Children's home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC405977 1 SC405977 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group 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 by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have experienced social and emotional difficulties and children with disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. One child was present during the visit and spoke with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has been in post since August 2018. The manager is suitably skilled and qualified. The manager also manages another children’s home for 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: 14 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: SC405977 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/02/2024 Full Good 06/04/2023 Full Good 13/07/2021 Full Outstanding 14/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC405977 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child who lived in the home for over four years has moved into semi-independence in line with their care plan and one has child moved into the home. Children receive well-planned moves into and on from the home, even in an emergency. Staff use play and engage children with activities to reduce their anxieties when they move into the home in an emergency. This helps children to feel less anxious about their move into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who move out of the home are provided with a high level of support from staff. Staff support children with decorating and moving into their new properties. Staff and managers keep in touch with children and continue to support them for as long as they require. Children who have left the home express their gratitude to the managers for their support during difficult personal experiences. This means that children continue to feel loved and nurtured by adults who know them well. This support promotes positive endings and contributes to children’s life stories.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers are committed to providing a nurturing environment, and care that is underpinned by the home’s therapeutic model to support children. This has contributed to children settling in the home and children making fantastic progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Regular consultations with the home’s clinical psychologist are used well and are effective in improving staff practice. As a result, children receive excellent quality of care, which contributes to them achieving positive outcomes despite any additional needs they may have. For example, one child who moved into the home with additional health and neuro diverse needs was identified as functioning significantly lower than their age. The child lacked the skills to play, communicate and engage in age-appropriate activities. The individualised support provided to the child has enabled them to attend a football club weekly that can meet their needs. They have now developed positive relationships with peers, who they spend time with in the home and the community. This has contributed to the child developing a positive view of themselves and emotional resilience, which contribute to their well-being and identity development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress with their education from their starting points. Managers and staff work collaboratively with education staff and the clinical team to ensure that children have the right support to make progress with their learning. When additional support is identified as being needed, managers take action to source it. Both children were not in education before they moved into the home. Both children now have 100% attendance. They are both motivated to learn and are making progress with the curriculum.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s holistic health needs are met to a high standard. Children are in good health physically and emotionally. Children enjoy a balanced diet and are supported to remain Inspection report for children’s home: SC405977 4 active through participating in social and recreational activities in the home and community. Therapeutic input and collaboration with other agencies have contributed to children making progress emotionally. For example, children can now understand and manage their emotions positively and can communicate their feelings to their care givers. This has contributed to children feeling settled and provided an opportunity for them to develop positive relationships with staff and their peers.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are committed to ensuring that children are consulted about, and actively participate in, their care despite any additional needs they may have. For example, staff use visual cues alongside a variety of other resources that are tailored to the individual child to enable them to make informed choices about all aspects of their care. Additionally, staff and managers ensure that children have child-friendly versions of their care plans. This child-centred practice means that children feel heard and understood and can fully participate in their daily lives.

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

Managers and staff know children well. They are committed to providing a warm, nurturing environment while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries for children. This has contributed to children building trusted relationships with staff and managers, which has fostered a sense of security for children. Consequently, children are safeguarded and protected from harm.

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

Staff have a strong understanding of children’s individual risks and what they must do to keep children safe. Managers and staff ensure that the risk assessments for each child are thorough and regularly updated to ensure that they provide the team with clear guidance on how to reduce any risk of harm. As a result, there are few incidents or concerns in the home. Staff and managers participate in multi-agency meetings and implement agreed strategies. This multi-agency approach prevents children’s behaviours escalating and supports children to make better choices. Because of this multi-agency approach, children are safer.

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

Staff mostly use a therapeutic approach to promoting positive behaviours. They consistently enforce boundaries and expectations with children, and they have conversations that challenge children’s actions when necessary. As a result, children’s complex behaviours reduce, children can reflect on their behaviours and they can better regulate their emotions. Consequently, incidents where children are in crisis and distress are extremely rare.

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

During periods when children are unsettled, staff use physical intervention to ensure their safety and the safety of others. The use of restraint is a last resort and the least force is used for the shortest period. There is effective oversight to ensure that children’s plans are followed and poor practice is addressed promptly. Restraint records are clear and children and staff are provided with the opportunity to reflect on incidents.

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

When children share concerns about staff interaction with them, managers take prompt action to share the information with the social workers and designated safeguarding Inspection report for children’s home: SC405977 5 officers. The manager ensures that the staff members concerned do not remain in the home during times of investigation, to safeguard the children and the staff. This practice helps children to feel confident to report concerns as they feel their concerns are taken seriously.

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

Direct work to educate children about danger and risk is of good quality. Staff and managers use research, along with a variety of resources that are tailored to children’s age and stage of development, to educate children. Staff are creative with their direct work with children. They go above and beyond to ensure that information is presented to children in a way that they can engage with and understand. Additionally, risk management plans are shared with children. This provides an opportunity for children to have an age-appropriate understanding of risk and how to keep themselves safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is led and managed effectively by a committed and experienced manager. The manager has worked in the home for six years and has been a consistent presence in the lives of children. The manager is supported by a newly appointed deputy, who has worked in the home for four years. Managers are inspirational and ambitious for children and staff. This approach contributes to the quality of care that staff provide children, resulting in children thriving.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive training to enable them to meet children’s individual needs. The approach between the home, school and clinical team ensures that the children receive holistic care that is tailored to their individual needs. In addition to the home’s therapeutic model, the manager is committed to using research and intervention to improve the quality of care for children. This approach has contributed to the progress that children make.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Supervisions and team meetings are used effectively as a space for reflection and learning to reflect on children’s needs and progress, and staff practice. The managers ensure that newly appointed staff receive a thorough induction, and they are appropriately supported to enable them to care for children. This ensures that children receive the care that enables them to have positive experiences and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals, parents and staff are extremely positive about the quality of care that children receive and the progress they have made. One parent said, ‘[Child’s name] has come on leaps and bounds; never seen them so happy.’ One professional said, ‘[Child’s name] has made significant progress since living there, staff know them well and provide clear boundaries whilst having fun.’ Staff say that morale is good and they feel adequately trained and supported to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a range of monitoring and reviewing systems, which are effective at maintaining oversight of the home. These ensure that there is continuous improvement. These systems provide a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Inspection report for children’s home: SC405977 6

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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: SC405977 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

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Inspector

Nateisha Cardoza-Evans, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC405977 8 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

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