Children's home run by Woodbridge Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 1 Registered provider: Woodbridge Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider. It is registered to care for up to three children who may require support with social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is not yet registered but has submitted an application to Ofsted. The home has been without a registered manager since August 2024.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. All children were seen and spoken to as part of the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 26 February 2024

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children live in a happy and settled home. The physical environment is pleasant throughout, and children are encouraged to add their own personal touches. Two children have their own pets at home, and one child is working towards this goal. This has enhanced the children’s sense of belonging and responsibility in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed positive and trusting relationships with staff. This enables children to have important conversations with staff about the things that matter to them. Staff know the children well. This helps them to have more-difficult discussions that are necessary to keep children safe and to support them to have positive experiences. Children respond well to the routines and boundaries that staff promote in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is an excellent advocate for the children. She has used her own skills and experience to ensure that children access education that is best suited to them. One child is successfully attending work experience every week, which has shifted her focus onto something positive and achievable. Plans are in place for another child to access a work placement that reflects their interests and future goals. This approach to education has supported children to be more motivated and have better structure to their day.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have high aspirations for the children. They know the strengths of the children and utilise this to help build on their self-esteem and self-confidence. Staff are forward thinking in helping the children to plan and think about their future. They have realistic expectations of children, while striving for them to be the best that they can be.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported and educated to take responsibility for managing their money. They have their own bank accounts with flexible parental controls, which enable them to have the appropriate level of independence and autonomy. The manager has ensured that each child now has their own savings account. This is contributing to their future planning and independence.

p.3

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

The risk of going missing from home has reduced significantly for one child. Staff worked with the child to understand why they were going missing, and this enabled them to develop a safety plan to reduce risk. The child is now regularly spending time with their friend and keeps in contact with staff while they are away from home. The child is also using public transport, but has the reassurance that staff will always collect them if they need help. This contributes to promoting the independence of the child, while also ensuring their safety.

p.3

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

The manager understands the importance of family relationships. Her non-judgemental and inclusive approach has strengthened communication with parents, who are regularly Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 4 updated about their children’s care and progress. This has helped children to see that the people who care about them are working together.

p.3

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

Children are supported to manage their behaviour and make positive choices. Incentives are prioritised over consequences. Where consequences have been required, they have been a proportionate response to support the child’s understanding and learning. Responsibility and accountability are encouraged for all children, particularly due to their age and the need to support their skills for independence.

p.4

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

One child has been supported to reduce incidents of self-harm. Consequently, the risk is much lower, and the child is managing previous risk items with no concern. This has been important in increasing the child’s independence and allowing them to utilise other ways of managing their feelings. Staff celebrate that this child now uses their voice to express how they are feeling.

p.4

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

Staff are skilled in using verbal de-escalation techniques. This is an effective way of reducing incidents and helping children to manage behaviour in the least-restrictive way. Staff are nurturing and caring. They recognise when a child is struggling and maintain a calm and safe environment for them to talk about their experiences or worries.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in manager since the last inspection, resulting in a change in management structure. The manager has a wealth of experience and skills and has demonstrated excellent leadership in the team. The manager sets high expectations for her team and supports them in delivering high standards of care. She leads by example and her passion and drive for children to thrive is embedded in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are well supported, and now benefit from regular and meaningful supervision discussions. The staff have a range of relevant experiences and transferable skills. Most of the staff do not yet hold the relevant care qualification but are working towards this. The manager has good oversight of this and ensures that staff have varied opportunities to broaden their practice experiences.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The induction for new staff has improved. Existing staff have supported the development of this with the manager. This is now more robust, ensuring that staff are ready to undertake their role in supporting and caring for children. Staff have not yet received training that reflects the therapeutic model of care described in the statement of purpose. The manager has acknowledged this shortfall and has produced a comprehensive workforce development plan that captures the importance of ensuring that staff receive relevant training.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff have carefully considered the importance of consistency for children. A new rota system has been developed to ensure that children experience stability and familiarity from the adults who are caring for them. This improvement has supported better communication in the team and a more effective handover. Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 5

p.4

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 must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

p.5

Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

p.5

Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

p.5

Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

p.5

Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b))

p.5

Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to ensuring that the relevant applications are completed in a timely manner to ensure the home has a registered manager and responsible individual in post. 16 April 2025

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that they lead and manage the home in a way that delivers the ethos, outcomes and approach set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, paragraph 10.4) Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 6  The registered person should maintain good employment practice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)

p.5

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: 2738824 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Woodbridge Care Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Spring Cottage, 55 West Road, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6LT

p.7

Inspector

Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2738824 8 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.

p.7

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.8

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.8

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.8