Children's home run by NASHE - UK LTD

Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 1 Registered provider: NASHE - UK 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

This privately owned home provides care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties. There were three children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager and the home registered with Ofsted in September 2024. This is the first inspection since registration of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 2

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improvement to be good

Children do not feel confident that the staff are adequately trained to look after them. Children say they have good relationships with some staff who understand them. The staff that have not completed therapeutic parenting training are the staff that children identify as those they do not have good relationships with. This lack of training in therapeutic parenting potentially affects the staff’s relationships with the children. This is because they do not understand how to support the vulnerable children or understand the impact of trauma on their behaviour. This negatively impacts on children’s experiences.

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improvement to be good

Staff do not promote healthy eating for children. Staff enable children to have excessive amounts of unhealthy food and takeaways. There is limited structure around when children have these. The home has referred one child to a dietician. However, the limited structure around unhealthy foods potentially undermines the child’s engagement.

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improvement to be good

Partner professionals generally speak positively of the manager and staff team. They are generally positive about the care the children receive. However, one education and health professional shared that they do not feel the staff team adequately supports one child’s educational attainment or complex health needs, despite receiving additional training on this.

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improvement to be good

Photos encapsulate the children’s activities and experiences. However, children do not feel the activities they are offered are varied enough.

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improvement to be good

Staff ensure that the home is clean and tidy. However, areas of the home are looking worn and tired. Some areas of the paint are worn and a small section of the bathroom floor is damaged.

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improvement to be good

Staff have ensured that children have access to a range of professionals. Children use these professionals to ensure their views are heard. One child engaged with their advocate to support them having their court restrictions lifted.

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improvement to be good

Children are offered opportunities to explore their heritage. They are encouraged to celebrate and enjoy cultural events that are important to them and visit particular restaurants and hairdressers that support their identity.

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improvement to be good

Plans for children contain some incorrect information and some are out of date. The manager has only recently requested, after this was highlighted to her, up-to-date local Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 3 authority care plans for the children. This has led to some miscommunication among the staff team, causing inconsistency in the care and support delivered to children.

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improvement to be good

Records for children’s finances are not clear and do not safeguard children effectively. Financial records kept do not clearly record the money held for children. The children are unaware of allowances they are entitled to, or how much of their allowances have been put into savings. Consequently, children are concerned they are not receiving their full financial entitlements.

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improvement to be good

Safer recruitment processes are generally followed by the organisation. However, there has been some practice that has fallen short of expected minimum standards. On one occasion, the manager did not share potential concerns around staff recruitment information with the appropriate safeguarding authorities, or with senior leaders. This meant that senior leaders were unable to take effective action to ensure that only suitable individuals work in the home. Interviews for prospective staff have not always been undertaken by people who have suitable relevant experience.

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improvement to be good

Staff are aware of the children’s strengths and vulnerabilities. They know how to implement proactive safeguarding measures. Staff support children’s online safety through the use of suitable filters.

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improvement to be good

Staff regularly check-in with children when they are away from the home independently. Children rarely go missing from home. When children have gone missing, they have experienced well-co-ordinated responses from staff. The staff look for the children when they are missing and ensure their safe return home. Children are offered opportunities to explore with an independent person why they went missing.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers have addressed fire concerns in the home that were highlighted during a recent fire assessment by the local fire service. Leaders have worked closely with the local fire service to ensure the home is now safe from the risks of fire. All staff have undertaken training in fire safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Senior leaders have not provided the new manager with appropriate levels of guidance and support. The lack of support for the manager has contributed to some of the shortfalls in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The children living at the home need predictable routines and structures for them to feel safe and secure. However, the manager has not ensured that such structures and routines are in place to ensure that the children’s needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager’s oversight of the home is not sufficiently robust. She reviews all documents for the children. However, record management is poor. Systems are difficult to navigate, and documented incorrect information relating to children has been missed. Consequently, the manager sometimes relies heavily on staff for information about the Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 4 children. The sometimes negative language used in children’s records has the potential to undermine children’s well-being if they chose to read these documents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager is not proactive in challenging partner professionals. When commissioned services have not fulfilled all their duties, the manager has not challenged these shortcomings. Consequently, children have not had full access to the support from these services or professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Complaints are responded to by the manager using the home’s processes. Complaints submitted by children are generally around the use of consequences. Children receive written responses to complaints. However, the responses they receive are not always clear. This has left children unsatisfied with responses to their complaints and sometimes feeling their views have not been heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff speak positively about the manager and her commitment to the children. Staff benefit from regular, reflective supervisions and appraisals. New staff are completing thorough inductions. This is helping staff to build confidence in their practice with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff have created good working relationships with partner agencies. The manager has recently implemented a system to gain regular feedback from others. The manager plans to use this feedback to improve services to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 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 positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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positive responses to other children and adults.

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

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meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; and

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ix) 7 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

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Requirement Due date

employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or

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Requirement Due date

if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that— 7 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 6 full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (1) (2)(a)(b) (3)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that any DBS disclosures are thoroughly explored with candidates before employment and any concerns are shared with senior leaders.

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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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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

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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

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Requirement Due date

In particular, senior leaders must ensure sufficient levels of support to the new manager.

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Requirement Due date

Additionally, the manager should ensure that staff receive training specific to the needs of children. 7 March 2025

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The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. 7 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(b)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must ensure that robust plans and routines are in place for the child and include the time limits on consequences.

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Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

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the health and well-being needs of children are met;

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children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

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Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

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

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understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well-being. (Regulation 10 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, staff must ensure that healthy diets are promoted. 7 March 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, maintain a clear record of the dates on which any money or valuables are deposited by, or on behalf of, the child for safekeeping, the amount of money or a description of the 7 March 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 8 valuables, and the dates on which any money is withdrawn, and that any valuables are returned.

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff—

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Requirement Due date

if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 5 (c)) 7 March 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the recruitment of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. Additionally, the registered person should ensure that candidates are interviewed by individuals with suitable levels of experience in relation to the role they are interviewing for. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s home is a well-maintained, nurturing and supportive environment. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Additionally, activity planners should clearly highlight the range of activities that have been offered to children. (‘Guide to

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Recommendations

the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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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: 2783240 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit 1 Farmbrough Close, Aylesbury HP20 1DQ

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Inspectors

Louise Webling, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2783240 10 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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