Children's home run by Evolve Childcare Ltd

Inspection report for children’s home: 2623790 1 Registered provider: Evolve Childcare Ltd 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 provider and offers care for up to four children who experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has applied to register with Ofsted.

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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: 2623790 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/08/2024 Full Good 11/09/2023 Full Good 04/05/2022 Full Good 24/01/2022 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report for children’s home: 2623790 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported and have built trusting relationships with the staff who care for them. These secure relationships have helped children make positive progress in all aspects of their lives. Staff talk to the children about a range of sensitive issues and take time to understand the uniqueness of each child. The inspector spoke with all three children during the inspection, who commented that they enjoy living in their home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff carefully plan for the arrival of new children. They consider the thoughts and feelings of the children already living in the home. Staff are quick to allay children’s anxieties and help to ensure that they quickly feel safe and settled in their new home. Children who move out of the home are supported in having positive endings, with one child successfully returning home to live with their family. Staff expressed their pride in contributing to the child's development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff place great importance on supporting children to attend the educational provision in place to meet their needs. Staff liaise effectively with schools and virtual schools to help ensure that children have the best opportunities to succeed. This includes supporting one child in maintaining their school placement that is some distance from the home, ensuring that the child has consistency in learning and is able to maintain friendships. All three children enjoy attending their educational provision full time, attendance is high, and they are doing well.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff understand each child’s individual wishes about how they would like to spend time with their family or carers. Staff work proactively with children’s loved ones and do all they can to ensure that children have regular, meaningful and safe time with people who are important to them. This promotes children’s emotional well-being and helps them maintain and develop their sense of identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and welcoming and meets children’s needs. Children’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their likes and interests. The physical environment is maintained to a good standard. There is an abundance of photos of children enjoying fun and meaningful times displayed throughout the home.

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

Staff encourage positive behaviour and are careful not to be punitive in their approach. Clear and consistent boundaries are set by staff. Staff engage in purposeful conversations with children to understand how they can swiftly de-escalate incidents when they arise in the future. Staff help children feel secure and support them in learning how to manage their feelings safely.

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

Physical intervention has been used at times to safeguard children or others from harm. Records clearly describe the incident and the de-escalation techniques used by staff Inspection report for children’s home: 2623790 4 before the use of restraint. Staff use physical interventions proportionately and for the shortest duration possible to ensure the safety of children and staff. Managers’ oversight is effective, and they have used learning from these incidents to make improvements to practice.

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

Staff know the children’s individual vulnerabilities and have a unique understanding of the risks associated with each of them. Risk assessments are detailed and clearly outline exactly what action staff need to take to address the current risks and help keep children safe.

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

When children raise concerns about staff practice, they are listened to and taken seriously. The concerns are promptly reported to the relevant external professionals, and actions and outcomes are agreed. Investigations are thorough, and where required, staff have appropriately reported staff to the Disclosure and Barring Service to keep children safe in the future. Children are provided with feedback following the conclusion of their concerns, which helps them feel heard and protected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leaders and managers have built positive relationships with children and staff. Leaders and managers lead by example and have a clear focus on wanting to improve the lives of children they care for. They act as positive role models and help enhance the skills and knowledge of the staff team. Leaders and managers have high aspirations for children to achieve and experience positive outcomes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say they feel valued and have high levels of job satisfaction. They take pride in how they support children and the positive impact they have on their lives. Staff express confidence in the members of the leadership team, who demonstrate true concern for their well-being and work-life balance.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The leaders and managers work proactively with external agencies and have developed positive and effective relationships with other professionals. When required, managers advocate on behalf of children to ensure that their rights are upheld and their needs are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Children are regularly consulted and involved in decisions about the development of the home. Children are encouraged to suggest activities and items that they would like bought for the home that they can enjoy. For example, children expressed that they would like a trampoline and a climbing frame installed in the garden. An impressive and extensive climbing frame and large in-ground trampoline have been excellent additions to the home’s garden. This shows children’s voices are heard and respected.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

No requirements or recommendations were raised as a result of this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2623790 5

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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: 2623790 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Evolve Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Suite B, Blackdown House, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2PX

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Inspector

Gary Turney, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2623790 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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