Children's Home run by Solace Care Morden Ltd in Merton

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 1 Registered provider: Solace Care Morden Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children. The home is registered to care for children with social and emotional difficulties and special educational needs and / or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection, and all three spoke with the inspector.

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Inspection date: 12 November 2024

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 12 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: 2708415 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not find any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff and children engage well with each other, and children talk positively about the relationships they have with staff. Children said that these relationships made them feel safe and that they have a safe adult they can talk to.

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Findings from the inspection

Children have access to a wide range of activities and enjoy spending time together. Children are included in decisions made about the home and participate fully in the home’s children’s meetings.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff make sure that children’s general health needs are met. They work closely with health agencies to ensure that children receive appropriate healthcare and support. Staff support children to attend medical appointments.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff help children to return to education. Although it is often difficult for children to change their patterns of behaviour after being out of education, staff make sure that education placements meet children’s individual needs and they are supported to engage.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, there has been an improved response to managing children’s behaviour and supporting children to understand the consequence of their behaviour. There is now a more restorative approach to incidents that is well documented and includes child-centred reflections as part of the records.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff support children to see their families and friends. This reduces the risk of children running away from the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The inspectors spoke with all children at the home, and without exception, all reported that they liked living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

Children living at the home have complex needs, which can increase risks. Children have individualised risk assessments and behaviour support plans. Risk assessments are comprehensive and show analysis of behaviours and how to intervene to support children. These help staff to understand children’s needs and vulnerabilities and provide strategies to reduce risks.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have attended training to support them to understand the needs of children and how to manage behaviour in the home. This has had a positive impact on the experiences of children living in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing from the home, staff respond promptly and maintain regular contact with children. The team uses a multi-agency approach to managing risk, and the manager requests to meet with partners if needed. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 3 Since the last inspection, leaders and managers have made good progress in their oversight of the day-to-day functioning of the home. They also complete monthly audits that support them to identify outstanding matters so they can be addressed.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff attend regular team meetings, receive regular supervision and have an annual appraisal. There is also a clear induction for new employees.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager knows the children living in the home well. They speak with passion and care about the children and have high aspirations for what children can achieve. Leaders and the manager are committed to creating positive changes for the children to support them to make the transition into adulthood.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirement made at the full inspection was not reviewed and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/07/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 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

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—

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Requirement Due date

details of the child’s behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

a description of the measure and its duration;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure (""the user""), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

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Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

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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"")—

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Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and 10 January 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 6 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)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Solace Care Morden Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 2A, 420 Eastern Avenue, Ilford, Essex IG2 6NQ

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Inspector

Helen Daniel, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2708415 8 regulates and inspects 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 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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