Children's home run by Gracebridge Care

Inspection report for children’s home: 2556128 1 Registered provider: Gracebridge Care Ltd

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Full inspection 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 company. It can provide care for up to four children who have experienced childhood trauma. At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. Two children were spoken with during the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

A suitably qualified and experienced manager is in post.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2556128 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/10/2023 Full Good 27/02/2023 Full Good 26/05/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2556128 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large, clean and well furnished and decorated. It provides lovely spaces for children. As a result, children are proud of their home and take care of their bedrooms, which are personalised to their individual tastes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children enjoy living in the home and score it highly. They have positive relationships with staff, who they trust to help them. As a result, children are making progress. One child is now attending school. Another has experienced a significant reduction in incidents of going missing, while a third is much better able to regulate their emotions. Children can see the progress that they are making. One child said, ‘Since I’ve moved here, I’ve made a big improvement.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff prepare well for children moving into the home. Children can visit the home, and staff learn about the child prior to their move. This helps children to settle into the home quickly and build trusting relationships, and reduces children’s feelings of worry before they move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s transitions from the home are well planned. Staff teach them the skills they need to live independently. They celebrate the child’s time in the home and help them to move and settle. This adds to the children’s life story, showing them that they have adults who care about them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education for children. They identify barriers and seek to overcome them. When children are suspended from school, staff reduce the impact on the child’s education by supporting them to complete work. When a school was not meeting a child’s needs, staff advocated for a change in school. For that child, this led to improved attendance and academic performance.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate children’s identities and differences by involving them in projects, such as a video production about conditions that affect them, or presenting their life story to staff. Because of this, children have a better understanding of who they are, their individual needs and progress.

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

Children feel safe living in the home. Staff work creatively with them to help them be safer, healthier and increasingly independent. Because of this, children feel that they can speak to staff if they are worried or upset.

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

When children’s behaviour places them or others at risk of harm, staff act to keep everyone safe, holding children as a last resort. Staff are skilled at using de-escalation techniques and building positive relationships with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2556128 4 When staff hold children, the manager arranges restorative meetings with the child and staff. These help to repair relationships and aid learning. This has led to a significant reduction in incidents of children being held.

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

On two occasions, staff have not followed plans, which has contributed to children going missing. Leaders and managers have implemented changes to prevent similar incidents in the future. Since then, when children go missing, staff follow children’s plans. Staff collaborate with professionals and family members to bring children back home safely. This has led to a significant reduction in incidents of children going missing. As a result, children are safer.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers know the children in their care and are ambitious for them. They use a range of tools to ensure good oversight, create a strong learning culture and drive improvements for children. Following two medication errors, leaders and managers improved their oversight and monitoring. As a result, the processes around medication systems are now robust and well understood by staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers ensure that children are protected by safe recruitment. They provide staff with regular training, supervision sessions and reflective team meetings. Because of this, children are cared for by staff who are knowledgeable and committed. Staff feel very supported, with one saying, ‘This is the most supportive and healthy work environment I have worked in.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are strong advocates for children. They build effective working relationships with other professionals, challenging them when necessary. As a result, children receive care that is well coordinated. One professional said, ‘It is one of the best homes I’ve worked with.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers work well with children’s families, promoting children’s important relationships. This supports children’s sense of identity and helps them to feel secure and settled in the home. Family members speak highly of the home. One family member said, ‘I cannot fault them at all. Every single member of staff in that house is amazing.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2556128 5

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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: 2556128 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracebridge Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rear Of Arden Lodge 946 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, England B27 6QG

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Inspector

John Tomlinson, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2556128 7 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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