Children's Home run by New Start Living Residential Limited in Gloucestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2810368 1 Registered provider: New Start Living Residential 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 by a private provider and offers care for up to three children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted at the same time as the home in December 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: 2810368 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children living at the home were present during the inspection. The inspector observed both children and had a conversation with one of them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

One child said they like living at the home. They feel supported by staff and enjoy reading time. Staff and children have warm and friendly relationships. There is laughter and play, demonstrating the positive relationships that staff have built with children. When children are stressed or anxious, staff provide care and support to help them settle.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have supported one child to attend schooling every day, so they have good attendance. They enjoy getting up and ready for each morning and engaging in their education. The registered manager is an effective advocate for children. When children do not have regular schooling, she requests additional resources and takes steps to seek relevant services to ensure that children’s needs are met.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Professionals and parents said communication with staff is good. They said staff have helped children to feel settled because they have built positive relationships with them and are proactive and supportive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to enjoy regular activities in the community and with their friends. Children participate in hobbies they enjoy, such as swimming, going on bike rides, walking and going to the cinema. Staff encourage family relationships, so they develop positively for children, and they spend time with people who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children regularly express their views, wishes and feelings. They express them in natural, open conversations with staff at home or in formal sessions, which help children with their understanding. Staff have created an open culture in the home so children can speak freely and in a safe space.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Before children move into the home, they receive an age-appropriate guide that is simple and clear to understand, which helps them to prepare for the move and know what to expect. Before children move in, staff meet with them and invite them to visit the home for tea so they can meet other children. This helps to reduce anxiety and makes children feel welcome.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is large, well presented, welcoming and cosy. There is a range of soft furnishings, making it homely for children. Children benefit from large bedrooms that are tailored to their specific interests. However, some staff carry a bunch of keys to unlock doors, which can make the home feel institutionalised and detract from its homely feel. Inspection report for children’s home: 2810368 3

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

Children use devices with internet access, but there are robust filtering systems in place. Staff carry out daily checks, and both children happily hand their devices in before bedtime. However, staff have not taught children how to keep themselves safe online.

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

Staff support children with routines and boundaries. Children have a regular structure at bedtime and settle well at night. Younger children enjoy reading with staff and having story time before they go to sleep.

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

When staff have had to use physical restraint techniques, they do so proportionately and as a final measure to ensure children's safety. Children’s plans focus on behaviours and include effective strategies, so staff know how to respond to any risks or harm.

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

Leaders and managers take effective and timely action to address staff-related concerns. Internal investigations are thorough, and the registered manager takes appropriate action to keep children safe. However, despite the registered manager seeking external professional advice, she failed to follow regulations and report a concern about staff to Ofsted. There have also been delays in reporting incidents.

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

The home’s location risk assessment supports staff in recognising and understanding the risks in the local area while considering the needs of children in the home. It provides a detailed overview of resources and services in the area.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Although the home is very new, leaders and managers have high expectations for it and have focused on developing strong attachments with children, recognising that stability and security are fundamental to this process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff enjoy working at the home and feel well supported by leaders and managers. Staff describe positive relationships with children and share examples of their progress, showing a good understanding of them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is enthusiastic and committed to developing staff to ensure that children live in a stable home environment. She recognises the individual skills and experience of the staff, but she also promotes training and learning opportunities. All staff have relevant qualifications or are working towards them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

In addition to training, staff receive group supervision with a psychologist who offers them advice and guidance so they can upskill and widen their expertise to provide children with nurturing and positive experiences.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have good oversight of the home and meet regularly to quality assure aspects of the home, so they have in-depth knowledge to ensure that children receive quality care. The registered manager has oversight of all incidents and concerns Inspection report for children’s home: 2810368 4 in the home, so she can monitor staff interventions and support them in improving their practice. Furthermore, the team learns from incidents and reflects on them to ensure that care planning is effective and in children’s best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: 2810368 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 registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious.

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Requirement Due date

A notification made under this regulation—

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Requirement Due date

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter;

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Requirement Due date

must be made or confirmed in writing. (Regulation 40 (4)(c)(e) (5)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person must ensure that Ofsted is notified of any allegations or concerns against a member of staff working in the home. Furthermore, Ofsted must be notified of all serious incidents concerning children. Notifications must be made in a timely manner with no delays. 15 May 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are helped to recognise online risks and learn how to keep themselves safe online. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.9)  The registered person should ensure that the home environment is nurturing and does not feel institutionalised. This specifically relates to considering the effects of Inspection report for children’s home: 2810368 6 staff carrying bunches of keys around the home. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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: 2810368 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Start Living Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Fig Flex, Southgate House, Southgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1UB

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Inspector

Emma Fryer, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2810368 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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