Children's home run by Fonjock's Social Work Practice Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 1 Registered provider: Fonjock’s Social Work Practice Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It is registered to provide care for up to three children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

One child was living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left in June 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: 5 December 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: 2608645 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/12/2023 Full Good 23/11/2022 Full Good 08/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was not present at the home during the inspection and therefore the inspector was not able to speak to the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A homely and welcome feel has been created. There are large well maintained bedrooms and communal areas. The child has chosen how their bedroom looks.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s care plan is extremely detailed. It covers all aspects of the child’s life. It gives a clear insight into the child and their needs. Behaviour support is built into the plan so there is one plan for staff to follow. As a result, the child’s care is clearly explained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The health needs of the child are understood well by staff. These are covered fully in the care plan. This includes the child’s diagnosis and the support of her mental health needs. Medication is stored safely. It is administered and recorded well. There are established working relationships with health professionals. This has helped the child to access the help they require.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to spend regular time with family. The arrangements for this have progressed. The child can now use public transport to visit family. This has developed their independence skills in preparation for a move to an adult provision.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s learning is important to staff. The company’s education manager supports staff to create an educational timetable. This includes revision and independence targets. This has led to the opportunity for the child to take exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is supported to make choices. Effective one-to-one time between the child and staff takes place regularly. This has given time for the child to express their wishes and feelings. The child’s chosen culture and identity is clearly recorded in their care plan. It is understood and respected by staff. However, there have been occasions when the child’s wishes have not always been in their best interests.

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

Staff respond to children’s unwanted behaviours well. Strategies to support children at these times are clear within their care plan. Staff do not use physical intervention unless there is an emergency. Behaviour support is based on a trauma informed approach, relationship building and kindness. Incidents are well recorded and reviewed by the manager. This helps staff to learn different ways to support a child when they are angry or upset.

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

Known and potential risks to the child are assessed. However, these assessments vary in quality. Some are clear and give good direction to staff. The assessment of the location of the home is particularly good. Other assessments do not consider all aspects of risk. Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 4 Therefore, how staff should support children to minimise risks is not always clear. The responsible individual has identified this as an area for development.

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

Children have gone missing from the home. This was known behaviour for children prior to coming to live at the home. There are clear missing-from-home protocols and safety plans in place. Incident reports are clear and detailed when a child has been missing from home. They are analysed for learning by the responsible individual. This includes the context of the incident and actions taken. Appropriate professionals’ meetings take place to address the concerns.

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

Staff have spoken with children about specific risks. The staff have been upskilled by taking an accredited module on understanding child exploitation. Children have been educated on the dangers of substance misuse. Staff have responded well to a child’s self-injurious behaviour. Staff have built a relationship with the child that enables the child to tell staff if they have harmed themselves. This is good progress for the child.

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

Children have access to an advocate. Children have been supported by an advocate when requested. This has included a child wishing to remain in the local area.

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

The manager ensures that safe recruitment processes are used for all new staff coming to work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The responsible individual knows the children very well. She is currently based at the home several days a week while a new manager is appointed. She supports the assistant managers in leading the home. One staff member said, She is very supportive. We can call her at any time if needed.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff like working at this home. They enjoy supporting the children and feel very well supported themselves.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager ensures that new staff receive a comprehensive induction to the home. This includes a booklet of learning and development. It is well received by staff as a reflective process. The manager and human resources sign off staff induction. This goes alongside a mandatory training programme. Additional learning helps staff to develop into senior roles.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff supervision sessions are held regularly. These are productive one-to-one meetings with a manager or deputy manager. Children’s care and staff well-being is discussed. The meetings include time for reflection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager leads effective monthly team meetings. They discuss the progress of the child and any operational issues. These would be even better if also used for staff development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 5 Comprehensive auditing and monitoring systems are used by the manager and responsible individual. These include management oversight recorded on plans and reports. There are weekly checklists and monthly audits. Additional audits are undertaken by the education manager and senior managers. This is an area that has developed well since the last inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 6

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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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically refers to risk assessments being clear with regards to the actions staff need to take to help keep children safe. 28 March 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that in some instances, a child may express wishes that are not always in their best interests. In such circumstances, the responsible adults will have to balance the wishes of the child against what they judge to be in the best interests of the child and reach a reasonable view about the best way forward in the interests of all. The reasons for reaching any decision will need to be carefully explained to and understood by the child or children concerned. (‘Guide to Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 7 the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.9)

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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: 2608645 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Fonjock’s Social Work Practice Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Orchard House, 1 Old Convent Orchard, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3PQ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Monica De Castro

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2608645 9 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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