Children's Home run by Semi-independent House Limited in Peterborough

Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 1 Registered provider: Semi-independent House 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to three children who have experienced neglect and/or abuse and have social or emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/06/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good 13/02/2024 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There were two children living at the home at the time of this inspection. One child has moved in, and no children have moved out since the last inspection. One child spoke to the inspector.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children receive individualised care. They have a say in how their bedrooms are designed and decorated. One child participated in the painting and decorating of parts of the home with colours and furniture of their choice.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A child said that they can talk to staff if they are worried or upset. Positive, warm and nurturing interactions were observed between the children and staff, with lots of laughter, and staff being responsive to the individual needs of the children. The children are very comfortable in the company of the staff team and have built trusting relationships with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children engage in activities they enjoy. Children have access to a range of activities and equipment at the home, including a trampoline, paddling pool, football goals, basketball hoop, bicycles and scooters. This has helped children who have experienced significant trauma and abrupt endings to previous placements regain a sense of childhood. Staff promote and support children to develop age-appropriate independence skills. Positive relationships with the staff have contributed to the progress that the children have made.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand the importance of education and encourage children to persevere with their education. When children have faced challenge or setbacks in education, the home proactively advocates for them. This helps children access education with support tailored to their needs. One child has completed their exams and they are awaiting their results. Staff have helped the child to attend a college open day and secure a placement. The other child has increased their school attendance from very little to full time. Their attendance has since been 100%.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Feedback from professionals is positive. One social worker said they were happy with the care provided to children and that their child had made significant progress since living at the home. An education professional said they noticed a ‘big difference in [child’s name], they are so happy and smiley, and their attendance and level of engagement has significantly increased since living at the home.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have been helped to connect with their local community. For example, one child has been enabled to sustain attendance at a local sea cadets’ group. Staff work hard to ensure that, when children see their families, this time is meaningful. This helps children maintain links with those who are important to them. Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 4

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

Staff have completed the organisation’s mandatory safeguarding training. They are confident in their roles of reporting and escalating any child protection concerns. They understand the whistle-blowing policy.

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

Professionals are positive about the safeguarding practice at the home. They said they had no concerns with how their children are cared for and safeguarded. The child spoken to said they feel safe living at the home.

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

There have been no physical interventions, allegations against staff, complaints or missing-from-home incidents since the last inspection. However, the staff are able to talk through how they would respond should a child go missing from the home or make an allegation against staff.

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

The children’s guide is child-friendly and gives children a sense of what it is like living at the home. The guide also contains information to help children understand who to speak to if they are worried or if they need support outside of the home.

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

Leaders and managers ensure that safe recruitment practices are followed. Staff are assessed as suitable before any appointment is confirmed. These procedures help promote the safety of the children by reducing the potential of unsuitable adults working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is suitably experienced. She is working towards completing a relevant qualification. Staff are positive about the manager and the support she provides. The manager was present during this inspection.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from a range of external agencies is consistently good. This includes responses from social workers and education staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have effective management systems. Records are of a good standard and provide information about the care provided to children. Leaders and managers complete regular audits of care practice and the operation of the home, with actions and learning identified to help address shortfalls.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff benefit from regular team meetings. Staff have regular supervisions and annual appraisals of their performance, which are helpful and meaningful. These provide staff with opportunities to discuss their development and any issues or concerns they have. However, managers do not always use supervisions to discuss and reflect on practice- related issues or concerns, meaning opportunities may be missed to formally address practice issues or concerns to prevent reoccurrences. Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 5 The provider has appointed an independent visitor who visits the home each month. On most occasions, the visitor attends when the children are not at the home. Leaders and managers do not challenge this. This means opportunities are missed to obtain the children’s views, wishes and feelings on a more regular basis. Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the recruitment, supervision and performance management of staff safeguard children and minimise potential risks to them. In particular, ensure that practice-related issues or concerns are addressed and reflected on during supervisions. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.1)  The registered person should ensure that the individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care. In particular, ensure that, as part of their assessments of safeguards at the home, the regulation 44 independent visitor regularly consults with children during their visits to obtain their views, wishes and feelings. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph

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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: 2604898 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Semi-independent House Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Ploverly, Peterborough PE4 6HZ

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2604898 8 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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