Children's home run by Silver Birch Care (Residential Services) Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2808976 1 Registered provider: Silver Birch Care (Residential Services) Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is privately operated and provides care for one child who experiences social and emotional difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home and the manager registered with Ofsted in April 2025.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: not previously inspected

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable Inspection report for children’s home: 2808976 2

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a warm, homely and welcoming atmosphere. The strength of this home is the positive relationships developed between the child and the staff. Staff provide nurturing and compassionate care.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child receives individualised care, as reflected in the home’s care plan, and is helped to make progress. Staff have a good understanding of the child’s lived experience, demonstrating playfulness, acceptance, curiosity and empathy, which are the principles of the home’s therapeutic approach. As only one child lives at the home, staff can give more focused attention, ensuring that their interactions are consistent, meaningful and tailored to the child’s needs.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff are attuned to the child’s moods and behaviours and adjust their approach with sensitivity and empathy. This has enabled the child to build strong relationships with staff, contributing to their sense of stability and trust.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The positive relationships the child has developed have helped them feel able to attend to their health needs. For example, the child now feels supported in attending health appointments, such as dental check-ups, which they previously struggled to do.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child leads a fun and busy life. They enjoy various activities and trips, such as gaming, baking, ice skating, bike riding, visits to a puppy cafe, spa days and holidays.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s achievements are celebrated. Staff praise small steps in progress, which reinforces the child’s self-esteem. Staff take care to document activities with photos and videos, collating the child’s activities and celebrations. These are also used to encourage further discussion with the child in line with their care plan. While there are good examples of these discussions recorded using objective child-friendly language, this is not consistent.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is encouraged to express their views at regular house meetings and to plan their weekly activities and meal choices alongside staff. Observations and discussions with the child indicate that they feel able to express their opinions freely. Staff listen respectfully to their views and negotiate effectively to meet their requests.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child’s records, plans and risk assessments are comprehensive. There are some good examples of the child’s voice being recorded; however, this is not yet consistent across all documentation. This limits the ability to fully evidence the child’s participation in decisions that affect them.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child is not in formal education but receives home tuition. Staff are proactive and committed to supporting the child’s learning. Staff work diligently to identify educational resources and activities in the home to support the child alongside their education Inspection report for children’s home: 2808976 3 plans. They create a positive learning environment in the home and help the child participate with their education at a pace that suits their needs. Plans are in place to support a gradual transition back into school when appropriate, proactively led by the home’s manager.

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a modern, well-decorated and well-furnished environment. It is bright, clean, and maintained to a high standard throughout. The child has a large, comfortable bedroom that is tidy and personalised according to their tastes.

p.3

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

Staff are aware of the child’s vulnerabilities and know how to keep them safe. Staff listen to the child and know them well. Staff are attuned to the child’s behaviours and intervene sensitively when they are anxious or concerned. This helps reduce their worries, resulting in fewer behavioural incidents.

p.3

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

Written risk assessments and positive behaviour support plans are thorough, and they help keep the child safe. Safety plans and risk assessments are robust and regularly reviewed in line with any newly identified risks.

p.3

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

Incidents are managed well. Effective and appropriate action is taken in response to incidents. Staff are appropriately trained in de-escalation techniques.

p.3

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

The use of physical intervention is rare at the home. When it is used, the hold is minimal, appropriate and safe. Following incidents, sensitive and reflective discussions take place to address concerns with the child.

p.3

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

Incentives and rewards are effective in promoting positive behaviours. The use of consequences is restorative, assisting the child in reflecting on their behaviour, communicating with the staff, and learning from their mistakes.

p.3

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

Staff consult the in-house psychologist. This enhances staff’s understanding of children’s triggers for certain behaviours and supports them with implementing strategies to manage situations and prevent escalation.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The leadership and the management of the home are exceptional. The registered manager demonstrates dedication and commitment to achieving the best outcomes for the child. Despite overseeing two homes, the manager maintains a strong and visible presence, ensuring that the home is run with consistent values, high expectations and a clear focus on the child’s needs.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff feedback is overwhelmingly positive. One staff member said of the registered manager, ‘Our manager is a real inspiration. She shares her knowledge, supports us, and encourages us to grow in our careers. She always takes the time to give us the information and guidance we need.’ Inspection report for children’s home: 2808976 4 Staff are highly motivated and enjoy working at the home. The registered manager has created a culture of trust and pride in the team. Staff are confident in their roles and supported in their development. Staff say they feel valued by their managers and the wider organisation.

p.3

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager spends time developing staff practice and building a cohesive and resilient team. Staff receive regular supervision from the management team, which is meaningful and focused, not only on performance but also on staff development and resilience. The use of reflective practice theory during supervision sessions enables staff to reflect critically on their practice and take ownership of their learning.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager knows the child exceptionally well and maintains close oversight of their care and progress. Monitoring systems are robust and used effectively to identify strengths and address any emerging concerns. Decisions are informed by consistent reflective practice and analysis, which contributes to the child’s progress and well-being.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager advocates effectively on behalf of the child and works collaboratively with other professionals. Daily practice clearly reflects the home’s statement of purpose, and the manager ensures that staff consistently uphold the home’s values in their work.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers regularly review the quality of care provided to children with independent and internal monitoring, which supports them in identifying and continuing improvements. Inspection report for children’s home: 2808976 5

p.4

Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff regularly encourage children to contribute to their records in a way that reflects their voice. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.19)  The registered person should ensure that staff understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Staff should record information about individual children in a non-stigmatising way, using child-friendly language that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

p.5

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: 2808976 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Silver Birch Care (Residential Services) Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: SBCH House, 212 Ballards Lane, London N3 2LX

p.6

Inspector

Amanda Burrows, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2808976 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7