Additionally, safeguarding children is also discussed in individual staff supervision. These meetings help the staff to understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and their own professional development. The manager has also developed additional workshops that are specific to safeguarding processes and policies to ensure that staff’s safeguarding knowledge remains robust.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

All staff have completed the provider’s mandatory training. The team has also completed training that is specific to the needs of the child. The manager and staff have recently received training for delivering a therapeutic approach to the care provided. As a result, staff are able to provide a patient and empathetic approach in their care. However, this will need to become embedded into staff’s practice.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

There is now effective monitoring of the quality of care in the home, and plans in place to improve it further. The home is being run in accordance with the home’s statement of purpose. While improvements in how the home is run are evident, given the short timescale in which improvements have been made, a period of establishing good practice is required.

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff show a genuine commitment towards supporting the child. The child has positive relationships with the staff. Staff speak about the child with enthusiasm, warmth and compassion. This has supported the child to begin to build secure and trusting relationships with the team. Feedback from a family member said, ‘They [staff] have so much patience; [the child has] calmed down now. They involve [the child] in everything. It’s amazing.’

p.2

Findings from the inspection

Partnership work with external agencies is good. Multi-disciplinary work means that the best interests of the child are met. A professional commended the care and commitment of the manager and staff. They share information and establish Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 3 effective channels of communication. This ensures that the child receives consistently good care.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 4

p.3

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that all allegations about staff made by children, or through their family members, are robustly investigated. It also relates to ensuring that appropriate professionals are consulted.

p.4

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 28 February 2025

p.4

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.4

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.4

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 28 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 5 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.4

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that they thoroughly read all information relating to a child prior to their admission to the home. It also relates to ensuring that the admission of a child is in line with the home’s statement of purpose and skill set of the staff team.

p.5

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—

p.5

Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

p.5

Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

p.5

Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

p.5

Requirement Due date

research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and

p.5

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)(a)(c)(f)(g)(i)(h))

p.5

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that they have robust systems in place for the oversight of the home and its recording systems. This also relates to 28 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 6 ensuring that staff have the relevant training to support the needs of the children and care as outlined in the statement of purpose. It also relates to ensuring that clear policies are in place for when family members work for the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)—

p.6

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(iii)(iv)(v)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that they arrange for an authorised person to have oversight of physical intervention records if they themselves have been involved in, or witness to, the incident. The registered person should ensure that all records of physical intervention include the de-escalation techniques attempted, location and length of the intervention. 28 February 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

p.6

Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 28 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 7 there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e))

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person notifying HMCI and other relevant persons without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against a person working in the home, or any other incident that the registered person finds serious.

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

p.7

Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(c))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that staff sign and date all written records so that it is clear who the author is. 28 February 2025

p.7

Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The registered person may only—

p.7

Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

p.7

Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home,

p.7

Requirement Due date

if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person ensuring that they are aware of any gaps in staff’s previous employment. It also relates to ensuring that they receive written explanations of any gaps in employment.

p.7

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 28 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 8 The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. (Regulation 23 (1))

p.7

Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to the registered person appropriately investigating any discrepancies found during medication audits. It also relates to the registered person ensuring that staff appropriately record the signing in and out of controlled medication from the home.

p.8

Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 28 February 2025

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children using language that is caring. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide is age-appropriate, provided in an accessible format and explained to each child to make sure they understand it. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 24, paragraph 4.21)

p.8

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any sanctions used to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature, to help children recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards, page 46, paragraph 9.38) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: STAR BRIGHT LIVING LIMITED

p.9

Inspector

Thirza Smith, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2737432 10 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.9

Inspector

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.10

Inspector

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10