Children's home run by Parker SC Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 1 Registered provider: Parker SC Ltd

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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 run by a private provider. It offers 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 November 2023. The manager is due to resign from this post. A new manager has been appointed and has applied to register with Ofsted.

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Information about this children’s home

Two children were living in the home at the time of the inspection. The inspector spoke to both children.

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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: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/07/2024 Full Good 27/02/2024 Full Good 08/03/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 3

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outstanding

Living in the home has a positive and enriching impact on children’s lives. One child is now discharged from speech and language therapy. Their speech and vocabulary are now fully developed, and they can communicate clearly. Of particular significance is how the child is now able to accept praise and comfort from staff. Further excellent progress is the child’s personal care skills. Another child is thriving and makes exceptional strides towards independence. They are now able to enjoy time with friends in the community without supervision.

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outstanding

When children come to live in the home, risks are well understood, and risk assessments are thoroughly evaluated to ensure that children can live safely together. Moves in and out of the home are carefully considered and planned. Staff take great care preparing children during these times. Records used to support the children moving are child centred and written in kind and caring language. Staff work well with social workers and support the process using age-appropriate stories with pictures. As a result, children settle quickly.

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outstanding

There is substantial evidence of significant change in the children’s development and well-being. Comprehensive care plans are tailored to meet the children’s individual needs. Children are thriving in school, have full attendance and make new friends. The manager acts in children’s best interests by advocating that children attend the right schools. Staff go above and beyond by driving one child to school to ensure stability and continuity.

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outstanding

Children are physically healthy, and staff encourage a lot of activities for them to stay fit. The emotional needs of the children are complex. However, staff are proactive and work excellently in collaboration with professionals to meet the children’s emotional and mental well-being needs. Children benefit significantly from additional support through therapeutic interventions that have improved their well-being. Additionally, the responsible individual provides children with excellent resources, such as spending time at a farm and with horses, to further enhance the therapeutic intervention.

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outstanding

Staff have built strong and trusting relationships with children, and this helps them to form positive peer relationships in the community. Staff encourage children to participate in community activities, such as running in the park, joining clubs and encouraging their interests. Staff support family time, which takes place in the community. One child has sibling time activities facilitated by staff, such as bowling. This helps to foster a sense of belonging and promotes emotional well-being. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 4

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outstanding

Safeguarding practice is highly effective. Staff have a clear understanding of the risks to the children. Risk assessments are robust and thoroughly evaluate the likelihood of increasing risk. The children, being very young, benefit significantly from therapeutic support and well-trained staff who recognise the impact of early trauma. As a result, children feel safe and make progress.

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outstanding

Staff help children to develop safer strategies when experiencing overwhelming emotions. Staff use nurturing parenting skills exceptionally well to minimise the effects of physical aggression. One child now chooses to walk away and take time alone in their bedroom until they are ready to receive comfort from staff. Staff adopt the home’s therapy team strategy of ‘connection before correction’ as a method of de-escalating difficult emotions. This works exceptionally well for the children.

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outstanding

Consequences are age appropriate and used in a way that children understand. Staff work extremely sensitively with children to help them cope and reduce aggression to others and to staff. The use of nurture, natural consequences and rewards is having a resounding influence on the children’s behaviour.

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outstanding

Children know how to make a complaint. The manager and responsible individual treat all complaints and allegations seriously. Staff and children are debriefed after incidents occur. Allegations and complaints are swiftly addressed, and investigations are completed in accordance with safeguarding procedures. Staff performance issues are dealt with speedily to ensure safety. This highly effective approach to safeguarding means that children have a strong sense of safety and an assurance that staff believe them.

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outstanding

Children are held and guided for their safety and the safety of others. Leaders and managers have a comprehensive monitoring system for every occasion a child is held. This keeps the children safe. However, the manager’s written evaluation of incidents does not fully represent the excellent quality of their analysis and oversight.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A detailed and comprehensive handover of management responsibilities has occurred between the outgoing registered manager and the new acting manager. This has led to a seamless transition for leadership for the team and children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager demonstrates inspirational leadership, showing influential confidence and a strong ambition for the children’s success and well-being. Through their influence, they have driven meaningful improvements not only in the lives of the children but also in staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers consistently generate creative ideas to ensure the highest standards of care for children. Staff say they are well managed and supported and Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 5 the manager leads by example. This strong leadership creates a positive culture of accountability and child-centred practice throughout the team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the team’s strengths and has innovative ideas to sustain the highest quality of care for the children. The manager designed a children’s wishes and feelings development plan that tracks the children’s important requests and views. This ensures that children remain at the centre of staff practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Professionals speak highly about staff’s commitment to meeting the needs of the children, and they say staff go above and beyond. The manager places a lot of confidence in the level of scrutiny from professionals and the independent visitor, which helps her to monitor the home effectively.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is keen to develop leadership potential. Staff are given additional responsibilities, overseeing specific areas of the home. This distribution of leadership strengthens the team’s overall performance and skills that benefit the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are motivated and actively engage in further training opportunities. The managing conflict course was introduced following staff feedback and management of allegations. The course helps staff to reflect on their behaviours and improve communication, leading to noticeable positive changes. Furthermore, the responsible individual recognises the emotional demands of the work staff do with children and has extended equine therapy resources to staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The focus on staff’s well-being results in supervision being a safe space that empowers staff development and well-being. New staff benefit from a comprehensive induction programme that includes fortnightly supervision. However, this frequency of supervision has not been for all new starters. Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that new staff receive timely supervision in accordance with the induction process. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  The registered person should ensure that the written management evaluation of physical intervention includes their views whether the method of intervention is proportionate. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 49, paragraph 9.55)

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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: 2680042 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite 12 Evolution Business Centre, Unit 6, County Business Park, Darlington Road, Northallerton DL6 2NQ

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Inspector

Tenji Wesa, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2680042 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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