Children's Home run by Ashford Children’s Care Limited in Surrey

Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 1 Registered provider: Ashford Children’s Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in July 2021 and is privately owned. It provides care for up to six children with learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection, three children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager’s application to register with Ofsted was approved on the first day of the inspection.

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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 requires improvement to be 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: 2636494 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/06/2023 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 01/03/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy supportive relationships with staff. Staff have a good understanding of children’s needs and are guided by plans that consider their strengths, needs and vulnerabilities well. Care plans are updated to take account of children’s developing needs. This helps to ensure that children receive good care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make good progress, including managing their emotions, developing life skills and taking on new experiences. One child has left the home since the last inspection. The support they received helped them to make significant progress and they were able to move to foster care having been in residential care for many years.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use their knowledge of children’s communication to support them day to day and help them make choices. The team consults with other professionals, such as education staff, to help meet children’s communication needs. There is inconsistent recording of the time staff spend with children providing support and guidance. This undermines the coordination of support and the quality of records for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships which are important to children are promoted. Managers and staff work well with family members and children’s social workers. For two children, staff provide helpful weekly updates to parents about their child’s activities and progress, which strengthens the children’s family connections. For one child, who recently moved into the home, this is not yet happening. This weakens the communication between staff and the child’s family.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are well understood and met. One child has been supported to manage complex treatment with good outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to make progress with education and learning. One child has progressed to attending school full time and is more settled when there. One child does not have an education provision. Managers and staff are working closely with the placing authority, parents, education professionals and the child’s advocate to try and progress this. They have been proactive in setting up interim arrangements, which has helped the child to make significant progress with learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most communal areas are comfortable and child friendly, and photos of the children and the activities they take part in are on display. There is a large garden with play equipment, including trampolines and a swing, which the children enjoy. Children’s bedrooms are personalised with their input. Action has been taken to repair damage identified at the last inspection. However, some areas, such as one of the sensory rooms, need attention so that they are homely and can be fully used to the benefit of children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 4

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

All children have written risk assessments which provide staff with guidance about their vulnerabilities and the management of risks. Staff understand these well. Safety plans are updated as new risks emerge. This helps children to be safe. In one situation where there was concern about behaviours between the children, practical plans were put in place to reduce the risk but written plans had not been updated and communicated clearly to the social worker and parent.

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

Staff interact warmly with children and engage them in positive activities. If children appear upset, staff try to understand what is wrong and support them to manage their emotions. If physical intervention is used, this is as a last resort to keep children or others safe.

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

Management oversight following incidents of concern is prompt and follow-up actions are identified to manage potential future risks. Discussions with staff directly involved in incidents do not always include reflection on how situations were managed. Therefore, there are missed opportunities for learning.

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

When there have been concerns about staff conduct, managers have taken prompt and appropriate action in liaison with partner agencies, including the local authority designated officer, when required. This helps to make sure that children are safe and well cared for.

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

Systems for storing and administering medications are secure. Managers have taken action when errors have occurred, which reduces the risk of them reoccurring.

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

Before new staff start to work in the home, managers carry out a range of safer recruitment checks. There is no evidence of original copies of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, identity documents and qualifications having been seen and verified. In some cases, reasons for staff leaving previous roles in caring positions have not been explored. This weakens measures to ensure that only safe adults work with children.

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

There is no electronic monitoring or closed-circuit television (CCTV) of children in the home itself but there is CCTV in the vehicles children use. Written consent from the placing authority for this is not in place for all children. The use of this CCTV is not guided by assessments or in line with the principles outlined in the provider’s policy. Therefore, it is not clear that the impact on children’s privacy is necessary and proportionate for each child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the registered manager has left and there have been several changes of staff. The provider was proactive in seeking to recruit a new manager but there was a delay in one being appointed. The new manager has now registered with Ofsted. New staff have been recruited. Over time, this has enabled managers to reduce the number of agency staff used to a small number of regular staff. This supports consistency of care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers are enthusiastic about their role and the progress of children. The new registered manager was employed as the deputy manager previously so knows the service well. Managers recognise that the current team is still in the stages of ‘forming’ and is not yet fully staffed. Therefore, they have taken a decision to limit the number of children they care for during this time. This shows that children’s needs are prioritised.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff are positive about their roles and the support they get from managers and colleagues. They describe managers as ‘available’ and ‘responsive’. Support for waking night and bank staff matches that for the rest of the team. Regular team meetings are used helpfully to discuss children’s needs and practice issues. However, staff are not receiving regular supervision in line with the company’s policy. This undermines the provider’s efforts to support staff and build a cohesive and stable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

All staff are suitably qualified or working towards an appropriate qualification. Core training on topics such as autism and epilepsy has been provided to staff. However, not all staff have completed this and not all staff are up to date with other important training, such as communicating with disabled children. The system for overseeing training is not effective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Managers respond to feedback and take complaints seriously. They take action to address concerns in a spirit of openness and consultation. This has helped to improve the quality of the service received by children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff and managers work well with other agencies involved in children’s care. Social care professionals provided positive feedback about care children receive and the progress they are making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Two family members spoken to were positive about the care of their child and how the staff keep them safe and support family time. One noted that communication and care have improved significantly over the last six to 12 months. One family member provided critical feedback in relation to aspects of care and communication. This was shared with managers and considered during the inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 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 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 fulfil their potential; and

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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

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; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to ensuring that staff receive: supervision in line with the statement of purpose; training to meet the needs of each child. This includes core training, such as communicating with disabled children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 20 December 2024

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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

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the 20 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 7 registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

enable each child to participate in the daily life of the home. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)(i)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure prompt attention to areas of the home needing renovation, redecoration or repair.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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,

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Requirement Due date

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

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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))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that original copies of DBS certificates, identity documents and qualifications are seen and recorded, and that reasons for staff leaving any previous employment with children or vulnerable adults are verified so far as reasonably practical to do so. 20 December 2024

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children; 20 December 2024 Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 8 the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(d))

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are enabled to reflect and consider learning when they have been involved in incidents in the home (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.15)  The registered person should ensure that children’s risk assessments are clear, detail the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks and are communicated clearly to all relevant parties. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that that steps are taken to develop an effective working relationship and communication with all children’s parents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.3)  The registered person should ensure that adults consistently record information about how they have supported children and understand how this will be helpful to the child.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2636494 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ashford Children’s Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 24 Showell Green Lane, Birmingham B11 4JP

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Emerson Lancheros Hernandez

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Inspector

Jacob Robson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2636494 10 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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