Children's Home run by Branas Isaf (Holdings) Ltd in Herefordshire

Inspection report for children’s home: 2710826 1 Registered provider: Branas Isaf (Holdings) 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 owned by a private company and is registered to provide care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager left the organisation in September 2024 and has not yet applied to cancel their registration with Ofsted. The new manager recently registered with Ofsted and is suitably qualified.

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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

Date of last inspection: 22 October 2024

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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: 2710826 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

22/10/2024 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2710826 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

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

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value children’s equality, diversity and inclusion. This creates a nurturing and inclusive living environment and helps children to share their views, wishes and feelings. One child said that they rated staff as ‘nine out of 10’. Also, staff support children to learn about their family backgrounds. For example, one child is learning a language, and another child is being helped to understand different family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff encourage children to develop their interests. One child is a member of a football team and another child attends cadets. Staff help children to take part in community activities. For example, children collected items for a food bank, and one child made cakes. Children enjoy activities with each other, such as go karting and playing board games. As a result, children are developing positive relationships with each other and within their community.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff are positive advocates for children’s education. All children are in full-time education and are making good progress. The manager and staff encourage children to take part in educational activities. For example, one child is learning to play a musical instrument, and another child is learning to swim. When children experience barriers to education, the manager works together with education professionals to address these.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to develop their independence skills. One child shared how they enjoy cooking and baking with staff. The manager is creative in developing bespoke plans for children’s independence. This enables children to spend time in areas in which they are moving to live. Consequently, children learn about their new community and develop new friendships and routines.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support children to experience positive moves into and out of the home. Since the last inspection, two children have moved out of the home, and two children have moved in. The manager is a strong advocate for children having planned moves. This ensures that children and their families understand the arrangements. One parent told the inspector the manager has supported them to understand the plans for their child.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children express pride in the personalisation of their home and bedrooms. Staff help children to create routines for keeping their bedrooms clean as part of developing their independence. The home is welcoming, and its décor is of a high standard. There is a large garden where children enjoy playing football and exploring. The manager has plans to develop a games and music room in the home and a wildflower garden. Inspection report for children’s home: 2710826 4

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

Staff are supported by the clinical team to understand children’s needs and vulnerabilities. Staff help children to understand their needs and the reasons for therapeutic support. This respectful and inclusive approach enables children to contribute to their support plans. Children have detailed plans that are regularly reviewed by the manager and provide effective guidance for staff to follow.

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

The manager is proactive in reviewing the risks to children in the community. This ensures children have individual plans to spend time safely with their friends and family members. When children experience barriers in spending time in the community, the manager arranges specialist support for children. This enables children to share their views, wishes and feelings. As a result, children become safer and learn about the risks in their community.

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

Staff nurture children’s relationships with each other. When difficulties arise in these relationships, staff help children to reflect on any unkind words or actions. This helps children to understand each other’s feelings and to respect one another. Children are involved in making decisions about their home together.

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

Staff understand how to support children when they feel unsettled. This helps children to feel safe and to share their views, wishes and feelings. Staff are trained to use safe physical interventions if needed to keep children safe. The manager provides staff and children with opportunities to reflect and discuss their experiences following incidents. This supportive approach helps children to feel listened to, and their support plans are reviewed to reflect their needs and to provide effective guidance for staff.

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

Children’s allegations and complaints are investigated effectively by the manager. This helps children to feel valued and safer living in their home. The manager and responsible individual are strong advocates for children and challenge professionals effectively. For example, concerns were raised about the response of a local authority in planning a child’s move out of the home. As a result, the child experienced a planned move.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager and staff are passionate about creating opportunities for children to achieve their ambitions. They are united in their vision to help children overcome barriers in their lives. External professionals speak positively about the quality of support that children receive and the communication by the manager and staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff speak highly of the manager’s nurturing and respectful approach. Staff receive regular supervision and value the input from the clinical team. Staff speak positively about team meetings and shared with the inspector how these help to develop reflective conversations. The manager recognises the importance of continuing to develop the skills of the new staff team. Inspection report for children’s home: 2710826 5 Leaders and managers prioritise safe recruitment and provide staff with a detailed induction programme. Staff value the comprehensive training they receive. All staff have achieved their regulatory qualification, and a new staff member has been enrolled within timescales. This ensures that children are being cared for by adults who have the skills to provide good-quality care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is meticulous in her organisation of the children’s and the home’s records. This reflects the detailed monitoring systems and good management oversight that is in place. The manager has introduced a weekly calendar for staff that records the identified tasks and appointments. As a result, staff feel confident in their roles and well supported by the manager.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are no requirements or recommendations raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2710826 6

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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: 2710826 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Branas Isaf (Holdings) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 5th Floor, Metropolitan House, 3 Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 1AG

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Inspector

Siân Heffey, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2710826 8 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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