Children's home run by Clover Childcare Services Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2682205 1 Registered provider: Clover Childcare Services 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

This home is privately operated and provides care for up to two children. The home offers therapeutic care to children with complex behavioural and social care needs.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2024.

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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: 24 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: 2682205 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/10/2023 Full Good 29/11/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2682205 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, two children have moved out and two children have moved into the home. One of the children had a successful return to their family. The other child moved when the home made the decision that they could not meet the complexity of their needs. There are two children at the home. One child shared their views with the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Relationships between the staff and children are well established and built on trust and respect. From the time children move in, staff have a good understanding of their backgrounds and past experiences. Staff build on this knowledge and use a therapeutic approach. This includes helping children to understand their life stories with their families when appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support family relationships. One family member said that the staff have been really good at supporting visits and helping to rebuild relationships. This child now has overnight stays with this family member, supporting their quality time together. Another family member described the staff as ‘amazing, lovely staff’ and thought that there had been amazing progress. Despite this child’s individual progress, there has been a decision that the home can no longer care for them. The family member acknowledged that the staff had been ‘the best they could be’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make educational progress from their starting points. Staff support both children to attend school daily. Children’s professionals said that staff do well at supporting children’s education. Staff show great pride in one child, who made a transition to a new school and made friends, became part of the football team and became ‘head child’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children’s interests. One child enjoys attending police cadets each week and enjoys football matches with the staff. Children like spending time with staff and going out for activities. This includes bike rides as well as having a regular opportunity for a break away in a caravan nearby.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress with their independence. Children are involved in putting together plans that help develop these skills. One child has been able to gain confidence in using public transport and cooking. They are going on a holiday abroad with their school. Another child has been developing skills for self-care including doing their own clothes washing.

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

Staff understand online safety and monitor children’s internet devices to keep them safe. Children enjoy their internet access to games after school. However, they benefit from these being turned off at night and handing in their phones, which are regularly checked Inspection report for children’s home: 2682205 4 to ensure that they are being used safely. When there has been a concern for safety, staff have responded appropriately by helping the child to improve their understanding of being safe online.

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

There is good communication between the staff and professionals. An independent reviewing officer said that the organisation was one of the ‘best communicators’ they had worked with. Other professionals also shared positive feedback about communication.

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

Risk assessments name children’s individual risks and provide helpful guidance for staff. There has been a pattern of allegations about the staff. Professionals have a safety plan to respond to this, which is kept under review. The social worker said that they were happy with how the home manages this. Despite this, there have been occasions when the plan has not been followed in response to an allegation about staff. The local authority designated officer was not informed at the time. The child chose not to pursue the allegation. In response, managers communicated retrospectively, and a higher level of monitoring and oversight is in place, which helps to prevent further shortfalls.

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

Internal and external monitoring has identified that recording is an area for development. In places, there is a lack of clear and accurate recording that requires further oversight to ensure improvement.

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

When consequences are used, therapeutic conversations with children take place. This gives children an opportunity to discuss triggers. However, children are not helped to learn healthier strategies to cope with feelings such as frustration.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The current manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2024. The manager benefits from a high level of support as they adjust to their new management role. The manager is working toward their relevant qualification and was present for the inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers know the children and their needs well. Leaders are often present at the home to support and attend meetings. One example is leaders creating a schedule that offers a child community respite activities in response to a challenging time experienced by the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have plans in response to significant challenges regarding staffing. Due to the use of staff from sister homes, there is sufficient staffing to continue to support the children in the immediate term. Meanwhile, they are establishing the position of staff members who are off work and recruiting new staff. This home ordinarily shares staff across the organisation, and this has minimised the disruption to children as they have been cared for by staff that they have existing relationships with. When possible, managers and leaders have used staff that have strong, trusted relationships with children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682205 5 There is a culture of reflection and learning at the home. The manager welcomes feedback to continue to develop and improve children’s experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are regular, well attended and include therapeutic support to staff. A staff member described the meetings as helpful spaces for reflection and consideration. When children move out, managers and leaders do not always fully reflect on the successes and any learning to prevent similar endings in the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work towards achieving their relevant level 3 qualification. However, this is not timely and is not always met within the required timeframe. Extenuating circumstances have been explained that account for delays, but until recently there has not been sufficient monitoring or challenge to delays. Inspection report for children’s home: 2682205 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that all reasonable efforts are made for staff in a care role, including external agency or bank staff, to achieve the qualification in Regulation 32 (4) within the relevant time frame. Any delays should be clearly documented, tracked and challenged where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)  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. In particular, ensure that information is always accurate and recorded in the proper place, especially in relation to allegations. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that they are skilled in anticipating difficulties

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Recommendations

and reviewing incidents, such as learning from disruptions and placement breakdowns. They are responsible for proactively implementing lessons learned and sustaining good practice. In particular, the reviewing of successes and lessons learned from placement breakdowns. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)  The registered manager should ensure that children’s homes staff encourage children to take a proactive role in looking after their day-to-day health and well-being. In particular, they should help children to develop skills for coping with frustration and upset. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 34, paragraph 7.10)

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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: 2682205 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Clover Childcare Services Limited.

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Old Rectory, Old Rectory Road, Brumstead, Norwich NR12 9EU

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Inspector

Carrie Twinn, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2682205 8 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

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