Children's Home run by Central and Southern Homes Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 1 Registered provider: Central and Southern Homes Limited

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home provides care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The home’s manager has been in post since October 2024 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, three children were living at the home. They have lived in the home since the previous inspection. One child has moved out.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

12/08/2024 Full Good 25/04/2023 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Good 15/03/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 3

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improvement to be good

The inspectors spent time with all three children during the inspection and they were happy to give their views on what it is like to live in the home. All three said they are happy and that they enjoy spending time with the staff who care for them, particularly when they go on holiday together.

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improvement to be good

The manager and staff know most of the children’s needs and provide care on this level of understanding. However, they lack a developed understanding of the impact of trauma on children’s overall behaviour and development, which limits staff’s ability to pre-empt and prevent difficult incidents. Staff do not always successfully meet children’s emotional needs, and there is a lack of escalation from the manager to partner agencies in respect of this.

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improvement to be good

Despite some significant challenges, all three children have remained living in the home and have therefore experienced some stability, with two of them having been there for several years. Feedback from professionals and external stakeholders is positive about the care provided to the children in the home. Social workers in particular feel that the children’s needs are met. Feedback from a parent was also positive.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children with education, but this can be limited. Staff do not provide enough structure for children when they are out of education unexpectedly.

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improvement to be good

Children’s views are listened to and they feel heard in the home. The children have access to advocates, and they have key members of staff who they have good relationships with. One child has moved from the home, however this did not follow a clear plan or timescale.

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improvement to be good

Staff support family time and advocate on behalf of the children in respect of building relationships with extended family.

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improvement to be good

Previous concerns about home conditions remain. Maintenance and repairs have not been carried out in a timely manner. The children are unable to use the garden because of broken glass and animal faeces. There was also a significant concern about a broken fire door which had not been remedied by senior leaders. This was resolved by the end of the inspection. The environment negatively impacts on the overall experiences of the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 4

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improvement to be good

Staff and the manager understand the children, and when risks have been identified they have been acted on, but not always in a timely manner. The manager has high aspirations for the children to take part in activities, but there is a lack of planning for activities. Risks are assessed, however, this is done after plans have already been made with children.

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improvement to be good

Leaders and managers do not always notify Ofsted of serious incidents in a timely manner as required. Recording of safeguarding incidents is not detailed enough and not always clear. Appropriate action is taken by the manager to address concerns, but when she is not present in the home there are issues with the overall process.

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improvement to be good

Staff have a good understanding around the risks related to social media and internet use and have robust device checks in place. Staff have some conversations with children around how to stay safe online.

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improvement to be good

There have been 44 incidents of restraint since the last inspection, which is a significant increase. While the use of restraint has been necessary, these interventions are often ineffective and do not always lead to children being kept safe. Staff do not have the confidence and skills to always de-escalate incidents effectively to prevent the use of restraint.

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improvement to be good

Staff provide clear and mostly consistent boundaries, but consequences are not always effective or consistent for the three children. The manager has reduced the use of punitive and/or financial consequences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The acting manager knows the children well, having worked in the home for several years, and is dedicated to improving the care they are given. The manager is new to the role and has not been provided with adequate support or robust guidance from senior managers, which has had an overall impact on the care being provided in the home. The manager has identified that there is a lack of focus on the emotional well-being of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

The manager understands the children and the progress they have made while living in the home. Leaders and managers have good working relationships with external stakeholders and have challenged professionals when responses have not been good enough, although this has not always been effective in leading to a change in outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff feel supported by the manager and said they are helped to do their jobs. Supervisions take place regularly but are not always reflective and do not set clear and robust actions for staff. Team meetings take place regularly, however, the records do not adequately reflect the discussions held. Training is completed by the staff team, but this is not always tailored to meet the specific needs of the children living in the home. Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 5 Leaders and managers understand the home’s areas for development, as well as its strengths, and have acted on some of these areas. A number of areas for development are yet to be fully addressed. However, the manager has a plan in place to make improvements. Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 6

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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 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

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

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the home is well-maintained and that damage is fixed without delay.

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Requirement Due date

In addition, leaders should ensure that staff have the experience and skills to support children and to meet their needs.

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Requirement Due date

The action relating to the home condition is restated from the previous inspection. 1 May 2025

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 1 May 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 7 In particular, the registered person must ensure that notifications to the regulator are made in the timescale required.

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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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

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have the skill and confidence to be able to de-escalate incidents effectively. 1 June 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff anticipate and identify risks at the earliest opportunity when setting up activities for children. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.7)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure children receive structured support when they are out of education, and that staff plan for a swift return. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 28, paragraph 5.15)

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording, particularly in relation to safeguarding incidents. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 8

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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: 2611536 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Central and Southern Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pitmaston House, Malvern Road, Worcester WR2 4LL

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Matthew Dangerfield

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Inspectors

Helen Cushnie, Social Care Inspector Ashley Arkless, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2611536 10 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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