Children's home run by Changing Lives Care Group Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 1 Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group 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 operated by a private organisation. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the home in August 2024. The new manager started in her role in July 2024 and registered with Ofsted in December 2024.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home and contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 30 January 2024

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/01/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last full inspection, one child has moved out and one child has moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a child moved out of the home, it was done in a planned way at a pace that suited the child. During the child’s time at the home, managers and staff supported them to understand the importance of healthy relationships, how to identify and manage risk and develop their independence skills. As a result of the sustained progress made by the child, their deprivation of liberty order ended. This enabled them to move closer to family and friends at their request.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is modern, clean and fresh. It has been decorated to meet the sensory needs of the child living there. Play equipment is developmentally appropriate and meets the sensory needs of the child. The child’s bedroom is decorated to reflect their interests and hobbies. A wall mural holds photos of fun memories made with staff. The well-thought- out home creates a sense of comfort and belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager is advocating for a suitable education provision to be available for the child. Professionals are working together for this to be in place. Staff promote a learning culture. Daily activities are arranged for the child to be supported to visit the library, a museum or to go on a nature walk. They watch documentaries about history and play mathematics games on the computer, and the child’s learning has continued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of family time. Regular time with family is encouraged and supported at home and in the community. This maintains strong family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s voice is captured well. The child has weekly meetings with staff to reflect on anything they wish to raise as a concern and to plan activities and meals. They are encouraged to share their views and are confident to do this. They feel listened to and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children’s guide is available. It holds information about the home, the staff, the care that is provided and is written in an appropriate way for children’s understanding. However, there is no information about the complaints procedure, how to access advocacy support or how to contact the children’s commissioner.

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

Staff prioritise the safety and well-being of the child. They understand risks well and respond appropriately to any concerns as they arise. When concerns do arise, managers work collaboratively with external agencies to support children to be safe. Records of Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 4 these concerns are clear, with well-documented evidence of the actions taken and the decisions made.

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

Staff have the skills to manage and de-escalate challenging situations when needed. There has been few times when a child has had to be physically held. When a child has been held, it has been necessary and proportionate. The manger has oversight of each incident. She identifies any learning and shares this with the staff. Risk management plans are in place and are updated with new information to ensure that they remain current.

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

Staff in the home use appropriate boundaries and guidance consistently. This, alongside a structure and routines, has helped the child to feel secure and safe in the home and in their relationships with staff.

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

Managers and staff use considerate consequences. Following an incident, restorative work was used to repair the relationship between the child and a neighbour. After thoughtful conversations with staff, the child decided how they would like to apologise. They purchased a gift and card with their pocket money and delivered it personally. The child has learned how their actions have an impact on others.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably qualified and efficient in her role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has had numerous staff changes since the last inspection. This has been unsettling for the staff and the child. The leaders and managers have worked together with the staff to create stability and continuity.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Well-written care plans and assessments provide staff with information about how to meet the individual needs of children. This supports them to provide good quality care and to keep the child safe. The manager has developed a care plan and risk management plan to provide the child with their own version. They are written in a child friendly way, which has helped the child to understand the principles of their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively with other professionals. She compiled and shared relevant information with agencies regarding the child’s planned return to their local area. She was commended by the police for this important information, which will aid them in keeping the child safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the home. They have reflected well on recent challenges and have used this to improve their practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has submitted their internal monitoring report to Ofsted as required. The report is generally of good quality. However, the report does not include direct feedback Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 5 from the child, professionals or family. It also lacks analysis around the challenges the manager has overcome.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff appraisals are poor quality. The manager has not provided feedback, and no views have been collected from professionals. This does not support management of staff performance. Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should carry out a review that focuses on the quality of the care provided by the home, the experiences of children living there and the impact that the care is having on outcomes and improvements for the children. The report should include analysis and evaluation of challenges. It should also include direct feedback from children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 4, paragraph 15.2)  The registered person should ensure that all staff have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, when reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  The registered person should ensure that the children’s guide contains information

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Recommendations

regarding how to make a complaint in line with the home’s complaints procedure; how they can access advocacy support if eligible; and how to contact the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 24, paragraph 4.22)

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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: 2733149 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Changing Lives Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Office 7, 35–37 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7JN

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Inspector

Sarah Cooper, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2733149 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 children looked-after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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