Children's home run by Almond Care Children’s Services Ltd

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2764431 1 Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services 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 privately owned. It provides care for up to two children with disabilities or social and emotional needs. One child was living at the home at the time of inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 3 December 2024

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 25 March 2025

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance 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’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2764431 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Two requirements made at the last inspection have been met. Five recommendations have also been addressed. The manager and the responsible individual are ambitious for the child who is living at the home.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager speaks warmly of the child and previous children. Referring to the child, the manager said, ‘She is a beautiful young girl. She is incredible.’

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Findings from the inspection

The home has been redecorated and a homely environment has been created. The child was included in choosing how the home looks, including paint colours.

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Findings from the inspection

The child’s care plan is clear and detailed. It is written in a child-friendly style. The child’s individual additional needs are recorded well. How staff should meet these needs is clearly explained. All areas of the child’s life are addressed, including education, health, time with family and faith.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff communicate very well with the child. There has been a focus on staff training to meet the individual needs of the child. This has included understanding body language. Staff use pictures and symbols in one-to-one time with the child. This helps the child to make choices and express her wishes and feelings.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a thorough positive behaviour risk plan for the child. It includes how the child shows she is struggling. It shows staff how to respond and support the child. This has helped staff to manage the child’s behaviour well. As a result, different ways of caring for the child have been identified. Physical interventions have not been required.

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Findings from the inspection

One child has left the home since the last inspection. This was planned very well by the manager. The child was helped to understand the move and meet the new carers. The manager advocated for the child in the local authority’s decision for a choice of her new home.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has ensured that staff’s recording has significantly improved. Staff receive training on reporting and recording. Team meetings and supervision sessions have a section focusing on this area.

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Findings from the inspection

All staff receive regular supervision sessions with the manager or a team leader. These are effective meetings. They include staff well-being and development. Discussions include learning from training and ensuring knowledge of safeguarding children. In addition, monthly team meetings are valuable for team learning and development. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2764431 3 The manager has excellent oversight of everything that takes place at the home. She uses a comprehensive range of quality assurance processes. Reflection, advice and required actions are added to all documents. This includes incident reports, supervision sessions and one-to-one sessions with the child. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2764431 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2764431 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Almond Care Children’s Services Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Barling Way, Nuneaton CV10 7RH

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 2764431 6 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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