Children's Home run by Abbey Green Therapeutic Children’s Services Ltd in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 1 Registered provider: Abbey Green Therapeutic Children’s Services Ltd 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 company. It provides care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager is registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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requires improvement to be good

How well children and young people are helped and protected requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers requires improvement to be good

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requires improvement to be good

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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requires improvement to be good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/08/2024 Full Good 06/06/2023 Full Good 06/04/2022 Full Outstanding 17/08/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 3

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improvement to be good

Two children spoke with inspectors as part of the inspection.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, one child has moved out of the home and two children have moved in. Relationships between children and staff are continuing to develop. However, the recent turnover of staff has affected the consistency of care children receive. Staff do not routinely use the therapeutic approaches implemented across the service. When staff support children, they do not always consider how their position of authority may affect the development of positive relationships with them.

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improvement to be good

All children receive education that aligns with their needs, and they are making progress. The staff are proactive in working with education professionals to ensure that children receive educational support that promotes their progress.

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improvement to be good

Staff are skilled at identifying activities that the children may enjoy. By spending time engaging in these activities alongside the children, they have strengthened relationships and built some trust.

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improvement to be good

Staff support children in developing their emotional resilience and independent living skills. Staff has restored a child's dignity by finding creative solutions to a long-term issue. In addition, another child has learned how to remain calm rather than displaying behaviours that may be challenging.

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improvement to be good

Children thoroughly enjoy spending time with their families. Staff have worked hard to explain to family members the best way to support the children. Working together in this way has allowed children’s relationships with their families to strengthen.

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improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the use of physical intervention has reduced. When staff record the details of physical interventions, they are inconsistent in capturing essential information. In some instances, the quality of recording impacts negatively upon staff and managers having a clear understanding what has happened. On one occasion, staff used an unapproved hold.

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improvement to be good

Staff members do not adhere to the medication process. Records outline the medication plans for the children, but the information is not correct, and the managers have not identified this when carrying out their audit. Staff were not curious about the medication protocols for a child when they moved into the home. They administered medication without any awareness of information regarding the precise health needs of the child. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 4 Missing-from-care procedures are in place, and staff follow these when children go missing. Staff contact relevant professionals and keep them updated. Staff welcome children back to the home and carry out return home interviews.

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improvement to be good

The location risk assessment for the home has not been updated and includes errors that were identified at the last inspection. This means that an understanding of the local risk profile is not accurate and could place children at risk.

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improvement to be good

Staff follow relevant procedures when children make allegations. The manager consults relevant professionals. Staff carry out reparation work with children when they return to work following allegations.

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improvement to be good

Consequences are used in the home. However, they are not consistently relevant nor restorative, which can be confusing for children. Oversight from the registered manager is inconsistent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Since the last inspection, the home has experienced a period of instability due to staff leaving and new staff being recruited.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Management oversight of the home is inconsistent. There are systems in place, but these are not efficient or effective. Key documents are not being read and signed by the managers or staff. The system of archiving information does not allow for documents to be easily accessed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff often fail to maintain accurate or comprehensive records, and the therapeutic approach is not always clearly reflected in the documentation. Children are made aware of how to make a complaint, and have been supported to do so, however the response is variable. Children’s views are not consistently captured, and children are not consistently provided with acknowledgement or response letters, which may leave them feeling overlooked or unheard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

New employees receive a thorough induction. Team meetings are held on a regular basis. A therapist supports monthly group supervision, which benefits the staff. This provides staff with the opportunity to explore children’s needs and discuss methods of improving their support.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Staff believe they are supported well by managers, and they value this support. Staff report that managers are approachable and readily provide support when requested. One staff member spoke positively about the emphasis placed on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, noting that this is genuinely encouraged and respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: requires improvement to be good

Feedback from professionals and family members is positive. The manager and staff have developed good relationships with people who are important in the children’s lives. Children spend time with their families, and staff will accompany children to ensure that the experience is enjoyable and safe for all. Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 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 protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare; and

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm;

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Requirement Due date

that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(vi)(vii)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff adhere to the home’s policies and procedures and promptly notify managers about any incidents. Staff should only use approved holds and ensure that accurate records are maintained. In addition, the 15 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 6 registered manager must ensure that there is an up-to-date location risk assessment.

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home;

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Requirement Due date

demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on—

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Requirement Due date

use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(a)(f)(g)(h))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to the manager establishing systems that improve their oversight of the home. The wishes and feelings of the children should be acknowledged and addressed.

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Requirement Due date

This requirement was made at the last inspection and is restated. 15 August 2025

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults. 15 August 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 7 In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that staff consistently use the therapeutic approach adopted by the home and are aware of their position of authority.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

In particular the registered person must ensure that—

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Requirement Due date

medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed. (Regulation 23 (1) (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

This specifically relates to ensuring that medication records are correct and that information about why a child requires medication is stored in the home. 15 August 2025

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the organisation’s complaints process is followed. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.13)  The registered person should regularly review consequences, including their proportionality and effectiveness. Any consequences used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, helping children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them, and the wider community. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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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: 2613829 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Abbey Green Therapeutic Children’s Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 3, Mercia Court, Bingham, Nottingham NG13 8QX

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Responsible individual:

Registered manager: Avgoustinos Demetriou

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Inspectors

Lizette Watts, Social Care Inspector Lorna Walker, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2613829 9 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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