Children's Home run by Unique Care Group Ltd in Shropshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2739062 1 Registered provider: Unique Care Group 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 provides care for up to two children aged between eight and 18 years who have learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager was registered with Ofsted in March 2025. He is currently working towards a level 5 diploma in leadership and management.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. Both were seen by the inspector.

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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: 2739062 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/03/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2739062 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has continued living at the home and another child has moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The new child has settled quickly, and the children are enjoying each other’s company. Both the children are making good progress in relation to their starting points. They benefit from personalised, well-planned care that is closely monitored by staff. Staff know the children well and provide care which is consistent, child focused and nurturing.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote and celebrate the children’s educational achievements. They work closely with education professionals from the organisation’s own registered school and mainstream schools. They share information on a daily basis. Both children have excellent attendance and are on full-time timetables. The children are making academic progress, developing their social skills and engaging with a range of therapies, including speech and language, equine and art therapy. Staff talk proudly of the children’s achievements. One child is the school’s music champion and the other child was asked to join the school’s dance group and is currently rehearsing for their first show. When the children struggle at school, the staff provide additional support, which enables them to return to school as soon as possible.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the health of the children and role model healthy lifestyles. Children are learning to cook, eat healthy meals and take regular exercise. This has had a positive impact on the children’s sleep patterns and has resulted in one child stopping smoking and vaping. Staff have also successfully supported one child to become fully continent during the day. These are significant milestones that will widen their opportunities as they move towards adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are developing their social skills through age-appropriate hobbies and interests. Staff encourage the children to participate in new opportunities and explore new experiences. The children enjoy a wide range of activities in the home and in the community. This includes theatre trips, going to the cinema and ice-skating. The organisation has its own private animal sanctuary, and one child described going there and caring for a range of animals, including horses, guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens. As well as visiting parks and having membership of the National Trust, the children also visit the organisation’s purpose-built park and woodland area.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the children to learn new life skills and become more independent. They encourage the children to carry out tasks around the home and, as they get older, they are helped to learn about managing their finances, cooking and shopping. When applicable, the children benefit from custom-made plans that help them to prepare for semi-independence and adulthood. Inspection report for children’s home: 2739062 4 Children have their artwork and photos proudly displayed throughout the house. Since the last inspection, managers and staff have worked closely with the children to decorate areas of the home to meet their tastes and needs. When one child caused damage to their bedroom this was quickly repaired, with adaptions to make it safe. The staff team has worked imaginatively to create a safe space, which is still warm, welcoming and child friendly.

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

Staff understand that when the children struggle emotionally it is because of their levels of understanding, frustrations, anxieties and previous life experiences. Staff use de- escalation skills well. When they need to use physical intervention, it is proportionate and low level. Staff constantly reflect on strategies and remodel them if they become ineffective for the children.

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

The registered manager assesses situations and ensures that the safety of the children and his staff team is always a priority, for example, increasing staffing for a child. This ensures that children and staff have support structures around them at difficult times. This enables children to still feel safe and continue to make progress.

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

Managers and staff take prompt action when there are concerns, for example, when it was found that a child was using a mobile phone inappropriately and potentially putting themselves at risk. Managers removed the phone and reported this appropriately. Staff then helped the child to learn more about online safety before having a phone again. Consequently, staff help the children to understand risks and how to keep themselves safe.

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

The registered manager and staff take immediate action when there are serious safeguarding concerns. They make prompt referrals and work in close partnership with other professionals such as the police.

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

There has been one missing-from-home incident since the last inspection. Managers undertook a robust review after the incident and identified learning that was quickly implemented to improve practice and reduce future risks. One-to-one sessions and a bespoke social story focused on helping the child understand the risks of going missing and how to keep themselves safe.

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

Managers make sure that staff, including agency staff, are safely recruited. Consequently, staff working at the home are suitable to care for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a committed, child-focused practitioner who puts the children at the centre of everything he does.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff are highly motivated and determined that the home will make a difference to the children’s lives. They feel well supported by the leadership team. They attend regular Inspection report for children’s home: 2739062 5 supervision and fortnightly team meetings. This helps them reflect on their work with the children and on their own professional development. Staff also have an annual appraisal that helps to identify areas for development and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff receive a broad range of essential training, which is refreshed in line with organisational expectations. The organisation supports staff to receive specialised training, such as in foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and Klinefelter Syndrome. This approach ensures that staff are skilled and knowledgeable about the children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager makes sure that all placing authority paperwork is held on the children’s files. Documentation is well organised and records are up to date. Staff support the children to attend their review meetings and contribute their views. Children are involved in the day-to-day decisions about life in the home, helping to make decisions about the environment, activities and meal planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External professionals spoken to were very complimentary about the registered manager and staff team and the progress of children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations have been made.

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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: 2739062 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Unique Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: School House, Westbury, Shrewsbury SY5 9QX

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Inspector

Dawn Bennett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2739062 7 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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Inspector

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