Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report for children’s home: SC023745 1 SC023745 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private company that operates several other children’s homes in the area. The home provides care for up to three children who have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

There were two children living in the home at the time of this inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

There has not been a registered manager since June 2024.

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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 good

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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: SC023745 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2024 Full Good 17/10/2022 Full Outstanding 01/09/2021 Full Good 26/02/2020 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC023745 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care at the home and benefit from flourishing relationships with the staff. Staff are committed to the children’s welfare and are patient with the children when helping them to achieve their goals. This allows children to accept and respond to staff guidance and support. One child said that they enjoy living at the home and would not change it for anything else.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have formed strong bonds with staff and this provides a secure base for them to make excellent progress from their starting points. Children do well in education and have learned how to communicate their feelings and show empathy. This has helped them to develop social skills and meaningful relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s wishes and feelings are exceptionally well understood by the staff. Staff understand how the children are feeling because they see this as a priority and a natural part of the way in which they provide day-to-day care. Children’s personalities are noticeably influential in the home environment. The home is decorated with photos, which are presented in a way that reflects children’s characters and the fun times that they experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from family time because staff support and promote the relationships with significant people in their lives. Children who live far from their homes also have consistent time with their families. The support for family time enables children to safely enjoy festive times with significant people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are supported to be healthy and they attend routine health appointments as needed. They benefit from support from a therapist who works for the organisation. This has helped children to understand and come to terms with past events that have led them into care. The therapist also helps staff to better understand how to encourage children’s emotional development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff focus on supporting children to develop their independent living skills according to their ages. Children are encouraged to take the next steps in developing their skills, whether this is taking public transport or shopping for meals by themselves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers carefully reflect on the needs of all of the children when they consider referrals to the home. Since the last inspection, no new children have come to live in the home, as managers feel that the current arrangements are providing stability for the two children who are there, and enabling them to thrive.

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

Children are sheltered from harm. This is a result of staff dedication to children and their understanding of children’s areas of vulnerability. Children are provided with nurturing Inspection report for children’s home: SC023745 4 care and benefit from consistent boundaries. This helps the children to feel safe and to enjoy living at the home.

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

Children are helped to become increasingly safe. The home’s culture focuses on primary prevention and there have been no recent serious incidents of exploitation or going missing from home. Staff have well-informed safety plans to anticipate situations that may place children at risk. They are vigilant and intervene early to help children understand the dangers and to steer them to safety.

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

Staff have helped children to reduce behaviours that challenge or place them in crisis. The use of physical restraint has significantly reduced. Staff intervene by using the least- intrusive approach and physical intervention is rare. The staff work with children to ensure meaningful reflection and learning from such incidents.

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

Staff recruitment files are thorough and comprehensive. There is an experienced and consistent group of permanent staff in the home and always sufficient staff to meet the children’s needs. This means that children experience care from staff whom they trust and who know them well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

A change in management has taken place since the last inspection. An experienced manager from another home operated by this provider has taken on day-to-day charge and has applied for registration with Ofsted. The change in management was handled well to reduce any risk of a negative impact on children’s welfare. The newly appointed manager at the home shows an ambitious vision for children’s progress and has already formed strong and trusting relationships with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager understands the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has comprehensive plans to ensure the continuation of outstanding care for children. For example, the new manager has plans to improve the process of gaining feedback from parents and professionals to inform service development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager advocates effectively for children to ensure that the needs of children are central to professional network decisions and care planning. The new manager has formed strong professional relationships with outside professionals. They reported that the new manager works well in partnership with them and is instrumental in making positive changes at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The professional and supportive environment that has been created for staff allows them to develop and ensures that their welfare is supported. Supervisions take place on a regular basis, and these are effective. Annual appraisals encapsulate the developmental goals for staff. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023745 5 Staff said that they appreciate the new manager’s vision, and they feel that they receive good support from them. The manager has good systems in place to keep oversight of training needs and ensures that staff complete all mandatory and therapeutic training.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager has excellent oversight of the day-to-day care provided to children. He is reflective and explores any incidents to identify learning. He has a strong focus on promoting the welfare and well-being of children and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There were no recommendations or requirements made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023745 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 for children’s home: SC023745 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Inspector

Sonata Brisley, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC023745 8 inspects to 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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