Children's Home run by Next Step Independence Ltd in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 1 Registered provider: Next Step Independence

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home opened in April 2024 and is owned and run by a private organisation. It provides care for up to two children who experience social and/or emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

There is currently no manager in post. Management cover is being provided by the responsible individual and a manager from a sister home. The responsible individual was not present during this inspection but was spoken to on several occasions.

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Inspection date: 17 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 16 December 2024

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Inspection date: 17 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 17 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: 2785307 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 during this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers have addressed some of the shortfalls identified at the previous inspection. Planning is in place to address the remaining shortfalls. However, this planning does not clearly set out how the progress will be monitored and reviewed. The responsible individual is reflective and acknowledges that further improvements need to be made at as soon as possible.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have experienced an extended period of poor and ineffective management. This led to them feeling unsupported. Supervision has not taken place regularly and new staff members have not been supported through their probation period. Currently, the home does not have a manager. Staff said that they are currently receiving effective management support from leaders. The process of recruiting a suitable manager is underway.

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Findings from the inspection

There is a high turnover of staff. This has led to a strong reliance on bank staff from other homes. Currently there are only three permanent staff members. To provide children with as much consistency as possible, the same bank staff are used, and permanent staff work additional shifts. The responsible individual acknowledges the need for children to be cared for by a consistent and experienced team of staff who know them well and have completed all required training.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have a good knowledge of the risks that the children may experience. Documents setting out risks are robust, providing clear guidance for staff with the aim of reducing the risks. When a child has gone missing from the home, staff have been proactive in working with other agencies to return them home safely. However, on one occasion, staff returned home rather than continuing to search for the child. Directions for staff to take in the event of a child going missing from care are vague. These directions were revised during the inspection, making the expectations for staff clear.

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Findings from the inspection

Both children who live at the home were seen and spoken to. They said that they like living at the home and feel safe. They have trusted staff who they can talk to about their lives. The children spend time completing fun activities with staff and have routine and boundaries. One child no longer spends most of their time in their bedroom. Despite the children having differing personalities and interests, they are beginning to spend time with each other. One child recognised that the other child has made progress, saying that the home is much quieter and calmer.

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Findings from the inspection

Incidents, including children going missing from home, have reduced. Managers have oversight of incidents. They review practice and have reflective conversations with staff. One professional said that the care and support from staff have helped a Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 3 child to build their confidence, to learn how to regulate their emotions and to communicate in a positive manner.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff spend time talking to the children about sensitive or difficult subjects. The children are receptive to this and have developed greater awareness and understanding of themselves and their situations. However, care planning does not detail the children’s specific needs and does not provide clear direction for staff on how to meet their needs.

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Findings from the inspection

At times, language used in documents about the children is institutionalised. Documents that detail children’s day-to-day lives lack essential detail about their and staff’s actions. One document details a conversation with a child that uses blaming and shaming language. Training to address these concerns has been planned.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff are working with other professionals with the aim of supporting a child back into education. They are proactive in arranging meetings. They have gained the child’s voice and shared this with others. A clear weekly planner details the provision of educational activities planned for the child while they are not attending school. Staff have spent time with another child, listening and talking to them about their concerns and anxieties about returning to school. The child said that staff supported them to progress back into full-time education.

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Findings from the inspection

No children have moved in or out of the home since the last inspection. Therefore, planning for children to move in, or learning from the ending of placements, could not be reviewed. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/12/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 5

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Statutory requirements

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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that there are clear plans setting out children’s individual needs and how these will be met.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that staff do not use blaming and shaming language when talking to 20 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 6 children. Records that detail children’s lives should be written in a way that is beneficial for the child and not use institutionalised language.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that staff have the skills and knowledge to help keep children safe and to meet their day-to-day needs. This includes providing staff with training and regular, reflective, child-focused supervision.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that any manager recruited to the home has the experience, skills and knowledge to run it effectively.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, the registered person must ensure that children experience care from a stable, suitably experienced and qualified team of staff. 20 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. 20 May 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

manage and review the placement of each child in the home; and

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Requirement Due date

plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. (Regulation 14 (1)(b) (2)(b)(ii)(iii))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person should ensure that the complexities of children’s risks and how these risks will interact with one another are carefully thought out. When placements break down and learning takes place, this should be clearly implemented before additional children move into the home. Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Next Step Independence

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Wellington House, Queen Street, Taunton TA1 3UF

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Bridget Drew-Spyer

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Inspector

Carla Simkiss, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2785307 9 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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