Children's home run by Hestia Homes for Children

Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 1 Registered provider: Hestia Homes for Children

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

A private company owns the home. It is registered to provide care for up to five children with learning disabilities. Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2024.

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 outstanding

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/04/2023 Full Good 25/01/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children make good progress through their positive relationships with the staff, who know them well. Children are confident and comfortable around the staff, who use their relationships to understand the children’s needs. The children have positive relationships with each other, often engaging in chatter and activities. Children were seen to be seeking the presence of others when they returned from school.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children who were living in the home, moved to the organisation’s recently registered home the day before the inspection. The processes involved ensuring that children understood the move and the reasons for it were child focused throughout. The children can maintain their friendships and relationships with the staff and children from this home, as it is a shared staff team and only separated by a gate in the driveway.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Parents and professionals all comment positively about the home and the progress the children have made while living there. They note that the staff are warm and welcoming and look after their children well. They comment that the managers hold the children’s best interests central to their planning.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are skilled at seeking children’s views and use a range of communication techniques, linking in with speech and language therapists at school to ensure that they are doing this consistently. Children’s views are sought on a wide range of topics, such as activities they would like to do, the foods available in the house, but also on the big decisions in life regarding where they would like to live and their next steps: their views are shared in statutory reviews.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children really enjoy the range of activities they can do both within the home and in the community. Children are involved in organised groups such as Brownies, where they have made friends, as well as going swimming and to local farms and zoos.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are helped to understand their physical and emotional well-being. Close links with health professionals mean children have the medical care and support they require, and staff are always observant of any changes in children’s presentation. Close links with child and adolescent mental health services as well as therapists from school, mean children’s emotional and physical well-being needs are met well. Any routines and sensory input are consistent in both home and school.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Medication is stored appropriately, and managers regularly check stocks and administration records, quickly identifying if there have been any concerns, taking appropriate action at these times. Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 4

p.3

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

Children’s actions show they feel safe in the home. They are confident in their interactions with the staff and were seen to be sharing any worries or concerns with them. Staff understand the children well, recognising any changes in their behaviour, communication and approach. Staff are curious with the children about what is concerning them at these times.

p.4

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

Staff know how to respond should there be a concern for a child’s welfare or well-being. The managers take swift and comprehensive action should there be any safeguarding concerns. Joint working with the local authority designated officer is strong. The managers work closely with them to ensure that any disclosures or allegations are thoroughly investigated and that children are listened to and taken seriously.

p.4

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

Staff recognise that children’s behaviours are a communication. They are reflective of this when helping children through their daily anxieties and struggles. Staff support them to develop skills to manage when they are feeling overwhelmed or upset. Physical interventions, when used, are thoroughly reviewed by the managers. Reflective discussions with the children and the staff involved determines if there is any learning, and better ways to support children when they are upset. Support plans for children are highly detailed, showing that staff understand the children’s needs well.

p.4

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

Children are protected from avoidable risk through regular monitoring of the home and the environment. The home requires refurbishment and redecoration, but it is safe, bright and welcoming. Children know how to respond if the fire alarm sounds through practice evacuations.

p.4

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

The adults are not risk averse and do all they can to ensure that the children have rich and fulfilling age-appropriate experiences. Children are protected from being cared for by inappropriate people through robust safer recruitment checks, including when using staff from agencies.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Since the last inspection, there has been a change in registered manager but not a change in the leadership team. This means that there is consistency for the children as well as the continued aspirational approach to children’s childcare.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team strives for all children to have the best possible outcomes. They lead by example and expect staff to be as equally passionate. The managers constantly evaluate the quality of the service to ensure that children continue to have high-quality care. This means that children continue to make progress to the best of their abilities.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There have been changes in the staff team, but it is a strong, cohesive team that works effectively together. New staff say they feel included and welcomed into the team. Staff say they feel well supported by the managers and they understand their roles in Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 5 ensuring children have the best possible outcomes. The team is confident in supporting each other and challenging appropriately where necessary. There is a shared aim that children will have the best experiences possible.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff benefit from a very comprehensive training package, which means they can meet the needs of the children. Not all staff have had training in the organisation’s therapeutic ethos to care, however, this has had little impact on the thoughtful, high-quality approach to care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s progress is well monitored by the managers through meticulous reviewing of records, plans and developments in children’s presentation. The close joint working with partner agencies, and challenging other professionals where appropriate, demonstrates how staff are strong advocates for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 6

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is well decorated (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, and paragraph 3.9)

p.6

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff have the training and understanding of the home’s therapeutic ethos to care (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 52, and paragraph 10.4)

p.6

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: 2670636 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Hestia Homes for Children

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Cottage, Emerys Farm, Beckfords, Upper Basildon, Reading RG8 8PB

p.7

Inspector

Claudia Poienar, Social Care Inspector Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2670636 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