Children's Home run by Avellino Care Ltd in Staffordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2800238 1 Registered provider: Avellino Care Ltd Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in October 2024 and is privately operated. It is a multi- building home consisting of four properties, and it provides care for up to four children with learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left her position in March 2025, and the manager’s post is currently vacant.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home. at the time of the inspection and spent time with the inspector.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the home’s first inspection since being registered in October 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2800238 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s move into the home was well planned, with staff spending time with them and getting to know them before they moved in. This included staff spending two weeks in the local area so that they could maximise their time with the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

At the time of the inspection, the provider had given 28 days’ notice to end the placement due to an increase in the severity of injuries to the staff team caused by the child. The provider is working with the placing authority to ensure that an appropriate placement is identified. They are committed to helping the child adjust to a new environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff follow the child’s individualised care plans, which include essential details on how to provide personal care. They understand the child’s methods of communication. They are skilled in using appropriate communication aids to communicate with the child. The child has made progress with their vocalisations and is beginning to sound out some words.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s health has improved significantly. The child has gained weight and is receiving support for maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. This includes using the swing and trampoline in the garden and going on daily nature walks. This has had a positive impact on the child’s daily routine and general well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to express their wishes and feelings regarding food menus and social and leisure activities. They work with the child to prepare them for new events, such as meeting others or going to new places. These direct work sessions are recorded as part of the child’s care planning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not currently attending school; however, a home tutor has been arranged to assist them. Staff continue to support the child with their education, focusing on colours, numbers, vocalisation, animal knowledge, and regularly reading to them. The management team has been working closely with professionals to prioritise the child’s education. However, due to the child’s imminent move from the home, efforts to find a local school have ceased.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before moving to the home, the child was socially isolated and was not being supported to spend time outside of where they lived. The child now enjoys daily time out in the community and has visited zoos, farms and the library. Staff have also supported the child in attending healthcare appointments. As a result, the child is now having positive experiences in the wider community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The houses are homely, comfortable and well maintained. The child is receiving carefully planned care in an environment that is designed to meet their specific needs and reflects their interests and identity. There are colourful displays on the walls, along with photos of the child and their family. This helps the child to experience a sense of belonging. Inspection report for children’s home: 2800238 3 Following the child’s arrival, adaptations were made to the bathroom to make it more accessible for the child. The child's previous placement notice period was ending, so the bathroom was not changed before the child moved in.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child in maintaining positive relationships with their family. The home is a significant distance from the child’s family, resulting in the child spending less time with them. However, the provider has made every effort to support these relationships and has been creative in their suggestions to ensure that the child sees their family. Staff value parents’ involvement in helping the child in the home, and they provide daily updates via telephone in relation to the child’s health and general well-being. A parent described how the staff go ‘above and beyond’ in caring for their child.

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

The child’s care plans and risk assessments are comprehensive. They are kept up to date and are in line with the local authority’s plans. The child’s personalised behaviour management plans help staff understand triggers for behaviours and give them strategies to manage situations. This has prevented some of the child’s unwanted behaviours from escalating. Staff have access to protective clothing to keep themselves safe when caring for the child; however, the child has been able to remove items of clothing, such as gloves, causing injury to staff

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

Staff are resilient and child focused. For example, there have been incidents when staff have been unable to prevent serious injuries to themselves or others. This has not affected the consistency and good-quality care provided to the child.

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

Physical intervention is only used as a last resort after staff have exhausted all de- escalation techniques. The records of incidents are detailed, and there is comprehensive oversight by the management team. Staff debriefs are detailed, and the child’s views are identified by observations of the child following the incident, as the child is non- speaking. Good oversight of these incidents helps ensure that practice is appropriate and any learning taken from them can be identified and used to make improvements to the care being provided to the child.

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

Leaders manage concerns about staff conduct well. Appropriate action is taken, and full investigations are carried out by an independent person. This ensures that scrutiny in relation to staff practice is fair and balanced.

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

Recruitment practices are safe. The management team follows safer recruitment processes carefully, which ensures that staff are suitable to work with children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager resigned in March 2025. The deputy manager, with support from the responsible individual, currently manages the home. Inspection report for children’s home: 2800238 4 Staff are positive about working in the home. They feel supported by the interim manager and responsible individual and say that their views are valued and respected. Staff communicate effectively with one another and are enthusiastic about offering consistent, good-quality care to the child in their care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The management team ensures the safe recruitment and induction of staff. Changes are being made to improve the induction process following consultation with staff. The management team is focused on the staff’s learning and development. Staff receive a wide range of training, including specialised courses to meet the child’s individual needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

On one occasion, leaders and managers did not ensure that there were adequately trained staff on shift overnight to administer ‘as required’ medication to the child. This resulted in the on-call manager attending the home to carry out this task. As a result, the child had to wait to receive medication they needed, leading to them being unsettled.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Team meetings are child focused and supportive. The staff value the attendance of senior managers at these meetings so that the staff team’s views can be heard. Prompt action is taken when requests or suggestions are made to improve the service. A clinical psychologist assists the team in supporting the child. Following incidents where staff have sustained injuries, there is also a strong emphasis on their well-being.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff and management team have established good working relationships with a range of agencies and external professionals who are involved in the child’s care. Staff work closely with parents, social workers and other professionals. This ensures that appropriate support is in place to encourage the child’s progress and maximise their potential. Inspection report for children’s home: 2800238 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 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

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. (Regulation 13 (1)(b) (2)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that there are adequate staff on shift who are trained to administer medication. 9 May 2025

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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: 2800238 6

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Inspector

Kate Savage, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2800238 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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