Children's Home run by Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy in Kent

Inspection report for children's home: SC454294 1 SC454294 Registered provider: Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a charitable organisation. It is registered to provide care for up to eight children who may have social and emotional difficulties. There were seven 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 March 2024.

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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

Date of last inspection: 4 December 2024

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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: SC454294 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/12/2024 Full Outstanding 12/03/2024 Full Good 17/05/2022 Full Good 13/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC454294 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive exceptional care in this home. They are supported to build effective and trusted relationships with staff, which enables them to thrive. Children’s progress is evident in all areas of their care. The manager and staff are resourceful and imaginative in their approaches to children and their individual needs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children who had previously been school refusers now demonstrate a positive attitude to learning, showing improved attendance and academic progress. They are being prepared to sit their GCSE exams next year.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Other children who displayed disorganised eating habits have been supported by a dietician and have received training from a nutritionist. These children now engage in a weekly ‘guess the fruit or vegetable’ activity and have scheduled time with the house cook, at which they can help to prepare meals or help with baking. These purposeful approaches have resulted in improvements to the children’s relationships with food.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s relationships with those people who are important to them are actively encouraged and promoted. The family support team works tirelessly to build positive links to families. One child has been supported to reconnect with an estranged parent after a significant period. Families report that staff put them at ease, and say they are thankful for all that they do.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All the children in the home engage in the wider community, accessing regular clubs or activities, and as a house they attend local cultural or charity events. Some children have completed colour runs and/or bubble runs, and they proudly display their medals and achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The children have been able to experience a holiday abroad; this took meticulous planning and preparation, with the children being involved at every stage. Some children had not travelled abroad previously, and others had not experienced flying. The manager asked a cabin steward to come to the home to provide tailored training to the children to ensure that they understood each aspect of travelling by air and what to expect on their journey. The holiday was an overwhelming success and children gained lasting and positive memories from this trip.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Promoting tolerance, equality and diversity is a strength of this home. The children engage in a wide range of activities and educational opportunities where they learn to embrace difference and respect one another. One social worker noted that the children can explore their identity without fear of judgement.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are evident in all aspects of their care and the environment in which they live. They are empowered to make choices and decisions Inspection report for children's home: SC454294 4 which are appropriate to their ages and understanding. Staff are sensitive to children’s experiences. The manager has created an environment which is truly child centred.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children’s social workers collectively report that the children are settled and are doing well at the home. One social worker said a child had thrived in the home’s care; others noted that children had made significant progress since moving in.

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

Children say they feel safe at the home and that staff keep them safe.

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

Safeguarding incidents are rare. When these do occur, they are well managed and documented. The manager works in collaboration with external professionals, such as local authority designated officers and children’s social workers. This supports them with external oversight and scrutiny. When incidents do occur, the manager ensures that both staff and children are supported. Reflection takes place and any lessons learned inform future practice.

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

Staff know the children well. They understand any potential risks and how to manage these effectively. The levels of risk for children have significantly decreased since moving in. The use of physical intervention in relation to one child has substantially reduced. Other children who had histories of frequent episodes of going missing have had no further incidents. Self-harming behaviours have also reduced considerably for some children.

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

Children are educated about their risks. They work through comprehensive internally developed programmes to support them to manage electronic devices and they have increased their confidence and knowledge in navigating the online world. As children develop, they are supported to take age-appropriate risks and have input into their individual risk assessments relating to the use of devices. Children have demonstrated their learning through creating presentations about different apps.

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

The manager has supported all the children to gain certificates in emergency life support and first aid, promoting skills which will support them into adulthood.

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

Safer recruitment processes are thorough and robust, providing further safeguards to children by reducing the risk of unsafe adults working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and deputy manager provide a stable presence in the home. They work well together to inspire the team. The manager and staff demonstrate enthusiasm and are committed to the children they care for. They are resourceful and innovative in their approaches. The culture of trust and understanding in the home is strong and clear. The chosen model of care is embedded in all practice. Ancillary staff are being supported to gain qualifications which align with the home’s model of care, to promote consistent responses for children. Inspection report for children's home: SC454294 5 The manager is passionate about the continuing development of the staff and the quality of practice. He is clear on the knowledge, skills and abilities of staff and will contact external professionals for support, training and guidance when any gaps are identified in achieving the best for the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

There is a clear vision for the home, and this is evident in the home’s progressive development plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are unanimously positive and complimentary about the leadership of the home and the support available to them. One member of staff said, ‘I have never been in a role where so much support is available,’ one said, ‘Support has been outstanding,’ and another said, ‘I can honestly say that I never have that Monday morning feeling after the weekends or a week off and am happy to be coming back to work. I love it.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager and senior leadership team have clear lines of accountability. The monitoring and oversight of the home are meticulous. Records are well maintained, child focused and evidence children’s journeys and progress.

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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: SC454294 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Institute of Integrated Systemic Therapy, 210 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JX

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Inspector

Cassie Martin, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC454294 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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