Children's Home run by SureCare Residential Ltd in Hertfordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC470645 1 SC470645 Registered provider: SureCare Residential Limited - WhiteTrees Group 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 for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in February 2023.

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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

Date of last inspection: 26 September 2023

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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: SC470645 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/09/2023 Full Good 27/09/2022 Full Good 22/07/2021 Full Outstanding 13/06/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC470645 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the previous inspection, two children have moved into the home and two have moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children living in the home were seen during the inspection. They all attend education and planned activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff create a warm and inviting home environment with ample space for children to enjoy. The children make decisions about the decor and have personalised bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s overall experiences are positive. One child said they feel safe and settled and have a sense of belonging. They identified they have made progress because of the support they receive at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff work hard with other professionals to ensure that children have bespoke plans to be able to achieve in education. Children have attained qualifications and enjoy learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to achieve goals in relation to independence skills. For example, staff have supported one child to travel independently into a busy city.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff have built trusting relationships with each child, which has resulted in a settled and stable home. There are very few incidents, and children who move out of the home choose to stay in touch.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff create various opportunities for children to share their wishes and feelings to inform care planning. Children are central to decision-making. For example, they chair their own planning meetings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Achievements are recognised and celebrated. For example, one child was supported by staff to make good progress and attended a festival with their friends as a result. This created lasting and important memories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff build relationships with families. Children are supported to safely spend quality time with their families and friends.

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

Children are settled and happy in the home. They respond well to consistent boundaries and predictable routines. As a result, incidents are rare. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470645 4 The manager is proactive at recognising potential areas of vulnerability. This has helped children to have meaningful conversations with staff about risks associated with exploitation. As a result, children are helped to build resilience.

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

Children’s plans are comprehensive and well informed. Thorough planning helps staff to support children to take age-appropriate risks and make safe decisions that reduce the likelihood of harm.

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

Clinical practitioners are a consistent support to the staff. Specialist training informs the way staff meet children’s individual needs. This has contributed to children having bespoke plans that aid consistent approaches to care.

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

Door alarms are used in the home at night. However, for some children, the appropriateness of their use is not regularly reviewed. Therefore, some children have monitoring in place that they may no longer need.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced and qualified manager and deputy, who were present throughout the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy are influential in securing the very best outcomes for children. They are wholeheartedly invested in children being given the very best opportunities. Inspectors observed warm and loving relationships between managers and the children. Managers expressed a sense of privilege that they are able to care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The strength of the management team ensures a very stable foundation for staff to provide strong care. As a result, children are beginning to achieve and experience things that they have never done before. For example, the staff team, led by the managers, creatively overcame barriers that had previously prevented one child from visiting her family in Asia this year.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an excellent understanding of the experiences that have led to children coming into care. She has consulted with clinical professionals to identify specific emotional and social needs for each child. Bespoke plans have been created and include strategies to help children that are based on clinically proven interventions. This further helps to create the very stable foundation for children to achieve significantly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an exceptional understanding of all the children’s individual identities and diverse needs. For example, she has researched local resources to support one child to explore their unique interests. The manager enthusiastically removes barriers and creates opportunities that have profound impact on children’s experiences. She has challenged professionals to secure positive outcomes. For example, careful, creative planning in partnership with professionals has led to all children achieving exceptionally well in education. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470645 5 The manager scrutinises referrals to ensure that careful consideration is given to the mix of children at the home. As a result, children are welcomed into a stable environment and settle in quickly. Inspection report for children’s home: SC470645 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that limits on privacy and access are only put in place to safeguard each child in the home and are kept under regular review. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)

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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: SC470645 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SureCare Residential Limited - WhiteTrees Group

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: WhiteTrees Group, The Old Snap Factory, Twyford Industrial Estate, Twyford Road, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3LJ

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Inspectors

Carrie Twinn, Social Care Inspector Lexi Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC470645 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.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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