Children's Home run by Storyy Homes Limited in Wokingham

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773966 1 Registered provider: Storyy Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private provider. It is registered to care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties. Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered in March 2024.

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Inspection date: 19 December 2024

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 19 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.

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Information about this inspection

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: 2773966 2

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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 on from the home, and one child has moved in. Both moves were made in a planned way. Another child has remained living in the home, and they are settled. The children say they are happy living in the home, and both are making progress.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers and staff work well with professionals to ensure that all necessary information is shared before children move into and out of the home. The necessary information is now recorded in the children’s records. Children are involved in their plans, and they are kept informed of significant dates to ensure that they are prepared for their moves. However, further work is required to ensure that the compatibility of each child is fully considered before a new child moves into the home. Despite this, children move into and on from the home in a planned way.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have good relationships with children and have regular and relevant conversations with them. For example, they support children to understand their difficult emotions and health needs and talk openly about them. The home has established good partnership working with the wider professional network to ensure risk management plans are in place and that there is a consistent approach to managing children’s behaviours.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection there have been positive changes made in the use of door alarms on children’s bedrooms. Children’s plans are regularly reviewed, and this has contributed to children living in an environment that feels more homely.

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Findings from the inspection

The children currently living in the home have established positive relationships with each other. Opportunities are created for them to maintain these relationships, such as having meals and activities together. There have been no incidents of bullying since the last inspection. All staff have completed training around anti-bullying, and there are future workshops planned to further consolidate learning. The manager and staff are unable to fully demonstrate what improvements have been made in staff practice when addressing conflict between children. However, this is because these types of incidents have rarely occurred.

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Findings from the inspection

Children take part in activities and are supported to find new hobbies. A guitar was purchased for a child as they showed a great interest in wanting to play it. Another child has engaged positively in community activities and enjoys magnet fishing with staff. Children feel that they are listened to and have opportunities to share their views with staff.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have received appropriate training to meet the needs of children and have completed training to enhance their recording skills. Incidents are captured in a Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773966 3 timely manner, and appropriate information is shared with professionals when required. However, there was one oversight from the manager as they did not inform the regulator about an allegation. Although this was shared with other relevant professionals and was thoroughly investigated, the regulator did not have prompt oversight of the incident.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing levels have improved since the last inspection. Three new staff have joined the team, and two further members of staff are onboarding. These new staff members come with relevant knowledge and experience. The new deputy manager is knowledgeable and has a good understanding of each child’s needs. The manager has appropriate support and can focus on the managerial oversight of the home due to the increased staffing levels. There is a commitment from leaders not to move any further children into the home until a full staff team has been formed.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that the new staff have also completed the same necessary training as the other staff. Furthermore, some specific training has been prioritised to ensure that new staff have the appropriate support to care for the children from when they first start.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have worked hard to ensure that the requirements raised at the last inspection have been addressed. This has resulted in improved monitoring and reviewing systems, which have ensured that managers stay on task with their actions. Managers take on board the recommendations made by the independent visitor, meaning they embrace this independent scrutiny to continue in making improvements where needed.

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Findings from the inspection

Managers have taken appropriate steps to manage staff conduct and any practice issues. Necessary actions have been taken to ensure that children are looked after by appropriate staff following investigations. As a result, there are robust systems in place to prioritise the safety and the quality of care for children. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773966 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/07/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773966 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that leaders and managers fully consider the compatibility of any new child moving into the home with the needs, risks and vulnerabilities of any children already living in the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified to Ofsted. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63 paragraph 14.13) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773966 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Storyy Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Storyy Holdings, 4 Oakmede Place, Binfield, Bracknell RG42 4JF

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Inspector

Karen Flanagan de Martinez, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2773966 7 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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