Children's Home run by Channels and Choices Kent LLP in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 1 SC385631 Registered provider: Channels and Choices Kent LLP

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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 registered to provide care for up to four children. It is operated by a private organisation. The home provides cares for children with social and emotional difficulties. There were four children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since April 2023.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/03/2024 Full Good 21/03/2023 Full Good 07/03/2022 Full Good 05/02/2020 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff have fantastic relationships with the children. The children are confident that staff will respond to their needs and that staff make them feel safe. These relationships have enabled the children to talk openly with the staff about their views, wishes and feelings. The staff explore topics such as bullying, racism and identity. This work has been instrumental in developing children’s social skills. These sessions are wonderfully captured and displayed to celebrate the children’s progress. As a result, the children are flourishing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff’s child-centred approach helps the children to re-engage in education. Staff have introduced individualised ‘now and next’ plans, and reward systems have strengthened this. The staff created a highly effective and engaging reading scheme called ‘Bookflix’. Staff have helped one child increase their reading age to over two years above their chronological age. When the children are not yet in school, the staff are resourceful and creative in their approaches to further aid the children’s learning opportunities. All the children are making significant academic progress from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff go above and beyond to ensure that the children have positive childhood experiences. Celebrations are well thought out, and the children’s experiences and memories are captured meticulously. For example, staff prepare valentines bags for the children with a selection of small gifts for each child. The staff recording of these memories allows children to have access to a clear and substantial narrative of their life story.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children develop skills for adulthood. Staff create bespoke plans for each child. They educate the children about risks and provide them with certificates to demonstrate their learning. This approach prepares the children for their future while improving their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff help the children to understand their culture and backgrounds. The children have engaged in learning ‘about our area’ to further explore where children are from. One child was supported to discover their culture and heritage through ancestry testing. The children are proud of their identities and their difference is valued by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children all attend regular clubs and activities in the local area. Children enjoy these activities and do well, receiving a range of certificates and awards to reflect their achievements. The children also have regular holidays. One child enthusiastically spoke of their experience of going abroad to visit a large theme park.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home environment is beautifully presented. Staff make sure that the environment is child friendly. The children are comfortable and relaxed in their homely surroundings. Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 4

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

Children benefit from care provided by staff, who understand them. The children feel settled and safe in the home. As a result, there are very few times when the children are distressed, and they have not been missing from home.

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

Safeguarding incidents and allegations are rare. Managers respond effectively when these do occur. They inform all the relevant partner agencies and keep highly detailed records of the actions taken. Managers ensure that lessons are learned from incidents to inform future practice. A social worker stated, ‘Staff take safeguarding seriously and follow clear processes when concerns come up.’

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

Staff are well trained in the home’s model of physical intervention and seek guidance from the trainer when they need more information. Physical intervention is only used as a last resort to keep the children safe. Afterwards, managers support the staff and children with debriefs focused on restoring relationships. Consequently, the use of physical intervention has reduced.

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

Children are confident in making complaints. The manager responds to these complaints sensitively. They keep the children informed of the progress and any outcomes.

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

Staff keep the children safe online. They understand the risks for the children well and support the children to develop skills to navigate online risks safely and independently. Staff have good oversight of the children’s online presence.

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

Children’s individual risks are understood and well managed. However, some plans detailing how staff should help children who are in distress are difficult to navigate. This has the potential to create inconsistent practice. However, children have not been negatively affected due to the relationships that they have with staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is knowledgeable and experienced. They lead by example and have high aspirations. The manager has created a supportive and nurturing environment in which the children and staff are developing and making progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the home exceptionally well and can clearly identify its strengths and areas for development. The independent person completes high-quality comprehensive reports, which supports the manager in their oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are unanimous in their praise of the manager and the senior leadership team. The responsible individual is a regular presence in the home and knows the staff and the children well. Staff are proud to work in this home. One staff member said that the manager is ‘approachable’ and ‘fighting for our children’s voices to be heard’. The staff work together superbly to achieve their shared ambitions for the children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 5 The manager is a strong advocate for the children. They confidently challenge decision- making when needed to uphold the best interests of the children. The manager ensures that the children remain at the centre of any decision-making.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has made changes to support staff well-being. Staff retention has improved, which has provided the children with high levels of stability. Children are benefiting from care provided by a consistent and stable staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals are complimentary about the staff and the care provided to the children. They report effective communication and positive working relationships. One social worker said, ‘Communication is really good; they report incidents almost immediately.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are offered an extensive variety of training, which supports their professional development. They have considerable knowledge and skills in the care of the children. A small minority of staff have exceeded the timescales to complete the required level 3 qualification. The manager has taken action to address this. Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that any plans to help children when they are distressed are understood and applied by staff, these must be kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  The registered person should ensure that any staff working in the home have the qualification in regulation 28(2) within the relevant timescales listed in regulation 28(3). (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.12)

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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: SC385631 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Channels and Choices Kent LLP

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Galloways Accounting, 15 West Street, Brighton BN1 2RE

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Inspector

Cassie Martin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC385631 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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