Children's home run by Enhanceable

Inspection report for children’s home: 2811437 1 Registered provider: Enhanceable

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately owned children’s home that is registered to care for up to four children. There were two children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 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

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff can meet the children’s needs. The home is clean and well maintained, and children’s bedrooms are personalised to their liking. A child’s family gave positive Inspection report for children’s home: 2811437 2 feedback about the progress made by the child since living in the home and how well staff support family time. Children say that they like living in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend health appointments, which is significant progress for one of the children. Arrangements for managing children’s medication are safe. The manager and staff develop effective relationships with health professionals to ensure that necessary adaptations are made for children’s health appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Both children are in full-time education and are supported to access their preferred activities at the home and in the community. A child’s school attendance has improved since living in the home. Feedback from this child’s school notes that staff provide ‘a nurturing learning environment that supports both academic and emotional development’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The children have developed positive, secure and trusted relationships with staff. Staff understand children’s communication needs. Staff take time to listen to children, observe and explore their behaviours to understand their needs. Staff adapt their communication style to ascertain the children’s wishes and feelings and to communicate with them meaningfully. Staff use social stories, communication aids, pictures and photos when supporting children with their routines, boundaries and activities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff celebrate children’s diversity and promote a positive relationship between the children.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported with their independence skills, considering their age and understanding. There is ample evidence to reflect children’s progress in comparison to their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Transitions into the home are well planned, and all children’s needs are considered. A professional working with one of the children commented, ‘The manager played an integral part in managing the transition. The child has settled well, responding to the nurturing environment.’

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

The physical environment of the home is safe, comfortable and adapted to children’s needs. Health and safety checks are conducted regularly.

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

There are safety measures in place when children access online content.

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

There have been no missing-from-home incidents since the home was registered.

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

Incidents are high in this home in response to children’s complex needs. Staff know the children well and understand the risks associated with their behaviours, and children are supported to learn how to manage their emotions safely. Staff manage children’s behaviours with care, respect and by using techniques that are specific to Inspection report for children’s home: 2811437 3 their vulnerabilities and needs. Incidents and safeguarding matters are well documented. Relevant external agencies, such as a social worker, police, local authority designated officer, are informed and consulted as required. A professional gave positive feedback about the manager’s ability to work in partnership with them to provide a child with consistent support during difficult times.

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

Restraint is rarely used, and when used, this is the last option to protect the child and those around them. The manager and staff are trained in the home’s preferred model of de-escalation techniques and restraint. When managing risks, staff use alternative strategies that are specific to children’s individual needs. For example, strategies include gently linking arms or holding hands when walking in busy places in the community, giving children space and time to calm, diversion to preferred activities, changing supporting staff and specific adaptations in the children’s bedrooms to reduce self-injurious behaviours.

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

Risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans are up to date, and the manager reviews these with staff on a regular basis. Staff use risk assessments and positive behaviour plans as tools to guide them to keep children safe and to reflect on their practice.

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

There are some inconsistencies in the way one child’s behaviour is managed at school and at the home. This is reflected in the feedback from the school and in the manager’s reflections. The manager has a clear plan in place to address this matter with the child’s school and the social worker.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed by a permanent registered manager. The manager is a new manager, and this was her first inspection. Since the home was registered, she has provided the children and staff with stability and clear guidance. Staff work collaboratively, and they have a sense of shared ownership about their practice. This provides the children with consistency. The ethos of the home is demonstrated in practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is a passionate advocate for the children, and she makes child-centred decisions and considers the local authority care plans.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is suitably staffed to meet the children’s needs, including when they need additional support. Staff receive effective induction and training, which enhances their skills to meet the children’s needs. Additional training is provided to staff to ensure they can continue to meet the changing needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported and valued by the management team. Staff supervision takes place regularly, in line with the provider’s policy. The manager has good monitoring systems in place to ensure that staff understand children’s needs and deliver safe care for children. The manager monitors the children’s individual progress, and there is evidence that living at the home has had a positive impact on each child. The Inspection report for children’s home: 2811437 4 manager uses the visits from the monthly independent person as an efficient monitoring tool.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager feels supported by the responsible individual and the chief executive officer. They provide additional quality assurance and ensure that the children’s needs are well met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff use learning from feedback and incidents to improve the care they provide to children. The manager can identify strengths, weaknesses and areas of improvement in her and the staff’s practice. She has clear plans in place to improve the children’s experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2811437 5

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that the behaviour management strategy is kept under review and revised where appropriate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)

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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: 2811437 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Enhanceable, 13 Geneva Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2TW

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Krystina Holland- Merton

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Inspector

Claudia Poienar, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2811437 7 and inspects 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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Inspector

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