Children's home run by The Drive Care Homes Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 1 Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children with special education needs and/or disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in August 2017.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children and one young adult living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspectors met the young person and one child during the visit.

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 7 January 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspectors evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Since the last inspection, one child has left the home. Another child moved in before Christmas. This was an emergency placement, and as the child has started to settle, a decision has been made for him to remain. The other child and young person have both been living at the home for over two years.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children are in education and making progress. The young person is attending college, and staff have successfully supported them with the transition from school to college.

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Findings from the inspection

Staffing is sufficient; there are high staffing levels to care for the children. The staff team is stable, and agency staff are rarely used. Children know staff well and are comfortable in their home environment. The children have established routines and this creates a sense of calm in the home.

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Findings from the inspection

There has been one safeguarding notification since the last inspection. The leaders and managers have looked thoroughly into the incident. They have consulted with the relevant professionals and discussed with staff how a similar situation could be avoided in the future. The child’s risk assessment has also been updated.

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Findings from the inspection

The leadership and management team gave notice on one child’s placement. A planned move to a new home did not work out, and as a consequence, the child’s future plans were unclear at the time of this assurance inspection. This uncertainty for the child could have been avoided if there had been better communication between the professionals.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are not all suitably experienced or skilled. The home’s statement of purpose states that ‘most’ staff have level 3 qualifications. This is not currently the case. For many staff, this is the first time they are working with children with special education needs and disabilities in residential care. Staff complete online training before they start working in the home, and they receive in-person training about how to de- escalate incidents of concern and use physical restraint safely. However, leaders and managers do not routinely check staff’s understanding and learning or identify areas of strength and areas for development in staff supervision.

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Findings from the inspection

Behaviour support plans and risk assessments for the children are detailed, and risk assessments are updated after incidents of concern. However, children’s behaviour and their progress are not consistently reviewed. The care plan for the young person living in the home is not clear, and the registered manager has raised concerns with the social worker. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 3 Leaders and managers have improved their recruitment procedures and follow safer recruitment guidelines. This ensures that only suitable people work with children.

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Findings from the inspection

The home’s physical environment is safe for children. Keypad locks have been installed to access the garden and the kitchen. The young person has the code and can access the spaces independently. These restrictions are in place for one child, as staff are concerned that there would be a potential for the child to injure themselves. These restrictions will be reviewed further at the next full inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements made at the last full inspection have been restated and will be reviewed in full at the next inspection. The recommendations have been met. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/04/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 17/10/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Good 18/05/2021 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 5

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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;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 19 February 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(c)) 19 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 6 In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff training is effective and enhances staff’s knowledge and that a plan is in place for staff who do not have the relevant qualifications.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential;

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that children’s progress is reviewed, that care plans are updated and that children’s views are sought.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 19 February 2025 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Drive Care Homes Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Drive Care Homes Ltd, 18 Hatherley Road, Sidcup DA14 4BG

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Inspectors

Matilda Clode, Social Care Inspector Jo Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1257101 8 regulates 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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