Children's home run by Five Rivers Child Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2723209 1 Registered provider: Five Rivers Chid Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated by a provider of several children’s homes in the region. It offers care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Consistent with the home’s ethos, staff are referred to as ‘adults’ in this report.

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Information about this children’s home

The child living in the home at the time of the last inspection left in June 2024 having lived there since October 2023. The child now living in the home moved in from July 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager position changed in April 2024. The previous manager held the position from January 2023 to April 2024.

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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: 27 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: 2723209 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2723209 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, the child who the provision was purposefully registered for has transitioned to an alternative home. There was a short gap before the child who now lives at the home moved in. Despite the children’s significantly different needs, they have both made progress and had positive experiences.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child living in the home chatters and laughs happily with the adults, flitting about the spaces. They have formed many positive relationships and have favoured adults who they seek when feeling unsettled. Some of the adults bring their pet dogs to the home, which the child enjoys, especially the dog walks and hugs they get to give out. The child has helped to create and decorate several monthly memory books documenting their many experiences and visits to attractions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s bedroom is a personalised, thoughtfully decorated space. Their artwork, toys and personal belongings are evident throughout the home. The lounge features a creative wall of family photos, and there is a space for poetry and photos to acknowledge a significant loss in the child’s life. Adults enable empathetic and open discussions at the child’s pace. These intentional elements have cultivated a profound sense of belonging and comfort.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The adults promote and facilitate family time between the child and significant individuals, and the clinical practitioner offers support and guidance to all those involved to promote consistency for the child. The child has enjoyed a birthday barbecue celebration at the home with members of their family and had successful overnight visits at Christmas. A family member said that the adults’ and managers’ positive communication, facilitation and support have enhanced the overall positivity of family time.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has moved successfully to a local mainstream school, with adults providing responsive support for their emotional needs and fears.. Effective communication and information-sharing, including attendance at meetings by informed adults, have facilitated this process. As a result, the child now regularly attends lessons, rather than an alternative hub group, improving their educational success.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s basic and individual health needs are appropriately met through routine check-ups and additional specialist assessments. The clinical practitioner provides weekly emotional and therapeutic support to the child. The child’s plans do not consistently reflect their specific needs, and some recordings inaccurately suggest greater needs than are evident. While the registered manager recognises the need to improve the quality of recording, the impact of the inaccuracies in labelling the child was not identified. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723209 4

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

Leaders and managers responded to the referral for the child currently living in the home and gave appropriate regard to the ability to meet the child’s needs. They assembled a team with the necessary skills and training, in attachment and trauma-informed care, aligned to the home’s model of care and statement of purpose.

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

The team skilfully reframed the end of the child’s previous foster placement as a new beginning, allowing for a brief yet effective introduction period. The adults carried out visits with the child and used the short transition effectively to establish familiarity and connections, with the child as the central focus. The child’s social worker and independent reviewing officer positively acknowledged these actions.

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

Leaders and managers apply and understand their safeguarding duties. The child has not been restrained or received consequences. There have been no incidents of the child going missing or being exploited and there are plans that guide adults.

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

The child has made two complaints against adults during their time in the home. These complaints were appropriately investigated, with records providing clarity on the incidents and the actions taken. Effective management oversight was documented, along with identified learning.

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

Leaders and managers implement safer recruitment practices and have effective oversight in accordance with regulations. Managers oversee employee performance, including during probation periods, utilising employment and capability procedures to ensure compliance. There is improved regularity and reflective supervision, with the aim to maintain a stable workforce and to deliver continuity of care.

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

The decision made by leaders and managers to give one child’s local authority 28 days’ notice was made with the focus on the child’s safety. There was need to use unfamiliar adults, while safeguarding processes were carried out following complaints made by the child. This affected the consistency of care and the child’s feelings of safety and stability, which contributed to the child presenting increasingly challenging behaviour. The challenges were communicated to professionals in multi-disciplinary meetings and as the risks increased, additional action was taken to escalate concerns to the local authority with an overall focus on safeguarding.

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

The child was subject to restraints. Overall, these were proportionate, had management oversight and evidence of recorded discussions with the child and adult following the incident.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers employ a collaborative leadership style. They convey high aspirations for children to achieve their full potential and recognise that achieving this requires a stable workforce with a positive culture. They are committed to the home’s Inspection report for children’s home: 2723209 5 development, with appropriate attention now given to monitoring and overseeing training, supervision and ensuring regular team meetings.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is currently supporting another home, and a temporary deputy manager is supporting the continuing progress in the home. External factors will influence if there are long-term changes to the management structure.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have thoughtfully reflected on what contributed to one child’s unplanned ending. They held a reflective debrief with the team to facilitate whole-group learning. Overall, the transition and ending were well supported for the child. The clinical practitioner had time with the child following the move and there was effective information shared to support the next home. A memory book was created, featuring photos of the child’s positive experiences and letters from adults celebrating special moments, achievements and the pride they felt.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The adults in the home feel supported, enjoy their roles and share high aspirations for the children. They exhibit a positive culture, feeling listened to, heard and supported as they eagerly engage to meet the needs of the children in their care. Inspection report for children’s home: 2723209 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that adults understand the importance of careful, objective and appropriately detailed recording to accurately inform others of the child’s needs. Adults should record information in a way that is helpful to the child and captures their presented needs. (‘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: 2723209 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Five Rivers Chid Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 47 Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Timothy-John Matthews

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Inspector

Ashley Arkless, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2723209 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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