Children's Home run by Gracebridge Care in Solihull

Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 1 Registered provider: Gracebridge Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were present during the inspection and spoke to the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager’s post has been vacant since July 2024. Leaders are actively recruiting for a new manager. The responsible individual is in day-to-day charge of the home, supported by two deputy managers within the organisation.

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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 good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 5 February 2024

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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: 2728327 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved into the home, and two children have moved out of the home. At the time of this inspection, two children lived in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff have a strong understanding of the children in their care. They provide good care and support, fostering positive and trusting relationships. These relationships help children build confidence to share their worries and past experiences. The dedicated team takes pride in knowing each child well and celebrating their achievements. Staff consult with children, consistently valuing their opinions on a wide range of topics. As a result, children achieve good outcomes.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from thoughtful introductions to the home, only when managers have carefully evaluated children’s needs and potential risks and there is confidence that children’s needs can be met. Staff from the home visit children and provide them with precise information about the home, the staff team and other children living in the home. Video recordings showcasing the home’s location and interior are also shared with children. This child-centred approach prioritises children’s well-being and emotional needs by ensuring that they feel informed and prepared for the move. Additionally, it helps to reduce anxiety, promoting a sense of security and inclusion.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have occasionally moved out of the home earlier than planned. For example, when one child experienced a sudden increase in risks, managers and professionals decided to move the child to a more suitable home tailored to their emerging complex needs. The child was informed sensitively, with a clear explanation of the reasons for their move. This approach highlights strong partnership working, with managers responding promptly to escalating risks and ensuring that children are placed in the right environment for them. These actions demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing complex needs effectively and minimising potential harm.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide effective support for children with their education. One child, who had been out of education for over 18 months, now has 100% attendance. Another child receives home tutoring, with staff tailoring their support to the child’s learning style to enhance their progress. A full-time school placement for this child has now been secured as they demonstrated a readiness and desire to attend school. Staff in this home provide a personalised approach to education, addressing barriers to learning effectively and showing a deep understanding of each child’s individual needs. This approach not only improves outcomes but also empowers children to reach their full potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff play a vital role in helping children understand their behaviours and recognise their successes. Children are supported through a reward system that celebrates their unique achievements and efforts, encouraging self-motivation. Rewards are Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 4 meaningful, tailored to the children’s interests and linked to their incentive charts. For example, one child refused to remove their hood because they disliked their hair. To support the child, staff implemented an incentive plan, encouraging them to get a haircut. As a result, the child gained confidence, stopped wearing the hood and was rewarded with a shopping trip for new clothes. This approach promotes long-term personal growth by guiding children to connect positive actions with positive outcomes in a supportive manner.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A strength in the home is the staff’s ability to promote the voice of each child. Staff empower children to express their wishes and feelings, which are central to decision- making in the home. Children attend their important meetings and actively contribute to make their own plans. In this home, children can express themselves and feel truly listened to.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make choices about their living environment and select activities for their weekly independence guide, helping them to work towards their goals and dreams. For instance, one child volunteers weekly at their local stables as they want to pursue a career working with animals.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff understand the importance of promoting children’s relationships with people who are important to them. Staff are instrumental in supporting children to spend quality time with their families, where previously this has not been possible. One child is planning to stay overnight with their family over the Christmas period. The child expressed how excited they were about this opportunity. Their parent said, ‘Family time is really good. I look so forward to seeing [name of child].’ This demonstrates how children’s views are listened to and acted on. This purposeful practice supports children to maintain their identity, alongside developing a sense of belonging, which leads to positive experiences and progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a high standard and kept impeccably clean. One child described the home as ‘posh’. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and decorated to their preferences. The home also features dedicated spaces for relaxation and fun. Photos of the children enjoying various activities are displayed throughout the house, nurturing a feeling of inclusion that contributes to their emotional well-being.

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outstanding

Children have valued relationships with staff, who are professional and dedicated. One child said, ‘I don’t know how to explain it, but I feel safe living here, and know staff are always there for me.’ The managers have embedded a therapeutic-informed approach to children’s daily routines. As a result, children know what is expected of them and feel safe and secure.

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outstanding

The managers create concise, therapeutic and individualised plans and protocols in collaboration with children. These plans are based on the home’s model of care and Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 5 informed by research from the in-house clinician. They allow children to actively contribute to their care, assess their risks and determine what works best for them.

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outstanding

Staff respond effectively to secure children’s safety quickly when children go missing from home. Staff promptly follow the missing-from-home protocols, which includes immediately contacting the police, including local and transport police, as well as relevant professionals. Staff actively search known areas until children are located. When children return, staff show professional curiosity to understand the reasons for their absence and provide education on the risks associated with going missing. In addition to this, managers attend multi-agency meetings to ensure that the appropriate support is put in place, addressing children’s underlying issues, preventing future incidents and ensuring children’s safety.

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outstanding

The use of physical intervention has significantly reduced since the last inspection. Staff use the home’s therapeutic model of care effectively to find strategies that work, such as humour, and mindfulness to support children. When direct intervention has occurred, this has only been used as a last resort and managed appropriately. After each physical intervention, staff participate in discussions that focus on ensuring adherence to physical intervention legislation. This process promotes accountability and reinforces staff knowledge. This reflective approach upholds ethical practice and cultivates a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

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outstanding

When children cause harm to themselves, they immediately tell staff because they trust that staff will help them. Staff respond with nurturing care, and referrals are made to specialist agencies for additional support. This creates a safe and non- judgemental environment where children feel comfortable seeking help when needed. This approach demonstrates a strong commitment to both immediate and long-term well-being.

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outstanding

Staff do all that they can to ensure that children are safe when they use the internet. For example, parental controls are implemented to ensure that children only access age-appropriate materials online. Staff check children’s devices as necessary and in line with their plans. Proactive measures equip children with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the online world responsibly. Through engaging sessions and the use of interactive resources, children learn about potential online risks and the importance of privacy and responsible behaviour online. This represents progress for children, who previously were unable to access the internet safely.

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outstanding

Children live in a safe home. Managers conduct daily health and safety audits to ensure that the environment remains secure. Recently, the home earned a gold award from an independent organisation for the quality of its health and safety checks. This accolade demonstrates a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance and environmental care. This approach supports the safeguarding of children, staff and visitors, creating a well-managed environment that promotes children’s overall well-being and care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 6

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager left in July 2024. Although leaders of the home have been proactive in their efforts to recruit a new manager, there is no current manager in post at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is currently being managed by the responsible individual and two deputy managers. All three are experienced and child-centred practitioners who have high aspirations for children and the staff team. The managers create a culture of positivity. They have high expectations of their staff to change and improve the lives of the children they are responsible for.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are extremely positive about the support they receive from the management team. One member of staff said, ‘All three are very hands on with their support with us and the children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are supported by a motivated and skilled staff team. Staff access a range of training and research that informs their practice to meet children’s diverse individual needs. Staff work collaboratively to implement this training into their practice. The dedication of the staff team and the quality of care provided to children are seen in the good progress that children make and the positive outcomes they experience.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive leadership support through practice-based supervision, where reflective conversations about children’s well-being take centre stage. The home’s clinical lead provides additional supervision for staff, focusing on their welfare and equipping them to better support the children. Staff appraisals further enhance motivation and encourage professional growth. One staff member expressed delight with their recent appraisal, highlighting how it set clear targets to help them progress towards a deputy manager role. This demonstrates a commitment to supporting staff development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers hold reflective team meetings, creating additional learning opportunities to enhance staff practice. For example, the home’s clinical lead supports staff in adopting a therapeutic approach to better understand and manage children’s emotions. These meetings also include discussions on what works well and areas for improvement. This ensures continuous professional development and equips staff with the tools to provide the best care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with external agencies and parents is positive. Professionals commended the team on its particularly effective communication and the quality of care provided to children. One social worker said, ‘It really helps when you have a great residential placement, that is what I have got there with [name of child].’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers use effective monitoring systems to scrutinise and evaluate both children’s care and the home’s overall performance. The responsible individual has introduced a therapeutic framework which is seamlessly integrated into all aspects of children’s care and written documentation. Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)) 27 January

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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: 2728327 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracebridge Care Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rear Of Arden Lodge, 946 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 6QG

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Inspectors

Jas Nahar, Social Care Inspector Mandy Wake, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2728327 9 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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