Children's home run by Surrey County Council

Inspection report for children’s home: 2784664 1 Registered provider: Surrey County Council Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This local authority home provides care for up to two children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 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 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: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2784664 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child was visiting their family at the time of the inspection and did not wish to speak to the inspector. However, feedback from the child’s extended family network is positive. They feel that the child is safe and describe the support the child receives as ‘second to none’. No other children have moved into or out of the home. The home’s ethos is characterised by building strong relationships and striving for the best for children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child has experienced stability and made progress. They have developed good relationships with the staff and been helped to find ways to manage their feelings and behaviours safely and appropriately.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the child’s leisure time and interests. Staff have supported and helped the child to pursue personal interests, such as go-karting, computing and other social interests. This has helped promote the child’s well-being and identity and has been an important factor in helping the child feel valued and cared for. The child has re-entered education after being absent for an extended period. The child has also been helped to spend more time with his family and to build friendships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s wishes and feelings are listened to and captured effectively. Staff and managers regularly speak to the child about their wishes and feelings and take them into account. The manager ensures that feedback and views are routinely recorded. The child has not made any complaints, but the home has a complaints procedure in place, and the child knows that they can raise a complaint or a concern if they wish.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children with their education. The manager has worked with the local authority and the virtual school to secure a college placement for the child. When issues arise, such as with attendance, staff and managers work with the provider and virtual schools to try to help the child overcome them. When out of education, staff support the child with learning in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers promote family relationships and friendships. This has included supporting the child to visit a parent internationally more than once. Family members are also welcomed into the home and visit regularly. Promoting social connections supports the child’s identity and helps them feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is of a very good standard throughout. The home is well furnished and decorated, and maintenance or repair work takes place in good time. All shared areas of the home are clean and tidy. Children’s bedrooms are large and can be personalised. However, the use of alarms on all bedroom doors has not been routinely reviewed. Electronic locks are also used on doors to shared spaces without a clear or current rationale. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784664 3

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

Staff know the safeguarding procedures, and managers encourage them to raise any potential concerns. When incidents occur, staff take them seriously. Leaders have effective oversight and encourage learning from incidents.

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

Staff have positive relationships with the child. They know them well and have a thorough understanding of their strengths and vulnerabilities. Staff are aided by risk assessments and behaviour support plans, which are detailed and individualised. Plans and assessments identify behavioural triggers, preventative measures, and de-escalation responses. Staff and managers update plans and assessments regularly.

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

Staff do not use physical intervention, and instead focus on using de-escalation techniques. Staff have been trained to use physical interventions and can explain how they would use them if needed.

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

When children leave the home without permission, staff follow procedures and respond appropriately. This includes carrying out searches or making other enquiries to help find children. Staff and managers work with other agencies, including the police, to help children return safely and to prevent repeated incidents. Missing-from-home records are detailed and accurate.

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

Staff and managers encourage positive behaviour. Staff help increase the child’s understanding of risky or acceptable behaviour. However, boundaries and expectations are not always clear for the child, and rewards or consequences are not consistently given or clearly recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is suitably qualified, competent, and committed to supporting staff and children. The manager is dual registered with another home located adjacently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Changes in senior staff members, including the deputy manager and the responsible individual, have meant that leadership has sometimes been under strain. However, the manager is now assisted by a competent and committed deputy and a competent responsible individual. There is a good working relationship among all senior staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager, deputy manager and responsible individual have high expectations and aspirations for the home. Staff speak positively about working in the home and with each other. There is generally a positive and child-focused ethos in the home among the whole staff team. Staff support and trust each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular supervision and speak positively about this being effective. The manager and deputy have an ‘open door’ culture with staff that encourages ad-hoc discussions when needed. Team meetings take place regularly to ensure that all staff are informed about events and have a space to express their views. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784664 4 Leaders and managers ensure that there is a good induction process for new staff when they start. Staff speak positively about having received a range of training, which they feel has given them all the necessary tools to be able to support children in the home competently.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External feedback is positive in relation to children’s care and the staff and managers working in the home. This includes feedback from local authority social workers and education and youth offending professionals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s files are generally of a good standard, case recordings are professional and detailed, and the language used is child focused. The home meets its aims as identified in its statement of purpose. Inspection report for children’s home: 2784664 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the use of electronic door alarms is regularly reviewed, involving parents, children (if possible) and social workers, to consider if it continues to be necessary for safeguarding purposes in accordance with regulation 24. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that the use of locks is regularly reviewed, involving parents, children (if possible) and social workers, to consider if it continues to be necessary for safeguarding purposes in accordance with regulation 24. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16)  The registered person should ensure that any consequences imposed to address poor behaviour are restorative in nature. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the system for consequences and for rewarding and celebrating positive behaviour and recognising where children have managed situations well. In particular, any rewards or consequences given should be consistent and part of the behaviour support plans. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.39)

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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: 2784664 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Surrey County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Quadrant Court, 35 Guildford Road, Woking GU22 7QQ

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Inspector

Daniel Rankin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2784664 7 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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