Children's Home run by Caring Feathers Ltd in Derby

Inspection report children's home: 2803209 1 Registered provider: Caring Feathers LTD

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Full inspection 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.

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Information about this children's home

It provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

The home has a new manager who was appointed in February 2025. The manager is not yet registered with Ofsted.

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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: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: n/a

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2803209 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

not previously inspected Inspection report children's home: 2803209 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff provide the child with a good standard of care. Staff work hard to form relationships with the child who values their support. The child feels able to approach staff and ask for their help. Staff are nurturing and patient in their approach and ensure that the child understands what is being asked of them. They are sensitively helped to understand that decisions are made in their best interests.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have been affective in helping the child to improve sleep routines. This has meant that they are now more likely to engage in daytime activities including education and accessing activities in the community. When the child is struggling with substance misuse, staff offer them encouragement to access support networks to ensure the child has the right services to help them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Managers and staff are strong advocates for children, especially with education. They have ensured there are interim measures in place prior to a school being identified. The child actively engages in daily home tutoring. At other time less formalised activities take place with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Medication administration procedures are generally effective. However, on one occasion staff had not ensured that the child had enough medication prior to their next prescription being delivered.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s culture and background are well supported by a diverse staff team. When they require culturally specific hair products, staff are proactive in identifying these within the local community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained and suitably furnished. The bedroom and shared spaces in the home would benefit from being more homely. They do not reflect the child who lives there. The garden is a good size and there are plans for further development to ensure this is an area to sit and relax or partake in activities.

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

Staff continually build on their knowledge of the child and the most appropriate way to support them and keep them safe. They have individual risk assessments for areas of identified risk and vulnerability. These documents provide staff with the necessary guidance on how to meet the children’s needs daily and ensure they remain safe. Staff are developing a balance between safe care and promoting independence.

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

The child has a significant history of going missing from care. However, this is reducing. They are at risk of exploitation when missing and there are concerns about their safety. The manager and the staff are taking all appropriate action to try to keep the child safe. The staff show initiative in their efforts to prevent the child from going missing. Missing- Inspection report children's home: 2803209 4 from-home protocols are up-to-date, and staff know what to do when the child goes missing.

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

Managers and staff understand the risks posed to the child using mobile phones that have access to social media and the internet. This home has a monitoring system. Staff has worked effectively, and in agreement, with the child to agree that the phone is not available at night.

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

The manager and staff are helping the child to reduce risk in relation to using substances. Risk assessments clearly identify this risk. Staff have constructive discussions with the child and are supporting the child to access services to help them address this. However, searches of their bedroom have not always been effective. This has meant the child has had access to smoking paraphernalia, and there has been a health and safety risk associated with lighters.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change in management since this home was registered. Leaders have acted quickly to appoint a new manager. They have begun the process of registering with the regulator. The new manager is supported by a new and developing staff team. The manager knows the strengths and weaknesses of the team and what they need to do to further develop.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff work in partnership with external agencies to ensure that the children receive the support they need. Professionals are of the view that the children are making progress and risks are reducing. When the child is not yet settling, managers coordinate with the placing authority to ensure that plans are reviewed promptly, to consider steps to take to help with this. Managers understand the drive for the child to meet essential milestones according to their age and aspirations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff receive regular professional supervision. This is enhanced through group training opportunities that equip staff to meet the needs of the children. Staff are qualified or working towards the required qualification. In addition, staff complete mandatory training and an array of additional online training. In addition, staff are provided with guidance and support that contributes to their professional development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager recognises the importance of children maintaining links with people who matter to them. There is a coordinated approach with the placing authority to ensure that family time remains positive for all.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers are working hard to ensure the home is part of the community. When concerns have been raised, the manager ensures that measures are put in place to develop positive community relationships. Inspection report children's home: 2803209 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, 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

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1)(2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This relates to room checking processes that are not effective.

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Requirement Due date

This relates to the oversight of fire safety equipment not being effective. 20 March 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that medicines are administered in line with a medically approved protocol. Records must be kept of the administration of all medication, which includes occasions when prescribed medication is refused. Regulation 23 requires the registered person to ensure that they make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. These are fundamentally the same arrangements as a good parent would make but are subject to additional safeguards. ('Guide to Children's Homes Regulations including the quality standards', page 35, paragraph 7.15). Inspection report children's home: 2803209 6

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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 children's home: 2803209 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Caring Feathers LTD

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: Unit 4b, The Park Estate, Bury Park Road, Luton, LU1 1EN

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Inspector

Simon Hunter, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2803209 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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