Children's Home run by Assisted Living Care Group Limited in Leicestershire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2810441 1 Registered provider: Assisted Living Care Group Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is privately owned. It provides care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties or has learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living at the home, and their views were obtained to inform the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is led by a registered manager.

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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: 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: 2810441 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is happy living at this home. He has very good relationships with the staff and enjoys spending time with them. Staff speak very highly of the child. They are proud of the progress the child has made. One staff member said, ‘He is so special to us. He is the best.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has been extensively adapted to meet the child’s complex needs. This has been well researched and planned. Items are introduced when the child can handle something new.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s care plan is very detailed. It covers all areas of his life. It clearly informs staff of how to care for him and keep him safe. It is reviewed regularly by the manager. The child’s progress is recognised and celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Learning is considered central to the child’s life. Staff are creative in ensuring that activities include learning opportunities for the child. The manager works hard to get new education and alternative provisions for the child. The child has made very good progress with counting and understanding letters and words. He can now write his name.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that the child’s health needs are well met. They have worked closely with a nurse to help the child lose weight. Staff encourage the child to eat healthily. Many activities involve exercise. This includes dancing, swimming, trampolining and yoga.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the child very well. They know how he communicates and what different tones and expressions mean. The child uses pictures and symbols that staff have painted on the walls. Staff also use these during one-to-one sessions with the child. This helps the child to make choices and express his wishes and feelings.

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

Staff understand risks to children. They know the child’s additional vulnerability. This is specific to his needs and lack of awareness of danger. There is a comprehensive risk management plan in place. This helps staff to recognise areas of risk and what might happen for the child. Staff are informed of how to respond to reduce risks.

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

The child’s behaviour support plan is clear and detailed. It describes how the child presents when happy. It shows staff how to support the child when he is anxious or upset. There are clear support methods to care for the child after an incident. These are warm and caring gestures, such as reminding him of his safety and giving him a hug.

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

The child does not go missing. However, there are clear policies and procedures in place for how to respond should this happen. This includes information to provide to the Inspection report for children’s home: 2810441 3 police. The child’s care plan clearly informs staff of the actions to take should he go missing from the home or while out in the community.

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

The manager responds appropriately to any allegations against staff. This includes involving safeguarding professionals. The manager learns from any situations. There have been no complaints. However, a simplified children’s guide has been designed to include this topic. It shows the child what staff are looking out for if he is not happy. Staff also work with the child regarding emotions. He can point to pictures to show how he is feeling.

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

Staff handle any challenging behaviour from the child effectively. Physical intervention is rarely required. All staff are trained in de-escalation and positive handling techniques. Reports following incidents are clear and detailed. There is good learning afterwards from staff debriefs. All reports include management comments and advice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the child extremely well. She speaks very warmly of him and said, ‘We just adore him.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager has an excellent understanding of her own and her team’s strengths. She has identified areas she wishes to further improve. These are addressed in clear home and workforce development plans. The manager enjoys her own continual personal development. This includes research that then informs the care and protection of the child. For example, ‘stable homes built on love’ is clearly recognised in the development plans. Care focuses on the child having fun, smiling and laughing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

All staff receive a thorough induction when starting with the provider. Staff feel that this equips them to care for the child. It includes a comprehensive training programme. Specific additional training is provided to meet the individual needs of the child. The manager has developed a new induction booklet. This covers all areas of the quality standards outlined in the children’s homes regulations.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager ensures that all staff receive monthly supervision. This is with her or the senior residential support worker. The meetings are very reflective. They include reviewing the staff member’s personal development plan. All meetings are well recorded, concluding with an overview comment about the staff member.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager uses a large range of quality assurance and monitoring processes. This ensures that she has full oversight of the home. This includes staff practice and the progress of the child. She spends time with the child and observes how the staff care for him. She also carries out additional observations of each staff member’s practice. This takes place during the day or night once every three months and is unannounced. The manager records all observations and discusses them with the staff member.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager feels very well supported by the responsible individual. She visits the home regularly and knows the child well. She supervises the manager each month and is Inspection report for children’s home: 2810441 4 available at any time to support the manager. Staff also feel extremely well supported by the manager. One staff member described the manager as ‘amazing’. Inspection report for children’s home: 2810441 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: 2810441 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Assisted Living Care Group Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Innovation Centre, Green Street, Northampton NN1 1SY

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Inspector

Shaun Caplis, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2810441 7 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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