Children's home run by Calcot Services for Children Limited in Wokingham

Inspection report for children's home: SC417250 1 SC417250 Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides care for up to five children with complex needs. It is owned by a private organisation. Three children were living at the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted in October 2022.

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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 outstanding

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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: SC417250 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/10/2023 Full Good 21/06/2022 Full Good 05/01/2022 Full Good 09/05/2019 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: SC417250 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy warm and positive relationships with a committed staff team. Staff inspire children to be whatever they want to be, increasing their confidence in their own skills and abilities. When children are questioning their own self-worth, staff are always there to build their confidence and self-esteem. As a result, children are making progress in all areas of their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are held central to all aspects of how the home is run. There is a lively atmosphere, with lots of chatter and laughter. Staff support the children when they are struggling to stay focused on their daily routine and offer incentives and guidance to encourage them to learn, develop and become more independent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff recognise that when children are struggling to attend education, it is due to their lack of confidence, rather than a lack of skill or ability or a desire to achieve. Staff work very effectively with education providers to help the children to overcome barriers to attending or engaging in education. Advocacy from staff, as well as practical support, means that children can engage in online tutoring and practical classes, such as hairdressing and beauty, with the organisation’s teachers in the home. Children benefit from building their education portfolio with a wide range of educational awards in topics including self-care, independence and safety in the home and community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who have moved on from the home have benefited from this consistent approach and unwavering support from staff when they have struggled to attend school. They overcame their barriers and succeeded in gaining GCSE qualifications.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a range of activities in the home and community, trying things they have not done before. This increases their confidence as well as showing them they have opportunities and can achieve more than they ever thought they could. Children’s successes are celebrated through rewards and certificates and being praised for how well they have done. Achievements, no matter how small, are celebrated, leading to children feeling valued and increasing their self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children moving into or on from the home are supported in an extremely thoughtful way. Children are respected as individuals and plans are tailored to their needs, meaning that they have positive experiences. Staff advocate for the children to make sure that they move to an area where they want to live, and where they can maintain the beneficial friendships and relationships that they have formed while living in the home. Staff remain in contact with children once they have moved on, taking a genuine interest in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Exceptionally strong links with emotional well-being services, alongside the support from the organisation’s psychotherapist and recently appointed occupational therapist, mean that children have the support and guidance that they need, leading to a reduction in Inspection report for children's home: SC417250 4 incidents of self-harm. Additionally, staff gain skills to develop their already highly therapeutic and sensitive approach to care.

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

Children are confident in approaching staff with their worries and concerns. Staff have an excellent understanding of each child’s risks and vulnerabilities. They work tirelessly to help children to recognise risk and overcome negative thought patterns, to enable them to recognise and move on from dangerous or unhealthy relationships.

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

Staff have an exceptionally thorough understanding of the therapeutic approaches that are used in the home to help the children to reflect and grow, both emotionally and personally. The consistency in approach means that children are constantly making progress and have the space to reflect when they have struggled to make safe choices. Staff provide unwavering support when children do make mistakes and children are supported to learn from these without judgement or criticism.

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

Staff have excellent links with partner agencies. Responses when children are missing from home have been exceptionally strong and have led to a reduction in the number and length of time of missing-from-home incidents. Links with the local bus company and transport police have meant that the children have been identified and protected when they have tried to leave the area. The local police commented positively that the home could not do any more than they do to protect and locate children when they are missing from home.

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

Thoughtful processes and reflective practice mean that the children are given space and time with the staff to reflect on how they may have been at risk when missing from home. Through building their self-esteem and confidence, staff help children to realise their self-worth and to be able to withdraw from damaging relationships and situations. The highly nurturing and therapeutic support from the staff helps children to develop their own sense of confidence and to be assertive when they are faced with situations that present a risk, leading to a significant reduction in the use of illegal substances.

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

When there have been significant safeguarding concerns, joint working with partner agencies, including the local authority designated officer, has meant that swift and robust action has been taken to protect children. Children are always listened to and know that they can go to the staff with their worries and concerns.

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

Staff understand that children communicate through everything that they do. The calm and reflective approach when children are distressed or upset means that they have a safe space to work through any troubling emotions. They know that the staff will support them and be at their side while they work through their issues. Staff are constantly reflecting on their interactions with the children, determining what is being communicated and how they should respond to ensure that children feel that they are being emotionally held. Inspection report for children's home: SC417250 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager leads by example and provides an incredibly supportive environment for staff to develop their skills. Staff unanimously say it is an inclusive approach and that they are learning all the time. Staff are extremely committed and hold the children central to all that they do.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are exceptionally positive about how they support each other and the quality of the support and guidance that they get from the registered manager and other senior leaders in the organisation. They are highly complimentary about the training that they benefit from and know that additional support and training in any subject area will be provided when needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from a genuinely trauma-informed approach. Staff consistently think about the interactions that they have had with children and reflect on these. They learn through the consistent support from the organisation’s psychotherapist, ensuring that they provide the best possible care for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children’s records are written in a very thoughtful way. Staff want children to understand their experiences in a way that will help them to develop and learn. The children’s voices are captured throughout their plans and when deciding on targets. Children are central to setting goals, with support and guidance from staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is extremely reflective and is constantly seeking to improve the quality of care and experiences for children. She uses a range of monitoring tools to ensure that there is exceptional care for the children. In addition, she seeks to engage the team in developing their skills and knowledge. This is evidenced in the approach in the home and the desire for staff to do their best for the children they look after.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made following this inspection.

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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: SC417250 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Calcot Services for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC417250 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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