Children's home run by HAVEN CARE GROUP LIMITED

Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 1 Registered provider: Haven 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 owned and managed by a private company. The home is registered to provide care for up to four children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home does not have a registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, there was one child living in the home. The child was spoken to as part of the inspection. One child had recently left the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The inspector was aware during this inspection that a serious incident occurred at the setting since the last inspection and is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the setting in response to the incident were considered alongside other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform the inspector’s judgements.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2024 Full Outstanding 24/08/2022 Full Good 21/09/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is furnished and decorated to a high standard. Staff care about the environment that children live in and, overall, the home presents as a family home. There are pictures of children experiencing positive times on display. Children’s hobbies and interests are encouraged, such as music and crafts. There are additional outside spaces that children can use to further their interests and talents. The children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their characters and interests. There is a large garden for children to use but this area requires some improvement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The leaders and managers strongly advocate for children, especially for those children who are not in education. Leaders of the organisation challenged external professionals when children’s educational needs were not being addressed. Staff support children who do not attend school, with a plan of life skills development, in the home. One child engaged frequently with independence and practical based activities, because their routine provided them with consistent staff support. Children who attend school are getting the help they need while waiting for an educational placement to become available. One child attends a school that specifically meets their needs. This child is making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of children’s health needs. They promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage children to be active. Children are supported to eat a balanced diet alongside treats and favourite foods. Children are registered with health services and are supported to attend appointments as required. Specialist health services are accessed by children to support them with their mental health and well-being. Staff take children out on trips and activities that they enjoy. One child had recently been to a music concert and enjoyed the experience.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The staff have been through several changes, which have created some turbulence. However, staff continue to build positive relationships with children. Children seek out key staff who are important to them because staff provide care, nurture and support. Children have meaningful and important discussions with staff because of the strength of these relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to spend time with their families and people who are important to them. When families live far away from the home this has not been a barrier to children seeing them. Leaders ensure that the adults maintain communication with children’s families. Staff understand the impact that time with family can have on children. Children’s care plans reflect this.

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

Leaders respond well when there are indicators that children are at risk. The response to one serious incident was effective and swift. Leaders worked collaboratively with other Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 4 professionals to address concerns. Professionals said that the safeguarding response from leaders at the home was excellent. Children have detailed risk management plans. Staff ensure that these plans are up to date. As a result, staff respond effectively when children are at risk. However, there are some risk management plans that do not accurately reflect children’s current behaviours or risk.

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

Children rarely go missing from care. When incidents occur, the staff response is effective. Children have individual protocols in place. These support staff to implement the right steps to locate children and bring them home safely. The records for when children go missing are thorough. Children are talked to about the reasons they may feel they want to go missing.

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

On occasion, children have caused damage to the home. During these incidents, staff take immediate action to repair the damage. This helps children to move on from difficult moments. There have been occasions where restraint has been used with children. Staff only intervene when there is significant risk. Staff are trained in the use of restraint, and it is used as a last resort. There is effective oversight after restraint to ensure that there is reflection and learning. This contributes to staff practice in reducing the frequency of challenging incidents.

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

Incidents of self-harm are low. However, staff ensure that children receive a response that makes them feel safe and cared for. Children approach staff for support because they trust them to help them. Leaders adopt an explorative approach to understanding self-harm and the reasons behind it. Therapeutic models of care are utilised, which improve staff response to children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home has not had a manager or deputy manager in place since January 2025.The responsible individual and the organisation’s head of quality assurance have provided effective oversight in the absence of a manager. They have ensured that the disruption to the leadership in the home has not impacted children’s care. A new manager has been recruited and is undergoing the necessary checks before commencing their role in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders know the home well. The quality assurance manager was previously the registered manager of the home. They know the strengths of the home and the areas for development. This is because the systems for monitoring are highly effective. Shortfalls are identified and actions for improvement are clear and timely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There have been changes in personnel and some staff are new and inexperienced. Staff receive good support from leaders. The induction programme for staff is effective, and staff receive quality and well-planned training. Following a recent safeguarding incident, staff have received in-depth refresher training around safeguarding practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Senior staff are receiving training to improve their leadership and supervision skills. There was a shortfall in planned supervision with staff. However, this was identified, and Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 5 supervision now happens regularly. Staff enjoy working in the home and speak enthusiastically about children and supporting their progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak positively about the leaders and staff. They say that communication is good. Feedback from stakeholders is that there is a solution-focused approach from leaders when issues arise, and things generally improve.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and staff know children well. Children’s care plans are effective and up to date. This provides staff with clear instruction and support in the care they provide to children. Team meetings take place regularly. They are well planned, with a creative approach. Staff respond positively to this format and learn new skills. New models of care are being introduced by leaders. There are allocated practitioners identified to embed new practice into care plans. Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 6

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Statutory requirement

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.

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Requirement Due date

The registered provider must appoint a person to manage the children’s home if—

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Requirement Due date

there is no registered manager in respect of the home; and

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Requirement Due date

is not, or does not intend to be, in day-to-day charge of the home.

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Requirement Due date

If the registered provider appoints a person to manage the home, the registered provider must, without delay, give HMCI notice of—

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Requirement Due date

the name of the person so appointed; and

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Requirement Due date

the date on which the appointment takes effect. (Regulation 27 (1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iii) (2)(a)(b)) 31 May 2025

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Recommendations

 Staff should continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Where there are safeguarding concerns for a child, their placement plan, agreed between the home and their placing authority, must include details of the steps the home will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 42, paragraph 9.5) Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 7

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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: 2599805 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Haven Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Haven Care Group, Unit 6, Barberry Court, Parkway, Centrum One Hundred, Burton-on-Trent DE14 2UE

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Inspector

Chris Haines, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2599805 9 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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