Children's Home run by 1848 Ltd in Somerset

Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 1 Registered provider: 1848 Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a private provider, offering care for up to three children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. The registered manager left in February 2025, after almost two years. A new manager has transferred to this home from within the provider group and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the last inspection, three children were living at the home. One child moved out in January 2025, having lived there since June 2023. Two children remain and were present during this inspection. One child shared their feedback about living in the home with the inspector.

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Inspection date: 13 March 2025

Date of last inspection: 3 September 2024

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Inspection date: 13 March 2025

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Inspection date: 13 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: 2491059 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

Overall, both children have had positive experiences in this home. They have developed trusting relationships with specific staff members, who engage with the children warmly and demonstrate a sensitive understanding of their individual needs.

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Findings from the inspection

The children’s bedrooms are personalised, decorated according to their individual styles and colour preferences. However, the standard of tidiness in one bedroom is not that typically expected for a child of that age and need. More action is needed by staff to support the child to keep their room tidy. The manager acknowledged that more could be done by staff to support the child in this area. The staff and manager aspire for the children’s education and communicate these aspirations clearly. The educational success of one child in recent exams was celebrated with thoughtful gifts, which serve as motivational symbols of pride in their achievements. However, the education plan and structured activities for another child have been less consistent, leading to a period of disengagement. The manager accepts that more can be done to address this, along with action to resolve an outstanding formal assessment.

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Findings from the inspection

A significant incident has occurred since the last inspection. An item which is illegal for any child to own or use was deemed suitable by the managers for use by a child in the home, with inadequate consideration of the risks. The decision to allow the child to use this item has had lifelong consequences for their appearance.

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Findings from the inspection

In response to the incident, the senior leaders promptly notified relevant professionals and authorities and used formal HR processes effectively. Senior leaders investigated the incident. This revealed a closed culture in the home, where staff members who were concerned about risks did not feel able to challenge or report their concerns to the senior managers. Furthermore, safeguarding practices were not adequately understood, and senior leaders demonstrated a lack of awareness, despite monitoring.

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Findings from the inspection

Following the investigation, senior leaders took prompt action and transparently communicated the failures to all levels, including notifying the regulator. This, combined with reflection by staff and managers, demonstrate organisational learning. The significant action taken was sufficient to assure the regulator that the failures were not widespread.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders took immediate action to address the issue of a vacancy at manager level and transferred an experienced manager from one of their other homes. The new manager is supporting senior leaders to address the changes needed in the home. They demonstrate a sensitive, inclusive and nurturing leadership style. They Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 3 recognise the need to develop positive relationships with staff, provide support and foster accountability and autonomy in the staff team. Despite the change being recent, overall, staff feel supported by the new manager and are positive about their roles.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager has updated certain plans, which has enhanced their overall quality, however, the specific and measurable actions remain inconsistently applied. For instance, one plan notes the use of a grab bag when responding to an incident but fails to specify where this equipment is stored or who is responsible for ensuring it remains ready for use. These are factors that would significantly impact the plan’s effectiveness in the event of an actual incident.

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Findings from the inspection

Senior leaders and managers have undertaken internal monitoring, which has led to a greater understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. However, some of these issues had already been identified at the previous inspection and requirements and recommendations were issued. Senior leaders have focused their attention their learning from the significant incident, meaning the previous requirements are restated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/09/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 22/08/2023 Full Good 13/07/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 15/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 4

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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

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’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child;

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(c)(e)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the registered manager ensures training records are updated to ensure all staff receive training in line with the statement of purpose and that there is clearly recorded oversight of all safeguarding incidents and concerns relating to staff, to enable effective manager monitoring and review.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 13 June 2025

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Requirement Due date

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who— 13 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 5 understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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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

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

protect and promote each child’s welfare;

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Requirement Due date

provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking account of the child’s background. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that the registered manager ensures all children’s plans clearly identify actions to help staff meet children’s needs and that staff understand their responsibilities, follow children’s care plans and consistently act with professional curiosity to prevent unnecessary risk to children.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 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; 13 June 2025 Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 6 manage relationships between children to prevent them harming each other;

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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. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that staff promptly report concerns for children and ensure children’s safety by taking effective action to remove objects that may pose a risk of self-injury or other significant harm.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. The registered person must maintain records ("case records") for each child which—

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Requirement Due date

include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child;

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Requirement Due date

are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, that incident records and day-to-day recording by staff accurately capture concerns, staff actions in response to incidents to reduce risks to children, and rationale for decision-making.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement is restated. 13 June 2025

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure they develop and keep under review a statement of purpose (regulation 16 and schedule 1). This should be child focused, indicating how the home provides individualised care to meet the quality standards for the children in their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 14, paragraph 3.5) Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Old Bank Buildings, East Street, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 0AJ

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Inspector

Ashley Arkless, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children's home: 2491059 8 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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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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