Children's home run by Gracewells Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 1 Registered provider: Gracewells Care 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 owned and managed by a private provider. It provides care for up to three children with social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/05/2024 Full Outstanding 09/05/2023 Full Good 30/01/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 3

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outstanding

Children have strong, trusting relationships with staff. Professionals describe staff as being ‘highly attuned to children’s needs’. The strength of relationships has supported children to explore their identity and build self-esteem. This has influenced the significant progress that children have been able to make while living at the home.

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outstanding

Children can explain their own progress. This includes describing how staff support them to manage their own feelings. One child shared that they feel they can be their ‘complete self’ with staff who accept them and do not judge them.

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outstanding

Children have made considerable progress with education from their starting points. Children have developed resilience, which has helped them to complete exams and aspire for their future. One child maintained their mainstream education despite having a lengthy journey to and from school. This helped to maintain important relationships for the child. Alternative provision was sought for a child who had been out of education for some time, and they have made substantial progress.

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outstanding

Staff use research to support their practice. One child’s move out of the home was particularly well planned to meet their specific needs. This included a detailed storyboard to help the child prepare for the move. The tool had been beneficial around other areas of the child’s care and helped them to process change in a manageable way. Other children have benefited from research-informed practice to help them understand their rights, explore their identity and support their emotions during times of stress.

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outstanding

Children’s health needs are consistently well met. One child, who had anxieties around healthcare, has been supported to re-engage with services and access support groups. Guidance from a psychological team is used consistently by the team to inform its practice around children’s changing needs. The psychologist praised staff for their focused use of play to support one child’s regulation at a time of change.

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outstanding

Staff support children to develop relationships with people who are important to them. One child has been able to explore a close relationship and make safe, healthy choices. The team recognises the importance of children having a network of support as they take their next steps in life. This includes staff building their own relationships with family members to provide support and outreach work.

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outstanding

Children are well prepared for their independence and are involved in the running of the home. There are detailed, tailored plans in place that support children to develop appropriate skills and knowledge. These plans track children’s achievements and Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 4 provide a clear pathway towards adulthood. However, access to the laundry is locked despite children needing to use this area for their independence.

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outstanding

Multi-agency work is a strength of the home to ensure that children receive consistent messages and support to work towards their objectives. Staff follow detailed risk assessments and use effective strategies, which supports children to feel safe. As such, there continues to be a reduction in the risks posed to children.

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outstanding

Children have not gone missing from the home, and there has been no need for staff to use any physical interventions to support children’s behaviour. There have also not been any complaints or allegations made by children. Children can explain the significant progress that they have made.

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outstanding

Staff use their trusting relationships they have built with children to support positive change. Through meaningful collaboration, children work with staff to address safety concerns and thoughtfully reflect on their behaviours.

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outstanding

Children are encouraged to pursue their goals through carefully managed risk-taking. This approach promotes independence in a supportive and thoughtful manner, allowing each child to progress at a pace that feels safe and achievable.

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outstanding

The team provides a consistent approach to support children to understand rules and boundaries in the home. Children understand the rules in place, and staff follow through with the removal of any items found that cause a risk to children. There is ongoing work carried out with children to help them understand the risks to their health.

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outstanding

The team benefits from a robust training and consultation programme, featuring bespoke sessions developed by a specialist psychology service with in-depth knowledge of both the children and staff working in the home. Trauma-informed training is carefully tailored to address the specific needs of the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers have strong relationships with the children and advocate for them. Despite changes in the management of the home, there has been consistency for children, with staff stepping up to cover in the short term. There is a stable staff team in place with a strong family atmosphere in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feel well supported in their roles and inspired by managers. They spoke positively about the ‘exceptional management of the home’. Staff highlighted the significant support that they receive personally and professionally as well as the encouragement to develop in their roles. This provides an aspirational environment for both children and staff. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 5 Managers use the input from professionals and research to support the team’s progress. Group supervisions and consultations are used to positive effect to drive forward staff knowledge and skills. Managers source bespoke training to develop the therapeutic care skills of staff. Consideration of support needed for staff is pre- emptive, demonstrating how well managers plan and understand the needs of the team and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers are proactive in challenging other professionals to ensure that children’s needs are prioritised. There is effective partnership work in place to focus on meeting objectives for children. Alongside this, managers advocate for children’s rights to ensure that they are treated fairly by other agencies.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers provide an open and supportive culture by offering reassurance and recognition to staff, promoting continuous improvement in practice. They draw on strong relationships, both their own and within the team, to address challenges constructively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There are several opportunities for staff to share their views, to reflect on the care that they provide and on the progress that children are making. However, the regularity of one-to-one supervisions is inconsistent, meaning that some staff have long gaps between their dedicated time with managers. When sessions do take place, discussions are reflective and recordings are detailed. Staff can share their views and are supported to consider their own areas for improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that, just as in a family home, children are able to access all shared areas of their home unless there are specific reasons why this would not meet a child’s needs. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.10)  The registered person should ensure that systems are in place so that all the staff receive regular supervision so that they can reflect on their practice and the needs of the children assigned to their care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.2)

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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: 2655408 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 36 Jubilee House, East Beach, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 5FT

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Inspector

Andrea Foreman, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2655408 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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