Children's Home run by United Children's Services Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 1 SC489036 Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to six children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager is experienced and is registered with Ofsted.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Two children were living at the home at the time of the inspection. Both children were spoken to during the inspection.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/05/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 25/04/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 21/06/2022 Full Good 07/03/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved into the home and one child has moved out of the home. At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have positive relationships with children. They speak about the children in a warm and nurturing way and can describe the children’s interests thoroughly. One child said that they have good relationships with the staff.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have education places. One child is working towards their mock exams. Another child was not in education before they moved to the home. Staff helped prepare the child for school. The child had online tuition and a gradual introduction to school. Staff understand the barriers to learning and manage them sensitively. Children are making good progress with education.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged to spend time with people who are important to them. Both children see their family regularly. One child has worked towards overnight stays with their boyfriend. Another child has had family for dinner at the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children take part in activities. These include day trips, horse riding and visits to the zoo. One child is planning a holiday. Children benefit from fun and enriching experiences.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children have therapy. One child said her therapist is lovely and has really helped her. Children have a safe space to work through difficult life experiences .

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are encouraged with independence work that is age appropriate. The manager has created an interactive key-work pack. The pack includes important information about what children are entitled to when they move out of the home. The work helps children develop skills to manage living independently. One child has a cat, which is promoting a sense of responsibility ready for when the child moves out.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is spacious, welcoming and well decorated. The children benefit from various communal areas. Children’s bedrooms are personalised. However some of the carpets are stained or frayed, which detracts from an otherwise well-kept environment.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have access to vapes in the home. One child had a vape in their bedroom and another child was vaping in the home during the inspection which was not challenged. Although children have completed key-work sessions around the impact of vapes, allowing vaping does not encourage positive role modelling for children. Vaping could impact children’s health.

p.3

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

The manager and staff have acted to help keep children safe. Despite this, some situations which have been out of the staff’s control have meant that, at times, one child Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 4 has been exposed to risky situations. The staff are confident and well equipped to manage safeguarding incidents.

p.3

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

There has been a number of missing-from-home incidents. On one occasion, agency staff did not initially manage the incident to the manager’s expectations. The manager ensured that this was addressed appropriately. There have been no concerns with how staff manage the incidents since. Staff implement children’s protocols around missing from home. Children receive independent return home interviews.

p.4

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

The manager has regular multi-agency meetings. Professionals address significant safeguarding concerns for one child. Working collaboratively helps to reduce the risks to children.

p.4

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

One child, who is at risk of exploitation, has a specialist police exploitation worker that they engage with well. The staff have also completed important key-work sessions around the dangers of being missing from home, grooming and online safety.

p.4

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

Holding children is used minimally. When children are held, this is proportionate and used appropriately. Children are spoken to about the incidents. However, on one occasion the manager has not debriefed staff and opportunities for learning could be missed.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has appropriate experience and is working towards her level 5 qualification. She is supported by and experienced operations manager.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel fully supported by the manager. They said that she is approachable and open to ideas. One member of staff said, ‘She is wonderful.’ The staff receive regular supervision and are happy and fulfilled in their roles.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One social worker said their child has made good progress, and that communication is generally good. Despite the changes in staffing, the child has said that they would not want to live anywhere else.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the importance of reviewing children’s care needs. She has identified, for reasons beyond her control, that the child’s needs can no longer be met at the home. The manager is working with the child’s social worker to ensure appropriate planning. Reviewing the child’s care means that the child will get the specialist care they now need.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

One child’s move was planned and managed sensitively. Staff took the child for a meal before they moved. The manager and staff went with the child to help them settle. The manager and staff have since visited the child and taken them to watch football.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has worked hard to recruit permanent staff. At the time of the inspection, the use of agency staff has been used for a short period in response to a specific need. The reliance on agency staff is reducing, and some agency staff are due to start working Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 5 permanently at the home. Regular agency staff have been used to help with consistency. However, two regular agency staff have not had supervision from the manager. Not supervising regular agency staff reduces the manager’s ability to monitor the quality of care that children receive.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager completes a six-monthly report. The report gives a good overview of children’s progress. However, the report lacks feedback and evaluation from others. Without gathering this additional information, opportunities for making continuous improvements could be reduced. Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 6

p.5

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.

p.6

Requirement Due date

The health and well-being standard is that—

p.6

Requirement Due date

the health and well-being needs of children are met;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that vapes or vaping is not allowed in the home and that children are encouraged to access smoke cessation. 17 May 2025

p.6

Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the home is a nurturing environment that meets the needs of the children. In particular, ensure that bathrooms are clean and well maintained. Ensure that the internal walls are clean, any flaking paint is addressed, and exterior walls are suitably maintained. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs. In particular, ensure that staff are always debriefed following the use of a physical intervention and all staff, including agency staff, have appropriate supervisions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)  The registered person should actively seek independent scrutiny of the home and make best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to inform

p.6

Recommendation

the regulation 45 report. The report should include appropriate evaluation of the home to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24) Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 7

p.6

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: SC489036 8

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider: United Children’s Services Limited

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Unit J The Quays, Burton Waters, Lincoln LN1 2XG

p.8

Inspector

Amy Miles, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC489036 9 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.

p.8

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.9

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.9