Children's Home run by Resolute Care in Derbyshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 1 Registered provider: Resolute Care

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned home that is registered to care for up to three children who may require support with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by an experienced manager who registered with Ofsted in 2021.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of this inspection and were spoken to.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Outstanding 17/08/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a welcoming and cosy family environment for children. It is clean and well presented. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and suitably furnished to provide comfort and privacy. Children said they like living in their home and that they like the staff caring for them. Interactions between staff and children are warm and nurturing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional standards of care from staff. Staff cherish and nurture the children and appreciate that each child is unique. Staff provide tailored support that reflects the individual needs of each child. This helps children to flourish and develop their own personalities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy an excellent range of play and leisure activities. These offer opportunities to have fun and develop interests and hobbies and give children the chance to socialise and make friends. One child has recently started attending football club each week and goes to swimming lessons. This has taken time and encouragement over years, through staff continually striving for children to achieve and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage and support children’s relationships with their families. They support time together with the aim of making this an enjoyable event for everyone. Children are provided with opportunities to socialise with peers and are encouraged to develop friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff use research-based, creative interventions to support children with their life skills, emotional well-being and education. They use team meetings to discuss such strategies and reflect together on their effectiveness. The therapeutic approach is firmly embedded in practice, resulting in care which is always child-centred.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to be part of their local community. Positive relationships have been built with neighbours. This is encouraged through participation in charity events. Children have recently taken part in raising money at a local supermarket for food banks. Neighbours are also encouraged to take part in events the staff and children have organised for the home.

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

Children’s risk assessments and support plans are individualised and provide staff with guidance and clarity on how best to help and support children and keep them safe. They are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect any current or emerging concerns. This is done together with the children’s network of professionals and the team recognising when they need to adapt practice using creative ways and thinking. This has helped children feel safe, thrive and make progress. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 4 Children are provided with clear and consistent boundaries and routines. As a result, they feel safer and more settled, as staff provide predictable and nurturing care. Children have trusting relationships with staff and are able to express their views and any concerns they may have. Allegations against staff have been well managed, with a thorough investigation, and appropriate action has been taken if necessary.

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

The staff help children to understand their own vulnerabilities and support them to take appropriate developmental risks as part of their growing independence.

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

The manager and staff have an excellent understanding of the risks posed to and from children. Therapeutic work undertaken by the team helps staff think of creative ways to manage risks and vulnerabilities. Staff show great persistence and determination in the face of complex situations. When children need extra help to understand risks, they are offered empathy and time. This has helped children to become safer over time.

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

The staff have a solid understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding children. There are strong and effective links with local authorities and the network of professionals. The manager ensures that staff receive regular and comprehensive safeguarding training. She also ensures that, when required, bespoke training is provided to ensure staff are equipped to support and safeguard children effectively.

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

For one child, there has been a significant reduction of incidents of them going missing. The child has been able to take age-appropriate risks and, as their needs have changed, risk assessments have been updated. There was one episode of going missing when the risk assessment had not been robustly followed, meaning a delay in police being contacted. Return home interviews have not always been carried out or they have been significantly delayed.

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

Any staff employed to work at the home, either temporarily or permanently, are subject to stringent safe recruitment practices. This provides assurance that the adults employed to work at the home are safe to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides strong and effective leadership and has created a culture where children are provided with safe, loving and nurturing care. She is entirely child-centred in her approach and is knowledgeable and skilled. The staff know the children well and understand their complex needs. They have been adaptive and creative, and they have used research effectively to create individualised care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses a range of tools to ensure she has effective oversight of the home. Due to the training, upskilling and investment in the team by the manager, staff are well supported by the leadership team. Staff are encouraged to be solution-focused and creative in their thinking. One of the major strengths is the teamwork and consistency in care practice. This provides children with structured boundaries and routines, which helps them to feel safe and settled. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 5 The manager works well with external professionals, who are unanimous in their praise for her, the care that children receive and the progress they make. External professionals highlighted the manager’s extensive knowledge and support provided to the professional network. One professional said, ‘The manager is a strong advocate for the young people and will follow up if they feel something is not in the child’s best interest. She is always

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an excellent advocate for children. She has worked very hard with external agencies to ensure the right plans are in place for children. For example, there was a delay in one child receiving the health support they required. Due to the delays, the manager contacted the health commissioner and continually advocated for the child. A private assessment is now taking place to ensure the child is getting the support they need without delay.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The management team has highly effective monitoring and auditing systems in place to ensure the home is managed effectively. They use these tools to assess the quality of care that children receive and to ensure the home is a safe and secure environment. They strive to continually improve, and do not become complacent. Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview following any missing from home event. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: 2660603 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 27, Trent South Industrial Park, Little Tennis Street, Nottingham NG2 4EQ

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Inspector

Eleanor Quanbrough, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2660603 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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Inspector

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