Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC489036 1 n SC489036

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Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private provider. It provides care for up to six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child has moved out of the home and one child has moved in since the last inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to be registered with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector 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 Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC489036 2 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: SC489036 3

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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

Children enjoy positive relationships with staff. Children like spending time with staff and enjoy activities together, such as shopping and going to the cinema. Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests. For example, one child has tried horse riding and boxing. Another child is supported to care for their own kitten. This helps to build children’s confidence and self-esteem.

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Findings from the inspection

Children’s views are regularly sought and considered. They have a genuine say in their day-to-day care. Children feel confident to be able to express their concerns to the manager and responsible individual. However, information about children is not always recorded in a non-stigmatising way.

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Findings from the inspection

Children do well in education considering their starting points. One child is in their final year of college and another child has been supported to return to school after a period of online tutoring.

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Findings from the inspection

Children are in good health. Staff have supported one child to successfully manage their own medication in preparation for living independently. Emotional health is also well supported with both children receiving weekly therapy sessions with the home’s psychotherapist. This improves children’s overall health and well-being.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff know how to keep children safe. Safety plans are made in collaboration with agencies, such as the police and social care. Safety plans are informative, regularly reviewed and inform staff how to respond.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff respond effectively when children go missing from the home and are at risk of being exploited. Staff go looking for children and communicate well with agencies to ensure that children are found quickly. Children receive targeted support from child exploitation specialists to help them understand how to keep themselves safe. This helps to reduce the risks children are exposed to. However, there is a shortfall in notifying the relevant agencies, and the manager has not notified Ofsted on two occasions where one child has been suspected to be subject to child exploitation.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff occasionally hold children to keep the child and others safe. The least restrictive measure and force are used. Children and staff receive appropriate support following each incident. Learning from incidents is used to improve practice. Additional training to upskill staff has helped to prevent the need to hold children. However, staff do not always provide sufficient details in their recordings.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has made positive improvements to the service which have been recognised and appreciated by staff and children. Staff respect her leadership and feel well supported. Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC489036 4 Staff are well trained and feel confident in their role. Staff receive training in relation to children’s needs, such as specialist medication, missing from home and child exploitation.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff receive regular supervision. However, they are not given the opportunity to reflect on their practice or the care of children. This is an area for development.

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Findings from the inspection

At the last inspection, a number of requirements and recommendations were raised. The manager has been able to evidence that some of these have been met. The manager has made progress towards meeting the remaining ones, and these have been restated at this inspection.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2022 Full Good 07/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC489036 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (Regulation 40 (4)(a))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, this relates to notifying Ofsted when a child is suspected to be subject to sexual exploitation. 28 February 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all staff, including the manager, receive supervision of their practice from an appropriately qualified and experienced professional, which allows them to reflect on their practice and the needs of children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are accurately recorded. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36) Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC489036 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Coach House, Gainsborough Road, Drinsey Nook, Lincoln LN1 2JJ

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Inspector

Emma Dacres, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: SC489036 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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