Children's home run by Protea Care 2 Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2627009 1 Registered provider: Protea Care 2 Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for up to five children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, five children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in April 2022.

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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 outstanding

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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

Date of last inspection: 23 January 2024

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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: 2627009 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/01/2024 Full Good 01/03/2023 Full Good 31/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2627009 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children living at the home contributed to the inspection.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff provide exceptional care for children. They speak to children with kindness and consideration. Children sometimes seek staff out for hugs or fist bumps when they greet each other or as a way of saying thank you. One child requested a bouncy castle and a DJ for their birthday, and the manager granted their request immediately. This meant a lot to the child, and they gave the manager a big hug.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children enjoy playing at home with an abundance of toys, including footballs and badminton rackets. There is an emphasis on keeping children busy and stimulated. Although the children’s ages and interests vary, their daily routines are organised so that all their needs are met. Despite the home being well presented, some children’s bedroom doors display graffiti that requires removal. Furthermore, one child requires a chair for their bedroom.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are provided with clear boundaries and expectations; they are asked to undertake chores and to take on some responsibility. For example, one child has pet fish. Having pets is a big responsibility; however, the child is supported by staff to make sure that the fish are well cared for. Other children can wash their clothes, keep their bedrooms tidy and prepare meals. However, one child requires additional support from staff to take risks in line with their level of independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff encourage children to be healthy and stay fit. For example, one child can now do sit-ups. Staff have supported them to make healthier food choices. Another child goes to the gym independently. Children understand the importance of attending medical appointments, and these are up to date. Staff support children with their self-care routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have clear expectations for children’s school attendance. All children are in education and are making progress in their own way; this progress is not always linear. The manager has an intricate understanding of the barriers that could jeopardise each child’s educational placement. The manager is an excellent advocate for the children; he knows their potential, and he informs all relevant professionals about their strengths and talents. When problems arise in education, managers are proactive in trying to resolve them. For example, when one child struggled to find a work-based placement, the responsible individual created one for them. Despite the home's promotion of reading, one child requires books that align better with his abilities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Two children have left the home since the last inspection. Staff continue to talk about these children with warmth and pride. The manager and staff have visited one of these children every week since they moved out in September 2024. The manager also meets with the other child regularly. Staff have a tenacity to maintain relationships with Inspection report for children’s home: 2627009 4 children, and they put supportive structures in place that improve their life chances after moving out. For example, one child came to the home for Boxing Day and has been supported by staff to find a part-time job.

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

Children’s safety is prioritised by staff. Although most of the children have lived together for several years, staff are not complacent about the potential risks that could arise between children. There have been good strategies employed to make the layout of the home safer. For example, the layouts of children’s bathrooms and bedrooms are well considered.

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

Children are supervised by staff to ensure their safety. An incident of concern occurred between two children. The manager learned from this and worked collaboratively with children to make sure that their voices were heard across multiple agencies. Professionals are satisfied that this situation is resolved, and steps have been taken to reduce such risk in the future.

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

The manager has been a strong advocate for a child who was regularly being restrained at school. The type of restraint and the proportionality of such interventions have been queried by the manager. The manager has followed appropriate safeguarding channels to escalate concerns. The child’s social worker praised the manager’s commitment to this child’s safety and well-being.

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

Staff supports children in understanding the concept of body autonomy. Staff will explain to children the importance of healthy relationships and how power dynamics can influence them. Some children require different approaches to ensure that this learning is embedded in a way that they can understand. For example, one child requires clear direction, simple language and repetition because of their complex traumas and additional learning needs.

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

Medication practice is safe; however, an oversight identified during the inspection requires some follow-up.

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

Staff show a huge commitment to children, and they continue to persevere and maintain boundaries through challenging times when children are in crisis or having a difficult day. A psychologist supports the staff, providing guidance to the team on how to adapt care strategies to ensure the safety of all children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leadership of this home is excellent. The manager is established in the role and has an excellent rapport with children and staff. Children often approach the manager after school and talk about their day. During these times, he gives the children his undivided attention. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627009 5 The manager is well supported by a caring and nurturing deputy manager who the children respect and value. For instance, one child has displayed photos of the deputy manager alongside family photos in their bedroom.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The responsible individual is experienced and supportive of the manager. He knows each child well and will spend time with them every week. Children know him well and like his company. For example, one child asked the responsible individual to play the guitar so that he could sing along.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff enjoy caring for the children and being part of the staff team. Managers value their staff and treat them well. For example, although staff like to sometimes work overtime, managers pay them bonuses for being available for children and offering them consistent care. Staff retention is very good, which provides stability and long-standing relationships for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff have regular supervision discussions and are well trained. They are comfortable asking managers for support. They also take pride in taking on additional responsibility, such as being a team leader or a child’s key worker.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The inspector spoke with a range of professionals during this inspection. They were full of praise for the care provided to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Family members trust staff to care for their children, and they appreciate how hard staff work to maintain and strengthen the close relationships that some children have with their family. A family member suggested that one child may benefit from accessing therapy; the manager plans to put this in place without delay. Inspection report for children’s home: 2627009 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing and supportive environment that meets children’s needs. This specifically relates to ensuring that graffiti and marks are removed from children’s bedroom doors. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that care staff understand the way in which the past experiences of abuse or neglect may manifest in children’s day-to-day lives. This specifically relates to the manager ensuring that the environment is adapted to implement safer caring practices for the children. Children should be asked if they wish to receive therapy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to understand each child’s education and training targets and their next steps for

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Recommendations

learning. This specifically relates to ensuring that children are supported by staff to learn how to tell the time and understand the concept of time. Learning resources should cater to each child's developmental level. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 27, paragraph 5.11)  The registered person should make suitable arrangements to manage, administer and dispose of any medication. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.15)  The registered person should ensure that staff take reasonable precautions and make informed professional judgements based on the individual child’s needs and developmental stage about when to allow a child to take a particular risk or follow a particular course of action. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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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: 2627009 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Protea Care 2 Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 317 Horn Lane, London W3 0BU

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Inspector

Andi Lilley-Tams, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2627009 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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