Children's home run by Nirvana Residential Hubs Limited

Inspection report for children's home: 2739033 1 Registered provider: Nirvana Residential Hubs Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to three children between the ages of 12 and 17 who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There has been no registered manager since January 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 requires improvement to be 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: 2739033 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2739033 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two children have lived at the home since the last inspection. One child has moved out and the other child remains living at the home. The home has ample space for children to enjoy and to relax in. It is well maintained and is like a family home. It has a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere. The children are supported to personalise their rooms and choose how these are decorated. Their artwork is displayed in the communal areas, which supports feelings of inclusivity and promotes the children’s self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have regular opportunities to have their views, wishes and feelings heard and these are responded to when possible or practical. The children have provided positive feedback on their experiences of living in this home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When there are delays with children accessing education, the interim manager challenges the placing authority and advocates in the children’s best interests. One child’s independent reviewing officer said, ‘I was impressed by the determination of staff to find education.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to access the community, including attending local clubs and activities. The children have been supported to go on holidays. Mementos are kept for the children and they are given memory books when they move on, so they have a record of their time in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to develop their independence skills in preparation for adulthood. One child has progressed through an independence pathway and is currently working towards their silver award. Promoting independence is a strength of the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are responded to and well met. When there are delays for children in accessing support for their health needs, the organisation funds private treatments to mitigate against any delays.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to maintain relationships with their family and other people who are important to them. Arrangements for family time are child centred. One child said that the staff help them to see their family and was looking forward to upcoming plans, including his family celebrating his birthday with him.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are child centred. The children are clear on what is going to happen and when. Staff help the children to understand their ongoing care plans, and any changes to care planning are discussed and explained to the children in a sensitive way.

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

Inspection report for children's home: 2739033 4 The use of physical intervention in this home is rare. Staff only use it when needed to keep the children safe. When physical intervention is used, records are clear and staff and the children can reflect and debrief. Staff are trained in the home’s model of de- escalation and restraint and there is an in-house certified trainer who staff can access for additional advice and support.

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

Children’s risks are understood by staff. Distraction and de-escalation techniques are effective, and the children are supported well when they are distressed. One child who moved in was at high risk of going missing from home. Staff are helping them to make more informed choices. The child has not been missing from home since moving in, which has reduced risks for them.

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

Staff do not always keep the children safe online. Staff have not clearly assessed the risks for the children when they are using the internet. There are no clear plans in place to reduce risks for the children. This has the potential to leave children at risk when accessing the online world.

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

Staff manage incidents and allegations well. The staff have developed a positive working relationship with the local authority designated officer and keep placing authorities and parents informed of any concerns. Internal investigations are thorough. There have been several delays in making notifications to the regulator, however, this had not had any negative impact on the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

While an Interim manager is in place, there has been no registered manager for over a year. The failure to appoint a registered manager means that the effectiveness of leadership and management requires improvement to be good.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There has been turnover in key roles in the organisation. Since the last inspection, there has been a change in both the responsible individual and the independent person. The provider is working to rectify these shortfalls. An interim manager is currently in place to offer support and oversight, and a new manager has recently been recruited but has not yet taken up post.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

There are vacancies in the staff team. Leaders are managing this by transferring staff from the wider organisation. These changes to staffing affect the continuity of care for children and their ability to form and maintain positive attachments. Due to changes in staffing, not all staff have had up-to-date training in the home’s model of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff feel well supported. They have regular supervision, and support is being strengthened through team meetings and coaching from the interim manager. The team is developing a shared vision and culture for the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The interim manager has begun to implement some positive changes. There is increased management oversight, with effective monitoring systems in place. The interim manager is also a good advocate for the children, with a child-centred approach to their practice. Inspection report for children's home: 2739033 5

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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 registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 31 May 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them when they are online. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure there are sufficient and consistent suitably trained staff to meet the assessed needs of the children in the home. The employment of any temporary staff should not prevent the children from receiving the continuity of care that they need. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1) Inspection report for children's home: 2739033 6  The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. The system should cover the action that should be followed if the event arises at the weekend or on a public

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Recommendations

holiday. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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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: 2739033 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nirvana Residential Hubs Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 83 High Street, Chatham, Kent ME4 4EE

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Inspector

Cassie Martin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2739033 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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