Children's home run by Sunbridge Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2686524 1 Registered provider: Sunbridge Childcare Limited

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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 owned and managed by a private company. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in June 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, three children were living in the home. The inspector spoke to all three children.

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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 outstanding

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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: 31 October 2023

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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: 2686524 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

31/10/2023 Full Good 10/01/2023 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children’s home: 2686524 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children experience nurturing care from a team of experienced and committed staff. This results in the children developing positive relationships that enable them to have a sense of stability and make progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into the home are well planned. Staff visit children before they come to live at the home and start to develop important relationships. There have been two instances of children leaving the home at short notice after the manager made the decision for them to move to alternative homes. The manager accepts that this is not how she would like children’s time at the home to end. Professionals spoken to agree with the decisions made and that they were in the best interests of the individual children. One professional said, ‘I have no concerns at all about how the staff looked after [name of child]. They did everything they could.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Education is seen as important by the staff. They offer consistent praise and encouragement to all children to help them achieve. A headteacher said, ‘The staff are very supportive of [name of child] and have given them the stability to achieve, even though they have only been there a short while. They are flying.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When difficulties occur within education, the staff advocate strongly on behalf of children to ensure that they receive a prompt response and support. One child has no school placement, but the team is prioritising this in their talks with other professionals. In the meantime, they support the child to maintain a good daily routine and offer activities to ensure that they remain engaged and occupied.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are regularly engaged in activities, but also have time to be with friends and family. Staff have supported family and friend relationships and recognise the importance of these when children live away from the family. Families spoken to were overwhelmingly positive about the care their children receive and this was supported by other professionals.

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

Children say that they feel safe in the home and can identify adults they would go to if they needed help. Care plans and risk assessments are detailed and helpful to staff. Strategies to minimise risk are clear. Staff can talk about the strategies they use with confidence and identify that the consistency between team members is what makes this effective.

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

Incidents are well recorded and include debriefs with children and relevant staff, with evaluation and sign-off by the manager. However, some of the language used in the records gives a negative view of the presenting behaviours, with some jargon being used. Inspection report for children’s home: 2686524 4 There are some episodes of children going missing from the home, although these are reducing. If children do go missing, staff are clear in how they manage and support these episodes to help the child return quickly and safely.

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

Children are helped to deal with their emotions and to tackle the difficult subject of growing into an adult safely through effective, individual conversations. The subjects discussed are linked to the plan for the child, as well as in response to situations that occur. This helps the children to develop positive self-esteem and learn to manage their own emotions.

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

Recruitment practices are effective and overseen by the manager. One employment record reviewed showed that a relevant additional reference should have been taken up to ensure the safety and well-being of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is experienced and has worked at the home since it reopened. She is supported by a deputy and a consistent team of dedicated staff. The manager has created a team that is child-focused and supportive of each other. This feeling of togetherness helps the children gain a sense of safety and belonging. This has helped the children make good progress in a short space of time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows her team and the children very well. She targets areas within the practice of the team that need development in a supportive and encouraging way. This helps staff to grow in confidence, helping them to become practitioners who are self- aware and can ask for help if needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The team has changed since the last inspection. Staff moved on for a variety of reasons linked to the high standards and expectations that the manager has for her team. In each case, she used the probationary period effectively to minimise the effect that this has had on the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff all recognise the level of input the manager has and are clear that she is a great supporter of staff, but also a strident advocate for children. This role modelling has created a team that aspires for the children, but also the staff. Staff follow her example when ensuring that they and other professionals offer children the opportunity to achieve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses her team meetings and supervision sessions to consistently develop staff and ensure that they meet her aspirational standards. She uses research and information to generate reflective discussions where staff can safely share their views and learn. Mandatory training is up to date, as are induction and supervisions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an effective monitoring system that is open and transparent with the registered individual so that they can work together to continue to develop the service. Inspection report for children’s home: 2686524 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all sources of relevant references are followed up in the recruitment process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  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 about children in a non-stigmatising way. 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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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: 2686524 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Sunbridge Childcare Limited

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Inspector

Sue Atkinson Millmoor, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2686524 7 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted Inspection report for children’s home: 2686524 8

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