Children's home run by Care Perspectives Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 1 Registered provider: Care Perspectives Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private organisation. The home provides care for up to five children who have special educational needs and/or disabilities. There is a permanent registered manager, who is suitably experienced and qualified.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home. They were all present and spent time with the inspector.

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

Date of last inspection: 22 January 2024

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/01/2024 Full Outstanding 21/09/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children thrive and flourish living at this home where they receive exceptional care. The staff truly cherish and show love to the children. Children who have moved into the home have been welcomed in thoughtful ways. As a result, children have settled well and have quickly begun to make good progress.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

In the last year, four children have moved on from the home because they became young adults. During their time at the home, they each made progress, some of which is remarkable. Managers were tenacious in making sure that each of them had appropriate care and support arrangements when they moved on. They were provided with a wealth of memorabilia through positive comments books and photos that document their wonderful journey and experiences. The young adults have been helped to stay in contact with staff where they welcome this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy a vast range of experiences and activities. Highlights include paddle boarding, camping holidays and a specialist circus. The manager even purchased an electric bike so that staff could go out with a child on their much-enjoyed long bike rides.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have all made exceptional progress with their communication. This has been achieved by highly skilled staff equipping children with the right tools and environment. All children have constant access to their bespoke communication aids. Having the ability to communicate meaningfully has been life-changing for children. Children now actively share views and make choices. For example, children are choosing their own styles for clothing and hair. Through consultation, children will compliment their peers, and one child used the communication aids to ask the staff how they were feeling. These are extraordinary skills that children have developed, considering their needs and starting points.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are helped to spend time with the people who are important to them. Managers and staff are highly respectful of the role and importance of children’s families. For example, a child received a school award, and staff provided transport to the family so they could be there to share this lovely experience. In addition, managers are working with the local authority to upskill parents to help them to understand their child’s communication and how important this is to them.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff are innovative in their approach to helping children share their experiences and progress with those who are important to them. A monthly newsletter of photos and information is shared, which parents value greatly. Furthermore, short videos are compiled by staff with clips and photos set to children’s chosen music, and these are shared at children’s reviews. This provides a progress report that is accessible for all. Children really enjoy watching their videos and are proud of their achievements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 4 Managers and staff are aspirational for children and support their interests. For example, one child loves to wash cars, and they have a goal to open a business doing this. Staff create safe opportunities for them to do this activity and are thinking about ways to expand this.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children attend school or college. This is embedded as part of children’s routines at the home. There is exemplary information-sharing between the home staff and teachers. An example of this is that one child’s school placement was at risk of ending. Staff shared strategies and ideas with the school, and the school has now replicated the approach of the home. The outcome of this is that the education placement is now settled and no longer at risk, resulting in greater stability and the child having a good experience of school life.

p.4

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

Children’s plans are comprehensive and help staff to understand children’s needs. They clearly outline what action staff need to take to keep children safe. Plans are informed by research and developed with input from internal and external clinical specialists, such as occupational therapists. As a result, staff have a comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic model of care and are active in using this in their care and protection of children.

p.4

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

Staff actively use ‘now, next and then’ boards, and this helps children to feel safe and secure because they understand their routines and what is expected. There is a low number of behaviour concerns at the home because of this. When there are any concerns or incidents, staff record these accordingly. The manager has comprehensive oversight of these records and uses research to reflect on children’s behaviour and the staff responses. For example, the manager links autism research to identify a trigger, such as a change in routine or how a behaviour may be ‘transference’. Due to the reflective and learning culture, staff are highly skilled in helping children to manage their emotions.

p.4

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

Staff help children learn about keeping themselves safe, and they involve them in their safety planning. Staff are very creative in using a range of resources. For example, for learning about road safety, staff used a video and a social story, followed up with a practical experience to consolidate the learning. Bedroom door alarms are in use for some children at nighttime. The requirement for this is assessed and kept under review. Furthermore, staff consult children about this, using accessible communication resources so that they understand, and they have consented to the arrangement.

p.4

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

Managers are vigilant in ensuring that staff remain competent and effective in managing safeguarding concerns, particularly as staff have infrequent exposure to some procedures. Safeguarding awareness is promoted at the home through ongoing learning opportunities and discussions in staff supervision and team meetings. As a result, staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities, and they remain alert and act on any potential concerns. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an inspirational leader and an exemplary role model to the staff team. They approach the role with dedication and an undeterred focus on children’s welfare and progress. This includes equipping children for the best long-term outcomes both during and after their time at the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership and management at the home are provided through a collective approach from the manager, a deputy manager and a small team of shift leaders. This is incredibly well organised, with clear roles and responsibilities assigned. As a result of this highly organised approach, there is diligent management monitoring and oversight at the home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The staff team is very experienced. They are greatly valued by the organisation, with a fair and pragmatic approach to working arrangements. As a result, no external staff work at the home, and this provides complete consistency of care to children. Staff feel incredibly well supported and thoroughly enjoy their roles, and managers genuinely care for their well-being.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager seeks feedback from external professionals as part of staff appraisals, gaining a holistic view of staff performance. Furthermore, they seek views from children as part of this. This includes children who are pre-verbal. For example, when asked about a staff member, a child responded with a smile and a ‘thumbs-up’, showing their appreciation. Children’s views really matter at this home.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are highly reflective with an eagerness to learn. They bring in research and share knowledge with the team. There is a strong culture whereby staff are encouraged to generate ideas, and the manager empowers them to take the lead on implementing these. For example, one staff member has commenced a project to create a sensory garden, and another takes the lead on developing tools for having important discussions with children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is highly effective partnership working with parents and professionals. The inspector received a vast amount of overwhelmingly positive feedback about the home, highlighting how staff go above and beyond to provide enriching opportunities and help children progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff provide sustained high-quality care to children. Furthermore, the manager strives for continual development and improvement for all aspects of the home. The responsible individual highlights that the excellent practice at this home is shared across the wider organisation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There were no requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 6

p.5

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: 2656194 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care Perspectives Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 47 Morris Road, Leicester LE2 6BR

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Rodrigo Ferreira

p.7

Inspector

Alison Snell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2656194 8 regulates and 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.

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 . 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