Children's home run by Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited in West Suffolk

Inspection report for children’s home: SC443009 1 SC443009

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Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School 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

This home is privately owned and provides care and education for up to six children with moderate to severe learning difficulties and/or autism.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered in February 2020.

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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 outstanding

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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: SC443009 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/08/2023 Full Good 01/11/2022 Full Good 09/06/2021 Full Good 12/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC443009 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, four children have continued living at the home and one child has moved on in a planned way. All children continue to make good progress. Two of the children were spoken to as part of this inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is colourful and inviting, which creates a warm welcome for children. There are photos of the children and staff participating in activities throughout the house. These give children a real sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s bedrooms are personalised. Adaptations have made the home accessible and help children who rely on a wheelchair to build their independence. A large outdoor garden includes a bucket swing and a hot tub, which the children enjoy in the summer.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children attend full-time school with excellent attendance. The staff support them with individually tailored education plans to ensure they can learn and achieve.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff know the children well. Children are encouraged to participate in interests and activities. One child has been supported to join a local football team. Staff take the child to training sessions and watch on matchdays. Staff regularly arrange celebrations at the home and invite children’s friends and family. The children enjoy swimming, bowling and playing their favourite board games with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have different communication needs. Staff use helpful communication tools to give the children a voice. One non-verbal child was observed using their buttons to share their wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager has introduced a team of staff to work with each child in replacement of a key-worker system. This is known as a key-worker team, which provides timely reviews of care and progress and shares this with the wider team.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children have personal independence programmes. These are clear with achievable targets. Children’s progress is highlighted and celebrated. Staff empower the children to be as independent as they can be. A self-contained living space on the first floor supports children to develop their life skills. Children are able to spend time with their peers in the downstairs areas of the home.

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

Children are helped to understand how to stay safe. Staff support children by educating them on the dangers around them by using effective communication systems. This includes how to stay safe online. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443009 4 Children say that they feel safe and listened to. When children raise concerns, they are listened to, and leaders and managers take appropriate actions to keep them safe. Children can name the staff they would speak to if they had any concerns about their safety and well-being.

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

Staff have a good understanding of the children’s vulnerabilities. When children show unsettled behaviour, staff are empathetic and supportive. Children’s risk assessments are constructed sensitively, so the children do not feel labelled in any way.

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

Staff use effective methods to manage incidents with the children. Incidents requiring physical intervention have reduced since the last inspection. Staff know the children well and understand how to communicate with them when they are struggling to manage their emotions.

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

Staff work closely with other agencies to make sure children are safe. Leaders and managers plan and attend meetings with school leaders. They discuss children’s care plans and advocate for the children to make sure they are listened to.

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

Children’s risks are well known to the staff. These are updated to show the progress children have made. When their risks and vulnerabilities reduce, this is reflected in the children’s care plans.

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

Children are supported to join in risky activities with staff. They are supported to share the same opportunities as their peers and are not held back from accessing community events. This gives children equal opportunities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is managed by an incredibly competent and experienced manager who holds a level 5 diploma. She has worked hard on retaining an experienced and dedicated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are extremely aspirational. Staff supervision sessions are highly effective and push the staff to develop and grow in their roles. Staff are tasked with producing and presenting speeches to the team. Staff create ideas for team-building days and constructing care plans for children from scratch. These tasks build their confidence and showcase their abilities.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has excellent oversight. Audits are carried out frequently, and actions are made clear to staff and external bodies. When improvements are required, these are quickly acted on.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Risk assessments are kept under review. When further support is required, the manager brings in the expertise of behaviour leads to ensure that the guidance to staff is communicated in helpful ways. The behaviour leads deliver problem-solving Inspection report for children’s home: SC443009 5 sessions and help staff to understand children’s behaviour and how to best support them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have great support networks. The responsible individual is heavily involved at the home. He has daily contact with the staff and works closely with the children to make sure their needs are being met. He purchases items for the children to help them express themselves creatively. One child has an electronic drum kit in their bedroom.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has frequent team meetings with staff. The manager has developed a system where the key-work teams break out into smaller groups to speak about the children in more depth, exploring their likes, behaviour, wishes and feelings and achievable targets.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers know their strengths and weaknesses extremely well. They can demonstrate significant improvement since the last inspection. The manager is clear about the challenges. Leaders have worked hard to help children to become more independent, devising an individually tailored programme.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have excellent working relationships with partner agencies to ensure the best possible care for children. They work closely with the school and consistently share information about the children. Education plans are detailed and show an extensive knowledge of the children and their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

One child’s social worker said, ‘You can tell they are management, but they are so integrated within the staff team and the children too. They are so hands on; I couldn’t wish for more.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are no requirements or recommendations from this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC443009 6

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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: SC443009 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Barnardiston Hall Preparatory School Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Greenwood House, Greenwood Court, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 7GY

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Inspectors

Dan Williams, Social Care Inspector Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC443009 8 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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