Children's Home run by Josh’s Place Limited in Redcar and Cleveland

Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 1 Registered provider: Ar Curam 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 provider. It provides short- and long-term care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were five children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2020.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 6 February 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/02/2024 Full Outstanding 18/05/2022 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children benefit from living in a home that is warm, welcoming and cosy. This is a family home with the presence of the children felt throughout. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to their tastes and there is ample space for the children to spend time together or apart. There is an abundance of photos and memory books of important occasions, which have been lovingly put together by the staff. This helps children to feel cared for and have special memories to take with them when they move on.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have trusting relationships with staff, which has enabled them to openly share their experiences. The staff know the children well and use creative ways to support children to communicate their feelings. When any issues arise in the home, individual and group discussions take place to improve relationships. This helps the children learn new ways to communicate their feelings and has resulted in the children making significant progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children participate in a wide range of activities that they choose to do, both individually and as a group. The registered manager and staff ensure that children experience day trips and holidays. The staff are mindful of children’s individual needs and nurture their individuality by encouraging their likes and interests through personalised activities and days out. This helps children to develop their individuality and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff go over and above to improve children’s health needs. Staff are proactive and promptly follow up actions from health assessments, completing an individual plan to work towards ensuring that children’s needs are met. Staff have used research to inform work completed with one child to improve their hygiene. Another child continues to be supported in creative ways to reduce their fear of the dentist. Children are supported through their independence plans to develop the skills to meet their own health needs. This includes making appointments themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress relating to their emotional well-being. Staff use research-informed practice to make a difference to the lives of the children they care for. One professional said, ‘They have a therapeutic approach and have been absolutely brilliant.’ Another professional said, ‘They accept the children and give them the time and nurturing needed, which has given them confidence to speak up.’ Children are helped by staff to learn ways to self-regulate, which improves their mental health and provides them with lifelong skills. It also reduces serious incidents in the home, which benefits all the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children attend education full time and their attendance is excellent. This is a major accomplishment and an area of significant progress for one child. Staff have worked relentlessly through direct-work sessions, working with the child’s parent and school to increase the child’s attendance. This has resulted in the child being motivated in their learning and attending additional catch-up sessions. Staff understand the value of Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 4 education and the influence it has on all areas of a child’s life. Staff instil this value in the children, which helps them to succeed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move into or out of the home, the manager carefully considers the impact alongside the needs of the other children in the home. Children are consulted about changes and robust assessments take place to make sure that staff can meet children’s needs. When children leave the home, excellent planning with evidence of strong communication with all parties ensures that the child is at the centre of the decision- making. Children are supported through the transition before, during and after the move, with the staff continuing contact after the children have moved on.

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

Children’s risk assessments are clear, thorough and individualised. They are regularly reviewed and updated. When there are risks for children, these are quickly escalated for a multi-agency response to help reduce the risk to children. Children’s plans link directly to key-working sessions. As a result, staff understand how to respond to children and children understand the risks and the worries about them.

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

There has been a reduction in the number of holds used for children. When physical interventions are used, these are as a last resort to keep children and others safe. Staff are attuned to the children’s individuality and are careful in how they respond to de- escalate situations. When physical interventions are used, they are recorded with the details of what happened and why. Following the incident, a discussion is held with the child and staff as an opportunity to reflect. The registered manager’s oversight provides an evaluation of the suitability of the intervention. This has helped children to learn new ways to manage their emotions.

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

When children go missing from home, staff are proactive. Staff understand the children’s missing-from-home plans and work well to support the child to return. This is then followed up through the manager reviewing any triggers and staff carrying out key-work sessions. This helps children to reflect on their behaviours and better understand risks. As a result, episodes of going missing have reduced for one child.

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

New staff are recruited safely. This prevents unsuitable people from being recruited to work with the children who live in this home. Shadowing shifts are undertaken for less- experienced staff and there is a robust induction process in place to help staff get to know the children.

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

Positive behaviour is encouraged in the home. When consequences are used, they are proportionate and children’s views are sought. However, the effectiveness of the consequence is not always reviewed through management oversight in line with the homes behaviour management policy. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspirational, confident and ambitious for the children. They provide challenge and advocate for children when this is needed. Two professionals said that the manager is not afraid to challenge professionals to support children. This means that children are supported to get the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers care deeply about the children. They think innovatively about how to support the children when they move into independent living. This helps children to adjust at what is a particularly important time for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The systems and tools used by leaders and managers to monitor the quality of care are comprehensive and detailed. The manager reviews the children’s progress and the effectiveness of the support that has been offered. She understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has high expectations of the staff team to improve the lives of children, embedding a learning culture within the home. This means that children are helped according to their fluctuating needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy working in the home. One staff member said, ‘I absolutely love my job.’ Another said, ‘The care the children receive is on another level. The management and staff will go above and beyond to make sure children are cared for and happy.’ The manager takes into consideration staff’s well-being and ensures that workplace adjustments are in place when needed to support staff in their roles. One staff member said, ‘Managers take time to help me and I can go to them with anything.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Supervision sessions are reflective of staff practice and any areas of concern with the children are discussed and strategies to support the child are explored. Team meetings are used effectively, and any areas that need to be communicated from monthly audits or within the service are fed through to the team meeting.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have excellent working relationships with partner agencies. Feedback from professionals has been exceptionally positive. One professional said, ‘The staff are really supportive. They have stepped in and been positive role models.’ Another professional said, ‘It is the best home I have worked with.’ Staff communication is excellent, and they alert other professionals to any slight changes that need to be shared. This helps the children feel understood by those supporting them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff. In particular, the effectiveness of consequences must be reviewed consistently. (‘The Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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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: 2580899 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, Richard House, Sorbonne Close, Thornaby, Stockton-On-Tees TS17 6DA

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Inspector

Natalie Clark, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2580899 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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