Children's home run by Good Foundations Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 1 SC063318 Registered provider: Good Foundations 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 organisation. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

There were three children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in July 2011.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/07/2023 Full Good 17/01/2023 Full Good 03/11/2021 Full Good 29/10/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, three children have moved out of the home, and two children have moved into the home. These moves were all planned. Staff listen to children to ensure that their moves in and out of the home are positive and in line with their individual needs. One child moved out of the home and returned to their family home. This was a well-planned and managed transition, resulting in a positive outcome for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children benefit from living in a home that is warm and welcoming. The manager and staff have created a nurturing and homely environment with the presence of the children felt throughout. There are photos and memory books of important occasions, which have been put together by the staff and children, enjoying their time doing activities and with the staff team. This helps children to feel cared for and have special memories from their time spent living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children participate in a wide range of activities that they choose both individually and as a group. The registered manager and staff ensure that children experience day trips and holidays. The staff are aware of children’s individual needs and support their interests by encouraging their hobbies through personalised activities and days out. This helps children to develop their individuality.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children make progress in their learning. The staff work well with education professionals and there is good communication between the home, children’s social worker’s and the school. This helps all adults with a responsibility to be kept up to date about the children’s progress. If there are any barriers to learning, staff advocate for children to ensure children’s plans reflect their current needs. For some children, they have made good progress in their education, and their attendance has significantly improved.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote children’s relationships with their family and friends. This includes children’s families visiting the home and going out with children and friends on activities. Family members spoken to as part of the inspection were highly complimentary about the manager and staff and the care the children receive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

For one child, staff struggle to support a positive routine and preparation for independence. Although plans are in place to encourage this, these are not reviewed in line with the child’s presenting needs. A recommendation has been made to improve this situation.

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

Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 4 Children’s risk assessments are clear and thorough. They are regularly reviewed and updated. When there are risks for children, these are quickly escalated to ensure a multi- agency response to help reduce the risk to children.

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

Staff are responsive to the risks posed to children. When children are vulnerable to certain risks, such as using electronic cigarettes and online exploitation, staff have regular discussions with children and help them to understand the dangers associated with this. This supports children to understand how to keep themselves safe.

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

Children do not go missing from home. Staff understand the procedures to follow in the event of a child going missing from home and have been involved in creating individualised missing-from-care plans for each child.

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

There have been no incidents of physical restraint. The use of positive praise and encouragement supports children to understand their behaviour. Staff reinforce a consistent message to children and instil boundaries. This supports children’s understanding of positive behaviour.

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

The home’s recruitment procedures follow safer recruitment guidance. Appropriate vetting, checks and references are obtained before adults start working at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An experienced registered manager leads the home, supported by a deputy manager. She has good oversight of the staff and the home. The stability of the management arrangements has a positive impact on staff morale. Children receive care from a consistent staff team, whose members know them well. As a result, the children build secure attachments with the adults who are caring for them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff work well with professionals to support children to make progress. They are focused on achieving positive outcomes for children. Staff share important information with relevant professionals. Communication with other agencies is described by professionals as a strength. This helps to provide children with good all- round care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager and the support she provides. One member of staff told the inspector they ‘appreciate supervision’ and that they ‘get a lot from it.’ Supervision and team meetings provide staff with opportunities to reflect on their practice and consider approaches on how best to support the children and the quality of care they receive.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

When staff are unable to work due to sickness, staff from other homes within the organisation work with children. These members of staff know the children well. This ensures that children are cared for by adults who are familiar to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff attend training that meets the needs of the children in their care. This means that children are cared for by a skilled and knowledgeable staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 5 The requirements and recommendations made at the previous inspection have been met. This demonstrates the manager’s ongoing commitment to supporting and improving outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities, including a routine and being involved in their day-to-day care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 31, paragraph 6.5)  As well as longer-term support for children to move on from the home effectively (regulation 6(2)(b)(vi)), the home has an important role in supporting each child leaving the home in the period immediately before their departure. The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving both practically and emotionally. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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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: SC063318 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Good Foundations Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 6 Tower Quays, Tower Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside CH41 1BP

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Inspector

Nicola Rutherford, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC063318 8 regulates 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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