Children's Home run by Abundantia Care Limited in Doncaster

Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 1 Registered provider: Abundantia Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is owned and managed by a private provider.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, the home was providing care for one child. The child chose not to speak with the inspector but was observed throughout the inspection process.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2024 Full Good 19/07/2023 Full Outstanding 22/11/2022 Full Good 18/01/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is at the centre of the ethos of the home. Staff and the manager build positive experiences and memories with them to instil a sense of self-belief for the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making progress in the home and is beginning to have positive experiences due to the strong and trusted relationships staff are building with them. Staff enjoy spending time with the child and getting to know them, which enables staff to understand and meet the child’s individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff encourage the child to express their wishes and feelings. The child’s views have an impact and influence in respect of meal planning, activities, holidays and the way their bedroom is decorated and furnished. Staff hold meetings with the child that are meaningful and that direct their care and support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the child to maintain their health and encourage them to have positive routines, such as regular sleep. The child has access to all relevant health settings, and staff work with healthcare organisations to ensure flexibility for the child and their needs. The child has confided in the staff team regarding their mental health and appropriate action has been taken to address these needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to move out of the home in a child-centred way and ensure that the well-being and feelings of the child are considered. The manager makes sure that children start to learn independence skills as soon as they come to live at the home. This ensures they have the required life skills in the event that they move out of the home earlier than anticipated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help the child to spend time with people important to them, where it is safe to do so. This allows the child to maintain relationships with those who matter the most to them and to develop a support network outside of the home. Staff facilitate time with friends for the child, including welcoming the child’s friends to the home where appropriate.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is in an education provision but does not always engage. This is not always challenged by staff due to the ongoing relationship building. The child has recently been accepted at a new education provision sought by social care.

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

Staff are knowledgeable about the child’s risks and ensure they tailor their approach to risk management on an individual basis in line with their risk management plans. Staff understand safeguarding processes and are aware of warning signs to look out for based on the child’s risks. There is zero tolerance to abuse and the child has been made Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 4 aware of the safeguarding and complaints processes. They have been encouraged to raise any concerns and are assured by the manager that these will be addressed.

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

Staff know the actions required if the child goes missing from the home, and instances of the child leaving the home without staff’s knowledge have significantly reduced. The child benefits from independent return home interviews to explore any learning, and staff liaise with family and professionals to ensure a safe return.

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

Staff promote positive behaviour and are skilled at de-escalation, which is evident in the lack of physical restraint used in the home. Staff use strategies to de-escalate behaviours so that any form of restraint or police intervention is used as a last resort. Staff’s use of consequences is minimal. These are used only when necessary and are not punitive. Staff reward and incentivise positive behaviour, which reduces the need for negative consequences.

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

Staff work with the child to ensure that their practice is led by the child’s voice. This has proven effective as there is an increase in the child complying with safety measures in place. The child now understands why safety measures are in place. With their agreement, room searches are carried out and have resulted in objects of risk being removed. The child is also engaging with staff with regard to phone safety measures so that staff will know the child’s location.

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

The physical environment for the child is safe and secure. The layout, and use of, the home is considered and adapted in the interests of the child and staff take pride in the environment. This ensures that the child feels proud of the home they live in.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have strong relationships with the manager and feel supported and confident in her ability to meet the needs of the home. All feedback shows that staff enjoy working at the home, describing a supportive and nurturing care team. The child feels that they can approach the manager to discuss their needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has recruited and upskilled a staff team in its infancy and developed the members into a competent staff team. Staff can manage complex and, at times, challenging circumstances and are empowered to work autonomously while entrusted to ensure their decision-making is in the best interest of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager looks for best practice examples from reputable sources and keeps up to date with these to ensure that staff are knowledgeable about the needs of the child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works proactively and positively with other agencies and professionals to make timely decisions for the child and to ensure the least restrictive practice is used. However, there have been two occasions in which the manager has been concerned regarding the decision-making and action taken by relevant stakeholders. The manager Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 5 recognises that further advocacy was needed on behalf of the children on these occasions.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Current quality assurance processes do not ensure that the manager identifies when staff training requires review and that all risks are updated in relevant assessments.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Safer recruitment processes are in place; however, the risk assessment process used to ensure that all required information about those that are being being recruited is required to be more robust. Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, where the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child’s needs during their time in the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child’s needs. Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)  The registered person should ensure that recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguards children and minimises potential risks to them. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should make the best use of information from independent and internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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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: 2638239 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Abundantia Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 9a Stanley Grange Business Village, Ormskirk Road, Liverpool L34 4AT

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Michael Reynolds

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Inspector

Vikki Thwaites, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2638239 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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