Children's Home run by Cove Care – Residential Limited in Telford and Wrekin

Inspection report for children's home: SC397933 1 SC397933 Registered provider: Cove Care Residential 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

The home is owned by a private company. It provides care for up to two children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2024 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, two children were living at the home. The children spoke to the inspector during the inspection.

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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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: SC397933 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/08/2024 Full Good 17/05/2023 Full Requires improvement to be good 08/06/2022 Full Good 15/02/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children's home: SC397933 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s interests and progress are nurtured well in this home. For example, one child who likes photography took photos of the home for the statement of purpose. When children experience difficulties going out in the community, staff provide support to develop their confidence. One child now attends appointments independently and communicates directly with health professionals. This thoughtful approach encourages children’s independence and aspirations for their future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to express their views, wishes and feelings. A social worker described the manager and staff as ‘brilliant’ in how they encourage children’s communication. For example, one child has been supported to share what makes them feel comfortable at their home. This helps children to feel safe and builds their trust in the adults who care for them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s relationships with their parents and family members are prioritised. The manager and staff work with parents and social workers to create family time opportunities that reflect children’s views, wishes and feelings. Staff help children to take part in developing plans to return to live with their family members. This ensures that children’s views, wishes and feelings are being listened to, and they feel valued.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to attend school and to develop their independence in travelling to and from school. An education professional said that the manager and staff communicate positively with the school. When children experience barriers to learning, the manager and staff explore alternative education options with external professionals. For example, one child has been supported to develop their confidence in writing that has enabled them to share their views, wishes and feelings.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff use positive role modelling to help children develop trusting relationships with external professionals. For example, one child is supported to communicate with their social worker, and another child now attends meetings with their school and independent reviewing officer. These opportunities enable children to independently share any concerns about their care and actively take part in planning their futures.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to personalise their bedrooms and the communal areas of the home. This creates a living environment that reflects the individual diversity of the children. The spacious garden provides children with the opportunity to explore and relax. The manager recognises that some areas require development, including updating the decor of the home and landscaping the unused parts of the garden.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are patient and responsive to children’s needs. During the inspection, they were observed helping a child to understand changes to the staff team. Staff follow children’s Inspection report for children's home: SC397933 4 support and risk plans effectively and work with external professionals to support children’s needs. For example, the manager and staff worked with mental health professionals to support a child who was experiencing difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children rarely go missing from their home. Since the last inspection, one child has gone missing from home on one occasion. The community police officer shared how ‘impressed’ they were regarding the response of staff, which resulted in the child safely returning home. Staff support children to develop their independence in travelling on public transport and to understand any risks. This promotes children’s independence skills and understanding of how to access support when they are in the community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff receive training to administer medication safely. The manager proactively arranges additional training when this is identified. This ensures that children’s health needs are understood and responded to well. Staff explore how children can be supported to understand their health needs. For example, one child was supported to develop their self-care skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager sensitively explores complaints between children, encouraging them to express their views, wishes and feelings. This creates an inclusive and respectful living environment. Allegations are taken seriously by both the manager and responsible individual. As a result, children feel safer in their home and their community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is enthusiastic in supporting children and takes pride in the quality of care that children receive. Staff speak positively about the support they receive and value the manager’s commitment to developing their practice. As a result, children receive personalised care from a skilled and dedicated staff team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers prioritise safe recruitment. Staff receive a comprehensive induction and ongoing training to develop their practice. As a result, all staff are qualified, and new staff are working towards the required qualifications within timescales. The clinical team provides bespoke support and training when this is needed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff value supervision and team meetings, which focus on developing staff practice and communication. Staff speak positively about each other’s commitment to supporting children and take pride in maintaining consistency in staffing to minimise disruptions to children’s routines. This ensures that children are supported by staff who understand their needs well.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and responsible individual have detailed monitoring systems in place to review children’s needs, staff practice and the home’s health and safety. For example, fire evacuation plans are currently being reviewed to ensure they reflect the children’s current needs. The manager recognises that the recording of children’s information is an area for development, which is to be addressed by focused training and support. Inspection report for children's home: SC397933 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that the children’s home provides a nurturing, supportive and homely environment that meets the needs of the children. The home must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; however, in doing so, the home should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. This relates to updating the decor of the home and landscaping the unused parts of the garden. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record-keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child.

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Recommendations

(‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards,’ page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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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: SC397933 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cove Care Residential Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 51 Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4QJ

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Inspector

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: SC397933 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 children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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