Children's Home run by Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited in Salford

Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 1 Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a small private provider. The home provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for two children. Both children were spoken to by the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

The home and manager registered with Ofsted in July 2023.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/10/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported by the staff team and are helped to develop a strong sense of belonging. Children speak very positively about the home and the care they receive from staff. Staff are warm and approachable, and consistently focused on meeting each child’s individual needs. Both children have expressed their desire to remain at the home, reflecting the positive relationships and demonstrating that the team provides children with stability and a nurturing atmosphere.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are strong advocates for children, particularly in supporting their individual identities. Staff create a safe and inclusive environment where children feel respected and valued. Staff work proactively to ensure that children’s views, wishes and feelings are understood and reflected in their care planning. The registered manager has challenged external agencies when necessary to secure the right support, demonstrating a commitment to promoting children’s sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When barriers to children engaging in education are identified, staff have ensured that children are given the necessary resources and guidance to support their reintegration into school and college. Individual support is provided, including access to specialist services, which has led to improvements in engagement. As a result, children are generally motivated and actively participating in their education. Staff’s commitment to promoting education has enabled the children to make steady progress in their educational journeys.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have clear and structured independence plans that support their preparation for adulthood. Staff actively advocate for children and have raised concerns with professionals when progress has been slow, or support has been insufficient. This demonstrates the staff’s commitment to ensuring that children receive the necessary resources and guidance to develop essential life skills. Staff continue to provide children with the practical and emotional support they need to progress towards independence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide strong support to children in rebuilding family relationships that have broken down. Staff work closely with children and their families, promoting open communication and offering guidance to help repair and strengthen these connections. When appropriate, staff engage external professionals to ensure that children receive the right support in navigating their family dynamics. This approach helps children to develop healthier relationships for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have individual person-centred plans that reflect their needs and support their progress. However, some plans contain language that could be perceived as stigmatising and does not accurately reflect the nurturing and supportive approach taken by staff in practice. The registered manager is taking steps to ensure that written records better reflect the good-quality care provided. Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 4

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

Staff prioritise creating a supportive and calm environment in the home, where children feel heard and understood. Staff are skilled in managing challenging behaviour through de-escalation techniques and positive behaviour support, which contributes to a reduction in conflict and the need for restrictive interventions.

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

There has been a significant reduction in the number of instances of children going missing from the home, with no incidents since the last inspection. This improvement is due to the effective strategies implemented by staff, including building trusting relationships with children and providing consistent support that reflects children’s individual needs. Staff are proactive in identifying potential triggers and working closely with external agencies to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to prevent incidents of going missing. As a result, children say they feel safe in the home, which contributes to their overall stability.

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

Regular direct-work sessions provide children with individualised support, helping them to understand and manage risks effectively. Sessions focus on relevant topics such as the dangers of drug misuse and the impact of negative peer relationships. Children are provided with the knowledge and skills to support them to make safer choices. Staff use these sessions to engage children in meaningful discussions, reinforcing positive behaviours and promoting their sense of self. This proactive approach supports children in developing resilience and making informed decisions about their lives.

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

Staff have provided support to children during significant incidents involving the police, ensuring their safety and well-being throughout. Staff have responded calmly and appropriately, offering emotional support and guidance during and after the incidents. The registered manager works closely with external agencies to ensure that children are protected and their needs are met. As a result, children are encouraged to move forward in a positive direction.

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

Staff create individual risk plans that identify relevant risks to children. However, updates to these plans do not always reflect recent changes and some information is outdated. This means that staff may not have access to the most current guidance to manage risks effectively.

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

Room searches are conducted in line with the home’s policies and children’s risk plans to promote the safety and well-being of children. However, on one occasion, there was a delay in carrying out a search. The registered manager acknowledges that the situation could have been handled differently. This was not raised at the time of the incident, as the registered manager felt appropriate safeguards were in place to manage any potential risks. Staff’s overall approach to room searches remains proportionate and supports a safe environment for children, however, this incident highlights the need for a more reflective approach to practice, ensuring that there is consistency in staff’s approach. Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 5

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a committed, child-focused registered manager who is supported by a deputy manager. The registered manager is proactive in promoting improvements and is highly regarded by staff and external professionals for their commitment to children’s care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are overwhelmingly positive about working at the home and feel well supported by both the management team and their colleagues. They describe a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere where they are encouraged to share ideas and contribute to the home’s development. Regular training, professional development opportunities and a strong system of support from the registered manager and senior members of staff ensure that staff feel equipped to carry out their roles effectively, leading to a motivated and committed team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Reflective supervision practice is observed in the home, with staff receiving regular, structured supervision sessions that allow them to reflect on their practice, discuss challenges and identify areas for development. Agenda-based supervision is also provided to support staff regarding any specific area of need. This process promotes continuous learning and helps staff to refine their skills and maintain a good standard of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Allegations against staff members are well managed by the registered manager, with clear procedures in place to ensure the safety and welfare of children. The registered manager takes immediate and appropriate action, working closely with external agencies to investigate concerns thoroughly. Allegations are handled with sensitivity, ensuring that children and staff are supported throughout the process, and that any necessary action is taken to address the situation.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has worked hard to develop positive relationships with external professionals, which ensures that there is effective collaboration and support for the children. One education professional said that staff’s ‘safeguarding practices and relationship-building efforts are among the best I have experienced’. This strong network of professional partnerships supports staff’s ability to meet the complex needs of the children and provides a holistic approach to their well-being and development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that room searches are carried out in a timely manner when there are reasonable grounds for believing that there is a risk to the child’s or another person’s safety or well-being. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.20)  The registered person should ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them. Specifically, the registered person should ensure that risk assessments are clear and directive and do not become a chronology of events. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Records should be of consistently good quality so that they are helpful to a

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Recommendations

child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: 2702950 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 843 Finchley Road, London NW11 8NA

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Inspector

Carrie Mayes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2702950 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 children looked, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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