Children's home run by Kent County Council in Maidstone

Inspection report for children’s home: SC068511 1 SC068511 Registered provider: Kent County Council

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a purpose-built children’s home that is run by a local authority. It offers a short- breaks service for children with learning and/or physical disabilities and can care for up to six children at a time. It currently offers short breaks to 39 children.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2016.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

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.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC068511 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/06/2023 Full Good 10/05/2022 Full Good 23/03/2022 Full Inadequate 10/03/2020 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC068511 3

p.2

outstanding

Children receive exceptional care during their short-break stays at this home. This is as a result of the high-quality personalised care provided to them. Staff understand children’s needs extremely well and plan for their stays in advance. In addition, the impact of the daily routines at the home enables children to settle and to develop their skills, as well as to experience positive activities.

p.3

outstanding

Children make significant progress from their starting points. For instance, children who struggled to sleep in the past have been able to develop successful bedtime routines. Children’s communication skills have also improved because staff encourage them to use their range of communication tools, which is appropriately expanded when children are ready. Furthermore, children are supported to develop their independence skills according to their individual abilities.

p.3

outstanding

The relationships between staff, parents, children and social workers are strong and secure. The constructive way in which all those involved work together enables the needs of the children and their families to be identified and responded to. One parent said that this service is a saviour for their child and the whole family, and they don’t know how they would have managed without it. Another parent said that this service had improved their quality of life. Professionals report that staff knowledge and expertise reinforce the best decisions and outcomes for children.

p.3

outstanding

Transitions to the home are thoroughly planned and aim to accommodate each child’s individual needs. Before children start using the service, assessments of their needs and planned targets are agreed between the home, families and professionals. Children leaving the service enjoy memorable leaving parties.

p.3

outstanding

Comprehensive tools are being used to gather children’s wishes and views and this practice is at the core of staff responsibilities. Their planners are adjusted in accordance with their needs and wishes. Children have been supported to visit places that they have never visited before; these visits have been facilitated in response to their requests. As a result, children benefit socially and emotionally from their stays at this home.

p.3

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

The home is designed to provide a safe physical environment for children. Required safety checks of premises and any equipment are carried out regularly. There are lovely areas where children can play, as well as sensory and games rooms and a jacuzzi. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068511 4 The registered manager and staff ensure that children’s needs and behaviours are appropriately matched for their stays. This enables positive experiences for all children. When the home facilitates stays for children with higher-level needs, the registered manager ensures that there are fewer children staying at the same time. This allows individual needs to be met to a high standard.

p.3

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

Children’s plans, targets and risk assessments are directive and clear. Staff know and understand the children; they contribute to their plans, enabling the development of the most appropriate strategies to support them. Positive and trusting relationships between children and staff prevent incidents escalating at an early stage. Only lower- level physical interventions are being used; these are rare and are only used as a last resort.

p.4

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

The registered manager is exceptional at leading the team in a manner that is focused on primary prevention. When a concern occurred about a potential safety incident, the registered manager followed it up with rigour and put a plan in place to avoid such incidents occurring again. The registered manager is extremely focused on children’s safety and therefore raises and escalates any concerns with appropriate professionals without delay. One social worker said that advocating for children’s welfare and safety is the registered manager’s passion.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has an ambitious vision for children’s progress and has high expectations for what children can achieve. She ensures that staff understand children’s needs and how to help them to progress. She is also proactive in ensuring continuity of the high quality of individualised care for children by working transparently with external agencies.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home’s strengths and weaknesses are fully understood by the registered manager. The manager is transparent with the staff members and shares her views and plans to prevent shortfalls and achieve the best care for children. Staff meetings take place at agreed intervals and provide good opportunities for learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff have an exemplary record of completion of mandatory training. Furthermore, the registered manager identifies and organises additional training so that children who have specific needs are supported safely. The service works closely with NHS professionals in ensuring that all staff are competent at health-related tasks such as gastrostomy care.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is exceeding its stated aims and objectives because the leaders provide an excellent supportive environment for staff. Staff supervisions and appraisals are completed, and all staff know their developmental goals and how these can be achieved. Furthermore, the registered manager uses reflective practice to enhance staff development and appropriately challenges them to achieve the best outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC068511 5

p.4

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: SC068511 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kent County Council

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Sessions House, County Road, Maidstone ME14 1XQ

p.6

Inspector

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC068511 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk.

p.7

Inspector

You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk.

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7