Children's Home run by Northamptonshire Children’s Trust Limited in West Northamptonshire

Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 1 Registered provider: Northamptonshire Childrens Trust Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a local authority. It provides care for up to six children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in October 2020.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, four children were living at the home.

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: good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

06/08/2024 Full Good 04/07/2023 Full Good 15/11/2022 Full Good 20/10/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children living in the home have positive experiences, supported by a range of activities and opportunities, including holidays. They develop meaningful relationships with staff, which are reflected in the positive feedback obtained from children during inspection. One child was proud to share photographs of their recent holiday abroad.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home environment is welcoming. Children are encouraged to personalise their bedrooms, making them feel comfortable and reflective of their individual interests. However, the nighttime locking of the kitchen and lounge areas is institutionalised and restrictive. While staff had intended this to support healthy bedtime routines, the manager understood the restrictive nature of this approach and promptly addressed it with the team during the inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported to develop independence skills. They take part in activities such as shopping and meal preparation with the house chef, contributing to their confidence in managing daily tasks. One child has made significant progress in preparing for semi-independent living by moving into a self-contained flat within the home. Staff recognise the support she requires and ensure that they have effective oversight of her day-to-day living.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have advocated for children to access education that meets their individual needs. One child is now undertaking an apprenticeship and is thriving in her place of work. While staff are committed to promoting formal education, there are missed opportunities to engage children more casually when they are not accessing a provision. Therefore, children do not always have structure and routine to their day, resulting in them spending a lot of time in their bedrooms.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s needs are carefully considered when moving in and out of the home. In situations where a move happens quickly, staff ensure that existing children are consulted and transition plans include opportunities for children to familiarise themselves with the home before moving in. Staff prioritise helping children to feel settled, contributing to their feeling of belonging.

p.3

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

Staff respond promptly and consistently when children go missing from the home, ensuring that each incident is treated with the necessary attention and concern. Despite missing episodes being a regular occurrence for one child, staff remain committed to safeguarding their welfare. They escalate concerns to external professionals and coordinate responses effectively. Staff understand the underlying reasons behind these incidents and demonstrate empathy towards the child. Nonetheless, intervention and engagement strategies are not fully utilised to help prevent future missing episodes. Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 4 Children’s risks are well understood, and documentation clearly identifies key concerns. Risk assessments are regularly updated to reflect any emerging risks, ensuring that appropriate safeguarding measures remain in place. Consideration is given to how children’s behaviours can impact on others in the home, and action is taken to provide

p.3

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

children with support to enable them to develop positive relationships with each other.

p.4

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

Children benefit from access to specialist services to support their individual needs. The manager has worked closely with a child's therapist to ensure that the staff team is well equipped to meet their specific requirements. This has included inviting the professional to attend a staff meeting. Another child is being supported to engage with her exploitation worker to address the concerns around her relationship with a peer and the negative impact this is having on her emotional well-being.

p.4

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

Physical intervention has not been regular practice in the home until the recent admission of one child. It is used only as a last resort to maintain the safety of children and staff during incidents. Staff have received relevant training, and approved holds are documented appropriately. However, there are gaps in staff understanding the full scope of physical intervention. Some recorded incidents have not fully reflected other forms of restriction, such as ‘blocking’ and ‘guiding’. The manager’s oversight has identified this as an area for improvement, but these changes are not yet fully implemented.

p.4

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

Allegations and complaints are investigated thoroughly. Professionals who work outside of the home lead inquiries where necessary to ensure independent oversight. Children are encouraged to access independent advocacy and are provided with the relevant details to do so.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager demonstrates good oversight of his staff team, recognising both their individual strengths and the need for additional support and guidance for newer members. He maintains confidence in his team's ability to deliver a high standard of care, while ensuring that those requiring further development receive appropriate support.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

To enhance his oversight of the home, the manager has introduced new strategies. He delegates responsibilities to senior staff to support the collection of feedback and children's wishes effectively. The manager is readily accessible and actively participates in key meetings concerning children. Additionally, staff are encouraged to attend meetings to deepen their understanding of children’s needs and contribute to informed decision-making.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular supervision, which provides the opportunity for reflection on practice and professional development. Team meetings provide valuable opportunities to discuss children's needs, as well as broader matters, such as staffing and training requirements. This helps to foster a collaborative approach to care. Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 5 Training opportunities are well structured and responsive to the needs of children living in the home. In recognition of the increased use of physical intervention, the manager has proactively arranged for all staff to repeat the approved training to ensure that best practices are upheld. The manager now has systems in place to ensure that there is effective oversight of staff development.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals working alongside the team report highly positive experiences, with efficient communication and strong advocacy from staff on behalf of the children. Staff proactively share information to ensure that all involved parties remain well informed and responsive to the children’s needs. Where children's plans lack clarity, the manager takes decisive action to address any shortfalls. Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 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 privacy of children is appropriately protected;

p.6

Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children's home's premises; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child's privacy or access to any area of the home's premises—

p.6

Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

p.6

Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and

p.6

Requirement Due date

allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

p.6

Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to staff ensuring that children have access to the kitchen and lounge area at all times, unless specifically and individually risk assessed as being necessary. 22 May 2025

p.6

Requirement Due date

within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes—

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of the child's behaviour leading to the use of the measure;

p.6

Requirement Due date

the date, time and location of the use of the measure; 22 May 2025 Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 7 a description of the measure and its duration;

p.6

Requirement Due date

details of any methods used or steps taken to avoid the need to use the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the name of the person who used the measure ("the user"), and of any other person present when the measure was used;

p.7

Requirement Due date

the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

a description of any injury to the child or any other person, and any medical treatment administered, as a result of the measure;

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so ("the authorised person")—

p.7

Requirement Due date

has spoken to the user about the measure; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

p.7

Requirement Due date

within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35 (3)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii)(b)(i)(ii)(c)(iv))

p.7

Requirement Due date

This particularly relates to the manager ensuring that staff have a good understanding of what intervention constitutes a physical intervention and therefore determining how this should be documented.

p.7

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home, where appropriate, and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should make additional effort when children decline to participate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5) Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 8

p.7

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: 2608968 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Northamptonshire Childrens Trust Limited

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: One Angel Square, Angel Street, Northampton, Northamptonshire NN1 1ED

p.9

Inspector

Kayleigh Spinks, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2608968 10 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.9

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.10

Inspector

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

p.10

Inspector

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

p.10