Children's Home run by Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2819379 1 Registered provider: Residential Childcare Community (Town Hall) 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 company. It provides care for up to four children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The home is managed effectively by an experienced registered manager.

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Information about this children’s home

This is the first time the home has been inspected since it re-registered as a new limited company.

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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: not previously inspected

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 2819379 2

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive consistent, high-quality care from a team of staff who are child-focused and ambitious for children. Staff work hard to build and sustain trusting relationships with children and provide effective support that meets their individual needs. As a result, children are making exceptional progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

When children move into and out of the home, this is carefully planned and well managed. Recently, three children have successfully moved on to semi-independence, with staff providing emotional and practical support.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Following one child’s move to the home in an emergency, the registered manager quickly recognised that the child was displaying behaviours that had not been effectively shared in the referral process. By listening to the child’s wishes and feelings, the registered manager advocated for the child to move to a smaller provision. All relevant information was shared with the child’s new home, with the registered manager also attending a team meeting to provide a detailed overview of the child’s needs. Staff also maintained contact with the staff in the new home to provide continuity of care for the child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff place a strong emphasis on learning and celebrate children’s achievements. All children have access to education that is suited to their individual needs. When barriers to learning are identified, staff work closely with education professionals to ensure that children remain motivated and supported. Staff have been creative and consistent in their approach to overcoming challenges, which has helped children to make sustained progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from a wide range of activities that promote their interests and social development. Opportunities include attending football training, health and beauty appointments as well as holidays abroad. Staff are proactive in supporting children to pursue their individual hobbies. One child attends horse riding lessons and has taken part in equestrian competitions.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand children and adapt their approach to their individual needs. For one child who moved to the home with poor dental hygiene, there has been considerable progress in their oral health within a short period. Staff provide sensitive support that builds children’s confidence in meeting their hygiene needs. Improvements are clearly evidenced, with the child engaging more regularly in brushing their teeth and attending dental appointments.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff understand the importance of children maintaining relationships with their families and friends. Staff nurture these connections and children’s family are welcomed to the home when this is in the child’s best interests. Staff support children when they face challenges in their relationships and advocate on their behalf when they wish to seek changes in their family time arrangements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819379 3

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

Staff work hard to understand children’s individual needs and vulnerabilities. The registered manager has developed high-quality risk assessments, which are dynamic and are reflective of children’s developing needs. Staff consistently follow clear action plans that inform their practice and have supported a significant reduction in children’s risk- taking behaviours.

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

Staff rarely use consequences to influence children’s behaviours. There is significant focus on educating children around risk and promoting their well-being in these areas. Staff provide incentives to encourage positive behaviour in line with the home’s model of practice.

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

Staff have an exceptional understanding of children’s health needs and have been educated around a specific health need for one child living in the home. The registered manager has completed his own research and has sought guidance and advice from medical professionals to ensure that staff fully understand how to respond to any symptoms of concern. The registered manager has developed detailed guidance packs for staff and ensured that appropriate medical supplies were readily available in the home, in the car, and for the child when out in the community to support their well- being.

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

Staff are skilled in using de-escalation strategies, which has significantly reduced the need for children to be physically restrained. When incidents have occurred, children are only held as a last resort to ensure that they remain safe. Staff’s responses to these incidents have been reflected on to support further learning. Staff work hard to maintain positive relationships with children and develop their understanding of safety and well- being. As a result, the number of incidents has continued to decrease.

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

Incidents of children being missing from the home are rare. This can be attributed to the positive relationships staff have developed with those children whom they can identify as potentially facing negative influences. Staff respond quickly to changes in children’s behaviour, offering them reassurance and providing them with space or specific support as they require. On rare occasions when children have been reported missing, staff have responded in a timely manner, in line with agreed procedures to support children’s safe return to the home.

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

For those children who have moved out of the home, there has been consistent and detailed work around independence, to ensure that they are fully equipped as they move on into adulthood.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced, committed registered manager, who has high aspirations for children and staff. He is supported by an equally dedicated deputy manager, who shares his motivation to achieve outstanding outcomes for children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819379 4 Staff consistently express high levels of satisfaction with their roles in the home and the support provided by management. The registered manager places strong emphasis on the timely and thorough communication of information to the team. This proactive approach ensures that emerging needs of the children are clearly understood, enabling staff to respond in a consistent and informed manner. One team member commented, ‘The communication between staff and management is exceptional.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

A key area of strength in the home is the focus by the registered manager on continuous staff development. The registered manager utilises regular team meetings to provide detailed updates on children’s needs. These sessions use research-based models to review any significant incidents collectively with the staff team. This collaborative approach encourages staff reflection that recognises both positive practice as well as identifying areas for development.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is meticulous in his management oversight and completes regular, detailed quality assurance. This evaluative approach has supported him to identify patterns of behaviour for children, as well as any areas for staff development. The registered manager reflects on incidents to ensure that there is a consistent approach and does acknowledge when staff support has made a positive impact on children’s behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff receive regular high-quality supervision sessions from the registered manager or a senior staff member. Staff are encouraged to discuss and review progress made in their professional development and identify any areas of required support. The registered manager appropriately challenges staff where potential areas for improvement are identified. Staff are supported with detailed development plans that are regularly reviewed to ensure that there is effective, measurable progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is also a registered at another of the provider’s homes. However, staff and children confirm that he is very present in the home and that he works hard to provide children with regular opportunities to share their views on a one-to-one basis. Children are confident that the registered manager will listen to their opinions and is proactive in sharing these with professionals, ensuring that these are heard.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has developed highly effective links with external professionals that promotes a multi-agency response in supporting children. Professionals are highly positive regarding the quality of care children receive in the home. A professional said, ‘I could not think of a more exemplary setting for one of our children.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were made at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2819379 5

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Information about this inspection

The inspector has 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: 2819379 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Residential Child Care Community (Town Hall) Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 843 Finchley Road, London NW11 8NA

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Inspector

Carrie Mayes, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2819379 7 regulates 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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