Children's home run by Therapeutic Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2744528 1 Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and provides care for up to two children who may experience social and/or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At time of this inspection, two children were living in the home. The inspector spoke with both children.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2023.

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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: 12 February 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: 2744528 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/02/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2744528 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children living in this home receive effective and highly personalised care, which allows them to make excellent progress in all areas of their lives. The members of the staff team nurture children to thrive and make sustained changes in their lives. There is a focus on building lasting relationships with children, which allows them to feel safe, loved and accepted. Staff have great relationships with children. One child said, ‘I feel like I have what I need and I feel safe. The staff are nice and I get along with everyone. They listen to me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children are provided with stability by the staff team, whose members recognise the importance of providing a secure base for children. New children are welcomed into the home only after a period of careful consideration as to the suitability of this home for them. One child has moved into the home after some reluctance to move to the local area. The move was sensitively planned and managed.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Since the last inspection, one child has been supported to move back to their family home. The child had lived at the home since it opened. They had not had a relationship with their family for several years. Staff and the manager have worked diligently to promote and strengthen the relationship. Through a high level of collaboration with the child’s family and local authority partners, the move has been successful.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Education is valued in the home and children make exceptional progress, considering their starting points. When children are not in education, the manager works with partner agencies to secure the correct education provision for children. Educational activities are delivered in creative ways and children are encouraged to pursue activities that interest them. One child has discovered a talent for music and is being supported to pursue this as an option for college. The children are taught independent life skills, with staff recognising the importance of preparing children for adulthood.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s health needs are met and referrals are made to specialist services when required. Children also have access to the provider’s therapy team, when appropriate, which supports them to understand their own feelings and emotions. The therapy team also works with staff members to support them with understanding the children’s emotional needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home is a safe and welcoming environment. It is maintained and furnished to a high standard. There are photos of the children around the home, which gives a sense of a family home. The children have been encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, which gives them a sense of ownership. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744528 4

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

The care provided to children is informed by a therapeutic model which allows them to thrive, despite previous trauma. Staff are knowledgeable, and their practice is consistently of a high standard. Positive behaviour is promoted through rewards and incentives. Negative consequences are rare and they are fully evaluated by the manager. This ensures that they are effective, proportionate and fair.

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

The children are kept safe by staff who know them well and are attuned to their needs. Staff are very skilled at supporting children to regulate their emotions and can de- escalate situations effectively. There are clear boundaries in the home which give children a sense of well-being and security. There is a strong focus on planning in the home and ensuring that potential risks are identified and then mitigated as much as possible.

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

Children are involved in their own care planning and regular discussions are held with children to help them learn how to stay safe and educate them on potential risks. Children have had the opportunity to join staff training, which has aided their understanding of issues such as knife crime and exploitation. One independent reviewing officer said, ‘I could not identify anything else the staff could do. They always tried to support the child as best they could. They went above and beyond for the child.’

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

There has been a reduction in missing-from-home episodes for children. Staff search for children and follow robust procedures. When children are found, they are supported to return home safely by staff. However, on one occasion an independent return home interview has not been carried out by the local authority, and the manager has not escalated this in a timely manner.

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

Staff are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and know how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. Staff recruitment is done safely to ensure that only suitable individuals work with the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is suitably experienced and qualified. He has management responsibility for another home with this provider. His practice is child centred and he is aspirational for children and the service. The manager is a confident and ambitious leader who has high expectations of staff and leads by example.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has created a positive environment, where children can flourish and explore their own interests. The manager has formed positive working relationships with family members and professionals. He is a strong advocate for children and challenges when necessary to secure the best possible outcomes for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is supported by an experienced responsible individual and deputy manager. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744528 5 There is a stable staff team, whose members are dedicated and committed to the children. There is a focus within the organisation to develop staff to further their careers. This promotes staff retention, which provides consistency and stability for children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most members of staff are experienced and qualified in childcare. This ensures that children are cared for by a skilled team of staff who have an excellent understanding of the individual needs of children. New staff members complete a thorough induction and probation period before being enrolled to complete a recognised childcare qualification. Staff have access to a wide range of training, which supports them to care effectively for children. When further needs emerge for children, the manager responds quickly and ensures that staff have the necessary skills to manage these.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff state that they feel supported by the manager and wider organisation. They receive regular, good quality supervision sessions, which allows them to reflect on their role. Team meetings are held regularly which have a focus on how best to support children and embedding learning for staff. The manager takes steps to ensure that staff do not become complacent in their roles and ensures that potential safeguarding scenarios, such as substance use and missing-from-home episodes, are regularly discussed, despite these not being issues for the children at this time. There is a culture in the home and the wider organisation of sharing best practice and improving the quality of care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has excellent oversight of the home and employs a range of tools to evaluate and improve the care provided. The manager welcomes scrutiny of the home and ensures that feedback from family members and professionals is gathered regularly and used to inform care provided in the home. The manager is aware of any areas for improvement and challenges staff practice when it does not meet the high standards he expects. Inspection report for children’s home: 2744528 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority provides an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2744528 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Therapeutic Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Therapeutic Care, Errigal House, Avroe Crescent, Blackpool FY4 2DP

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Inspector

Eve Ostridge, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2744528 8 regulates and inspects 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 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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