Children's Home run by Able Health Care Ltd in Suffolk

Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 1 SC408714 Registered provider: Able Health Care Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run home provides care for up to six children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in March 2024.

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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: SC408714 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/03/2024 Full Good 31/10/2022 Full Good 01/02/2022 Full Outstanding 14/05/2019 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child has moved in since the last inspection. Five children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Four of the children have lived together at the home for more than one year. All the children were spoken to by the inspector and three shared their views.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience stability at this home. One child has lived in the home for over three years, another child for two years and two children for over one year. A long-standing, stable team of staff build trusting relationships with children. Children talk openly with staff about their sexuality and their learning needs. Children’s identities are celebrated. They are taught to be proud of who they are and are encouraged to embrace diversity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children build independence skills to prepare for adult life. Children have personalised reward plans that relate to their individual goals. These involve cooking, looking after pets, maintaining personal hygiene, attending driving lessons and using public transport confidently. This creates well-established child-led routines which form the basis of day-to-day life at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child will be 18 this year and they have been supported to move into a self- contained living area connected to the home. Managers consulted with the child and the child’s family members before the move. Managers created a step-by-step plan for increasing the child’s independence. The plan is responsive to the child’s changing needs and emotional well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s educational needs are thoroughly considered and met. Some children had significant gaps in their formal education before moving to the home. The manager has assertively challenged education plans for children that did not meet their individual needs. Four children attend mainstream schools or colleges, and one child has a full bespoke timetable at an alternative education provision. Some children have taken exams and achieved formal qualifications.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have new and exciting experiences. The children have a range of learning needs and medical conditions. Staff consider each child’s individual needs when planning activities, which ensures all children can safely participate and enjoy new experiences. These include staying overnight in London for media events, going to the cinema, indoor assault courses, swimming and playing darts. Photos of children are kept in memory books for them to take with them when they leave. The books are thoughtfully presented. This provides children with a collection of positive memories of their time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure children know how to make a complaint. The manager treats children’s complaints very seriously and records them diligently and responds quickly. Managers Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 4 talk to children about their complaints. Following complaints, children receive a clear and thoughtfully written letter to explain the manager’s response.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and inviting. Staff and children play musical instruments and sing together. In the summer, staff and children enjoy playing games together in the garden. Staff encourage children to try new artistic hobbies and participate in the local community. As a result, children attend local sports groups and community groups where they have made friends.

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

Staff and managers understand each child’s vulnerabilities and neurodiversity. Clearly recorded plans provide staff with detailed information about how best to support each child.

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

Effective systems help children to stay safe online and understand healthy relationships. Staff help children to understand the risks of using social media, online gaming and accessing online content. A monitoring system is used to identify online concerns. This is proportionate to each child’s stage of development and is reviewed regularly. One child said, ‘They [the staff] talk to me about things people might be embarrassed about, but they just do it in a way that is not awkward.’ This creates an open culture where children tell staff about their new friendships and online communications.

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

Staff hold important conversations with children about topics relevant to their lives. This includes managing grief, family relationships, sexual consent, and puberty. Children learn how to manage feelings of frustration and develop strategies to cope with stressful situations. Staff record these conversations sensitively.

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

Children do not go missing from this home. Children can identify staff they would talk to if they were worried about something. Children said that they are confident staff would help them.

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

The use of physical intervention is exceedingly rare, and it is only used to keep children safe. Staff make use of established relationships with children to help reduce conflict and manage incidents. Staff use consequences for children’s behaviour that are proportionate and quickly reviewed. Children are given opportunities to change or reduce the consequence, based on their reflection and improving behaviour.

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

A significant incident took place between two children last year. There were clear plans in place to reduce incidents of a known harmful behaviour. On one occasion, staff did not act in line with these plans and children were left unsupervised for a short period, during which time an incident occurred. The manager completed a review of the incident, reassured both children and shared information with the relevant agencies. Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is highly ambitious and committed to improving outcomes for children. She is supported by a deputy manager. They lead by example and have high expectations and aspirations for staff. One child said, ‘Since the new managers arrived, things have been so much better. They have my back.’ Staff said that the manager has a helpful open-door policy. Staff find the managers approachable and said they are therapeutic in their approach.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff supervision sessions are regular and reflective. When staff practice falls below the standard expected, managers take quick and effective action to ensure accountability and sustained improvement. Managers take decisive action, including dismissal when necessary. These expectations ensure that children experience consistent care from staff who are attuned to their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers use a model of care rooted in attachment theory. They regularly review children’s social and emotional progress and evaluate how relationship-based models can help children develop. These reviews are shared with social workers and provide useful insights into changes in children’s behaviour and the support that works best for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Team meetings are regular and provide opportunities for staff and managers to share effective practice and learn from incidents. Staff are encouraged to reflect on how role- modelling interpersonal skills can help children learn to manage their own relationships. Managers use staff meetings to explore creative ways that these skills can be broken down into achievable steps and practised with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers talk to children and involve them in care planning. They are open to challenge and make changes because of these conversations. Managers apologise to children when they feel it is necessary. This helps children understand how to repair relationships and learn to become accountable.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

When there are incidents, managers consider the impact on the relationships at the home and the children and staff’s emotional well-being. Children and staff are talked to about how incidents escalate. Managers consider with children and staff how incidents might be prevented next time. This information is valued by managers, and skilfully used to inform children’s plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders work diligently to develop effective relationships with police and other partner agencies. Managers have tenaciously escalated their concerns when they feel children are not receiving an acceptable service from the police, education services or social care. This has led to significant improvements in children’s education plans and their achievements. Furthermore, managers have listened to one child’s view about changes to their moving plan. Managers sought advice from relevant organisations and ensured the child had effective advocacy. The manager has been influential in ensuring this child’s progress has been sustained. Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 6 Managers arrange training to ensure staff are knowledgeable in relevant topics. This includes training in online safety, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and sexually harmful behaviour.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers completed a learning review after a significant incident last year. Areas of practice that needed to improve were shared in staff meetings and with relevant individuals. The manager’s expectations of assessed supervision levels for children were made clear and since then there have been no further incidents. Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 7

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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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all staff consistently implement the plans in place to reduce the risk of harm in incidents between children. 7 February 2025

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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: SC408714 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Able Health Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: c/o Argyle House, 3rd Floor Northside, Joel Street, Northwood Hills HA6 1NW

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Inspector

Natalie Day, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC408714 9 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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