Children's home run by Care Focus Limited in Mid Suffolk

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 1 SC047894

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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 registered with Ofsted in August 2023. She was not present for the inspection. Another manager has applied to register; she was present during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There is a registered school on site. The inspector only inspected the social care provision.

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Information about this children’s home

This inspection was brought forward in order to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Inspection date: 18 December 2024

Date of last inspection: 18 and 19 September 2024

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Inspection date: 18 December 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 18 December 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 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 2 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: SC047894 3

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Findings from the inspection

The assurance inspection was brought forward to address specific concerns received by Ofsted.

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has moved in. Two children spoke with the inspector. The children said that it has been better living at the home since the last inspection. Children said that they would talk to staff if they were worried about something. Children said that they are proud of their achievements and spoke warmly about their relationships with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are making good progress from their starting points. All the children have experienced significant gaps in their formal education. Since living at the home, all children have gradually increased their attendance at the on-site school.

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Findings from the inspection

When children make complaints, staff record this respectfully and managers follow this up with the relevant people and agencies. Managers demonstrate curiosity about children’s experiences. They take action to ensure that children are safe while they complete necessary investigations. Managerial oversight and responses to concerns raised by children have improved.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s peer relationships in the home have been turbulent when new children have arrived. This has led to some significant incidents and physical interventions. Staff have acted proportionately to protect children and have demonstrated compassion, resilience and consistency in their approach. Ultimately, incidents have reduced in seriousness and frequency, and children have settled.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff have planned new and shared experiences with the children. They have been on group trips to seaside resorts, out to restaurants and to the theatre. This has helped them to build positive peer relationships and to develop social skills.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received further training in safeguarding, therapeutic approaches, de- escalation and physical intervention since the last inspection. Leaders ensured that staff had appropriate knowledge and training in understanding self-harm and ligature removal before a child with these vulnerabilities arrived.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that there is regular communication with relevant professionals. She has quickly built positive relationships with family members and social workers for the children. Two children have spent more time with family members who are important to them because of the manager’s careful and child-led planning. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 4 A new manager has been working in the home since September 2024. She has applied to register with Ofsted. She demonstrates resilience and is committed to improving children and staff’s experiences at the home. One staff member said that she is ‘a breath of fresh air’. Others said that they feel supported, have regular supervision and feel that she takes their concerns seriously.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been an increase in staff absences and staff have worked more often to provide consistency for children. The manager is acutely aware of the impact of a shortage of staff on the team’s well-being and the potential for impact on children’s experiences. During the inspection, senior leaders demonstrated that they are working through an action plan to address concerns shared by some staff. This includes interim support from agencies, appointing additional waking night staff and reviewing one child’s overnight care plan.

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Findings from the inspection

The home and outside environment have been improved since the last inspection. The home is now well presented. Overgrowth in the garden has been cut back and children have access to snacks without unnecessary restrictions.

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Findings from the inspection

The independent person now visits in person once a month. Some reports include inaccuracies and are missing relevant information, including statements about children’s well-being and timing of visits. This does not provide effective external scrutiny.

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Findings from the inspection

All the requirements and recommendations from the last inspection have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 5

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/11/2023 Full Good 09/11/2022 Full Good 02/11/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should actively seek high-quality independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of independent monitoring (including under regulation 44) to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 2nd Floor, 168 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6RA

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Inspector

Natalie Day, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: SC047894 8 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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