Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

Inspection report for children's home: SC468747 1 SC468747 Registered provider: Idem Living Limited

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children's home

The children’s home is registered for up to two children with social and emotional difficulties. The home is operated by a private provider, which has several other homes. At the time of this inspection, one child was living in the home.

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Information about this children's home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since November 2023.

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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 outstanding

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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: 15 October 2024

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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: SC468747 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/10/2024 Full Good 02/08/2023 Full Good 21/09/2022 Full Good 09/02/2022 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC468747 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child was living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spent some time with the child on the first day of the inspection. The child said that they like the home and that they ‘really like’ the staff. There is nothing that they would change about the home. The inspector spent time observing and listening to the child’s interactions with the manager and staff; close relationships were noted, with staff taking a genuine interest in the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is making good progress, and staff ensure that they regularly have fun experiences, such as going to the beach and swimming. The child is encouraged to engage with activities that are tailored to their interests. When the child has shown an interest in joining a club, this has been supported and encouraged by staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child engages with two formal days of education each week and they are making good progress with their learning. On days where the child is not in school, an educational planner is used by staff, which outlines some of the educational activities that staff complete with the child. The topics of these activities are limited and are, at times, brief. During the days where the child is not in education, more could be done to ensure that there is a clear and structured educational plan to further promote their learning.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Leaders and managers have supported the relationship that the child shares with their parents. Over Christmas, one of their parents stayed in the home to give a natural feel to the celebration, which was then tailored to the family’s own traditions. This means that the child has been able to develop their relationship with their parents, and this will have contributed to the child to feeling valued and cared for by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child in the home is celebrated. There are photographs of the child and staff members enjoying activities throughout the home. The child’s achievements and talents are highly praised and important events are affectionally marked. Staff in the home make efforts to celebrate birthdays and important anniversaries within the home, which will make the child feel loved and valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The house is well decorated and has a homely feel throughout. The child has a say over the decoration of their room and has various items that are personal to them on display.

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

Since the previous inspection, there has been considerable concern about the risks that the child in the home faces. There are clear plans in place to support staff with managing difficult situations and these are regularly reviewed by managers and updates are routinely shared with staff. Staff are knowledgeable about the child in the home and are consistently clear on how they are to keep them safe. Agency staff are as Inspection report for children's home: SC468747 4 knowledgeable about the child in the home, including the risks they present with and how they are to keep them safe.

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

Staff engage in purposeful conversations with the child to try to reduce their risk-taking behaviour. Leaders and managers have ensured that there are appropriate agencies involved with the child to help them overcome challenges and, ultimately, reduce their risk-taking behaviour. The manager has specifically sought to address one area of risk and privately sourced an agency to work on a one-to-one basis with the child. The child is building their relationships with workers from this agency and their sessions are having some positive effects

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

Since the previous inspection, there has been one missing-from-home episode. Staff responded to this incident appropriately, searching for the child and liaising with external agencies to try to locate the child. The child was warmly welcomed home.

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

Due to the child's ongoing risks, a deprivation of liberty safeguard’s order is in place, which gives permission to the staff to use various restrictions when necessary. There is a risk assessment in place to review window restrictors. However, this assessment does not adequately justify why restrictors are still in place and how this decision has been made in a multi-agency way.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager of the home is passionate, driven and holds high expectations for what the child and the staff team can achieve. External professionals report positively on the working relationship they have with the staff and manager at the home. Professionals have commented on the loving and nurturing care that is clear from the staff and registered manager towards the child. Professionals feel that the child in the home has made good progress and the quality of relationships between staff and the child have been central in helping them to make this progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is excellent multi-agency working between the manager and external professionals supporting the delivery of a high standard of care. This strength of multi-agency relationships was evident when the child was missing for an extended time. The manager had a central role helping to seek out relevant information about the child’s network and providing this to multi-agency meetings. The manager was described by a professional as playing an 'instrumental role' with professionals being able to locate and bring the child home safely.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

When concerns have been raised about staff practice, these are quickly addressed. The manager has very good oversight of the service, and there is clear and efficient communication between her and the staff team. The manager uses a communication log to highlight worries or areas where practice can improve, this is reviewed by all staff, and improvements in practice are subsequently clear. Staff speak highly of the manager and feel that their strengths are recognised and that their personal development is actively encouraged. Inspection report for children's home: SC468747 5 There is an established staff team, which provides stability and consistency to the child in the home. Some agency staff are used; however, they work in the home regularly and hold the same level of knowledge about the child, and their risk-taking behaviours, as the core staff team. The manager ensures that only a select few agency staff are

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

regularly used, and that she personally meets with them if they have not worked in the home for a lengthy period, to provide an update on the child’s needs and risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff complete relevant training, which equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the needs of the child in the home. The manager has completed research into important areas, such as child criminal exploitation and disseminated this to the team to aid learning and improve staff practice. The manager ensures that they attend relevant conferences to ensure that their knowledge of the child’s risks and how to work with these risks, is at a high standard. Inspection report for children's home: SC468747 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when children are on part-time timetables there is a structured plan of educational activities for days where they are not engaged in formal education. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 29, paragraph 5.18)

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that when window restrictors are used, there are clear plans that justify their use, which are regularly reviewed in a multi-agency way. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.5)

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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: SC468747 7

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Children's home details

Registered provider: Idem Living Limited

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Children's home details

Registered provider address: 6 Stable Court Business Centre, Water Lane, Tarbock Green, Prescot L35 1RD

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Inspector

Min Sims, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC468747 8 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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