Children's home run by Reflexion Care Group Limited in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 1 SC366080 Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to three children who may have had adverse childhood experiences and may have a learning disability.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in May 2024.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 29 November 2023

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

29/11/2023 Full good 29/11/2022 Full requires improvement to be good 14/09/2021 Full good 03/12/2019 Full good Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of inspection, three children were living in the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out and two children have moved in. An experienced manager has also joined the home. The manager has high aspirations for the children and this culture is embedded in the care team. As a result, children are making good progress and are settled in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children moving into the home receive a planned induction. The manager will arrange to visit children prior to their move-in date. Personalised children’s guides are written for children and an overview of who is living in the home is provided. This means children feel less anxious and are prepared for their move.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child who moved out of the home was supported to return to their hometown. The manager advocated for this move, which coincided with the child’s school education concluding in the summer. The child was settled and established in their new home ready for the start of the new academic year.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Comprehensive independence support was provided to the child while living in the home. Time in the community increased for the child to re-establish networks and the move out of the home was staggered over the weekend so the child could have a slow transition into their new home. Children are supported to move on and are set up to succeed when they leave residential care.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

All children are attending school and making good progress. They are proud of their achievements at school and are motivated to do well. Children have clear aspirations for their future. They are supported by carers with their learning needs and with progression towards the next stage of their education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s meetings and direct work with children take place weekly to provide opportunities to gather children’s views. Relationships between carers and children are very positive and children have benefited from a stable care team which has had little change since the last inspection. Children feel comfortable sharing their views with carers and know how to complain. One child made a complaint which the manager responded to promptly and provided a detailed and timely outcome for the child.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s social development is actively encouraged. Activities of importance to children are supported by carers. Clubs and activities are offered to children and hobbies are promoted. Children are encouraged to try new things and embrace new experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 4

p.3

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

The home provides a welcoming environment which is homely and provides a safe, secure space for children. All issues with property maintenance are quickly rectified. The home is maintained to a high standard, is comfortable for children to relax in and has personalised bedrooms for all children.

p.4

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

Incidents in the home are rare. Since the last inspection, there have been no missing- from-care episodes or allegations. There has been only one use of physical intervention, which was proportionate to the situation. The manager had oversight of the incident, and it was recorded in a timely manner. While the record was detailed in some areas, the hold was not completed in line with the provider’s procedures and lasted 10 minutes. The description of the hold also lacked details to understand the nature of the hold and the position of the child.

p.4

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

There was a period of instability for one child as their time living in the home came to an end. The manager advocated for the need for the child to return closer to home. Carers implemented a range of strategies to attempt to de-escalate situations when they arose and ensured the safety of the other children living in the home.

p.4

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

The home has a clear and consistent approach to risk management. There are detailed, individualised risk assessments in place for all children. The manager regularly reviews risk assessments, carers are knowledgeable about the strategies in them and implement these effectively when necessary. As a result, children’s safety and welfare are promoted.

p.4

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

Positive risk-taking is promoted in the home. Children are supported and encouraged where appropriate to spend time in the community. Children are becoming more independent and are learning personal safety and how to keep themselves safe.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A child-focused manager leads the home. She has an excellent understanding of the children’s experiences, needs and risks. She is suitably experienced and holds an appropriate qualification.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Carers are safely recruited. An experienced, consistent, fully staffed team works in the home, with little change since the last inspection. New carers are paired with experienced and qualified members of the team. As a result, new team members are supported to develop their skills and the care of children is carried out by those who know them best.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and carers receive supervision on a monthly basis. This gives opportunities for reflection and considers practice needs and carers’ development. Team meetings take place monthly; these are well attended and have a broad agenda to cover issues in the home and foster peer learning opportunities. Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 5 Carers complete a range of child-centred training. Additional training has been added to the core training matrix to reflect the needs of the children living in the home. This ensures that carers are equipped to provide child-centred care. As a result, children’s needs are met, and they feel supported.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

An effective monitoring and audit system has been implemented by the manager. It provides clear oversight of the home and alerts the manager to any shortfalls that need addressing. The manager’s audit detected a medication recording issue, which she addressed promptly with the care team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There was one incident regarding the disposal of controlled medications. There was a delayed response to disposing of medication no longer required and no receipt was obtained for the returned medication. An internal investigation has been completed to identify learning from this incident and strengthen practice within the home. Leaders are assured this is an isolated incident and had no impact on children’s safety or well-being.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Partnership working with professionals and family members is effective. The manager has sought to build strong working relationships with parents and social workers. One parent said: ‘The home has been great. They have got to know my child well and know how best to support them. They have been really supportive to us as parents as well as our child.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children’s social workers all spoke positively about the care their child receives. Additionally, the manager has established links with existing professionals so that where possible, children have retained professional involvement from trusted adults whom they know. These key relationships have not been lost because the child has moved into the home. As a result, positive outcomes have been secured for children. Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

p.6

Recommendation

 Records of restraint must be kept and should enable the registered person and staff to review the use of control, discipline and restraint to identify effective practice and respond promptly where any issues or trends of concern emerge. This relates to staff checking children’s breathing during floor holds. ('Guide to the Children's Homes Regulations, including the quality standards', page 49, paragraph 9.5.9)

p.6

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: SC366080 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Reflexion Care Group Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fitzroy Academy, Cruckton, Shrewsbury SY5 8PR

p.7

Inspector

Joanne Hawkins, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC366080 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.

p.7

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.8

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8