Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Limited in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 1 SC408584

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Registered provider: Channels and Choices Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private organisation.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 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

Date of last inspection: 16 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/01/2024 Full Outstanding 21/03/2023 Full Outstanding 22/03/2022 Full Outstanding 24/09/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive good-quality care and support. They speak affectionately about the staff that care for them. Staff ensure that the home provides a warm and homely environment for the children. One child said, ‘Everything here is amazing.’ Staff provide tailored care to meet the individual needs and character of each child. This individualised approach is embedded through all areas of the support children receive. As a result, children develop a sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s families and relevant professionals are regularly updated and consulted. This ensures that they have a good understanding of the progress children are making. The significance of children’s relationships with others is fully understood and encouraged by staff. This includes children spending time in the home with their family. This arrangement provides a more relaxed and natural environment for family time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children in the home are making good progress. They are supported to develop age-appropriate skills to aid future independence. Children speak with pride about the achievements they have made since living in the home. These achievements are fully recognised and celebrated by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to understand and celebrate their uniqueness. All children in the home have comprehensive life-story books which detail and capture children’s backgrounds and journeys. Staff receive training on how to undertake life narrative work with children. This helps staff approach direct work with the care and sensitivity required. Staff support children to understand their own and different cultures. This is achieved through open discussions, activities held in the home and attendance at community events. It is because of these opportunities that children speak with confidence and pride about their heritage.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When supporting children to move on from the home, staff recognise the importance of advanced planning. This includes careful and creative consideration around the practical and emotional elements needed to assist children to manage change.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by staff to explore and engage in hobbies that reflect their individual interests. Children speak enthusiastically about the memories they have made during holidays and fun days out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to have a say in the care provided to them. Staff are skilled in their approach to gathering children’s views. This includes opportunities for both natural and planned discussions. Views gained are regularly acted on by staff and changes are made to reflect children’s feedback. The children are willing and confident to express their wishes and feelings because they feel valued and listened to. Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 4 The importance of education is promoted by staff. Due to individual circumstances, not all children are attending school on a full-time basis. Staff support children to engage in a range of customised programmes to support home learning and ensure children have structure and routine to their day. As a result, most children are making good academic progress from their starting points.

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

Children feel happy and safe. They feel confident staff will support them to address and resolve any worries or concerns. Children do not go missing from the home because of the good relationships they have with staff.

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

Staff are well informed about the risks for children and adapt their support and approach accordingly. Through consultation with the in-house therapeutic team, staff consider the effect of adverse experiences on children. As a result, staff are better equipped to understand and respond to children’s presenting behaviour.

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

There are clear safeguarding policies in place. Staff are confident as to the steps required of them when any safeguarding concerns arise. This ensures incidents are appropriately and consistently managed.

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

Children receive clear and consistent boundaries from staff. Creative incentives are used by staff to acknowledge and praise positive behaviour. This approach ensures children understand the expectations of them.

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

Staff have a detailed understanding of the children’s needs. This supports them to recognise when children are struggling to manage their emotions. Staff are aware and trained in the importance of de-escalation techniques. While there have been occasions when staff have needed to use physical intervention, this has only been as a last resort.

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

Specialist assessments are used to both inform and support risk management for children. Children have detailed assessments and care plans. However, there are some inconsistencies in the updating of these risk assessments. Therefore, on occasion, these do not always reflect changes in risk for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new registered manager has considerable experience of working with children in residential care and has been able to transfer these skills to her new role. The manager has quickly developed an understanding of the children’s circumstances and individual care needs, which has assisted a seamless transition in management.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic and has a clear vision for the future of the home. They have quickly identified areas for improvement, some of which have already been implemented and embedded in practice. Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 5 Children are encouraged and supported to make progress to the best of their ability. The manager sets high standards for both children and the care provided to them by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have established positive working relationships with partner professionals. One child’s social worker said that their relationship with staff was ‘brilliant’. Families speak positively about the relationships staff have developed with them. They feel consulted about the care provided to their children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are always held at the centre of decision-making, and staff advocate on their behalf effectively. When there has been delay in children’s care planning, managers have been resolute in their challenge of partner professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safe recruitment processes are in place to ensure the suitability of staff working with children. Staff receive a comprehensive induction when they begin working in the home. This ensures new staff receive the knowledge and skills needed to care for children confidently and proficiently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Any practice concerns are quickly identified and addressed by the manager. Staff feel well supported by the manager and describe a positive working environment. Frequent good-quality supervision is provided to staff. Discussions held during supervision support a culture of reflection and learning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recording systems are not consistently effective. Managers struggle at times to locate important records, and some incidents do not clearly evidence management oversight. Consequently, it is not always clear how outcomes and decisions had been reached. Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 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

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager must ensure that sufficient systems are in place for recording and record-keeping, including management oversight. 7 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: SC408584 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Channels and Choices Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Atlas Chambers, 33 West Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 2RE

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Inspectors

Kerry Howarth, Social Care Inspector Sharron Dormand, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC408584 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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