Children's Home run by Moonreach LTD in Kent

Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 1 SC448997 Registered provider: Moonreach 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

This home is privately owned and provides care for up to two children who may experience social, emotional or mental health difficulties. At the time of this inspection, two children were living at the home. The provider operates several other homes in the local area.

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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: SC448997 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2024 Full Good 15/08/2023 Full Good 31/01/2023 Full Good 29/06/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported by dedicated and nurturing staff who provide good care. Staff say they have fun and enjoy spending time with the children. This has resulted in children who appear happy and content in the care of the staff. They have progressed in terms of their emotional well-being, confidence and maturity since living at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children lead healthy lifestyles and attend routine health appointments. Children are encouraged to pursue their hobbies and interests, such as attending castles, walks along the seafront, going to jump parks and music clubs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views, wishes and feelings are listened to. This helps to inform their day-to- day lives and children feel heard.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s families speak highly of the support staff provide for their children and for their excellent communication with them. Children are supported to maintain good- quality relationships where possible with family and friends. Families feel heard and valued, with one parent stating, ‘they respect me as a parent’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is decorated to a high standard. Children’s bedrooms are well maintained and are suited to their individual needs. Children are encouraged to keep their bedrooms well maintained and this helps to develop their life skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s education is a priority. One child who lives in the home is attending sixth form and enjoys attending after a difficult school experience prior to living in the home. The stability the staff have provided has impacted the child’s ability to engage meaningfully in her education. For another child who is not yet accessing education, staff are providing educational activities daily for him and are challenging his lack of educational placement with relevant agencies.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children who move into the home are prepared through considered plans that are made in conjunction with their families and involved professionals. Risks are carefully considered and explored. However, there is no evidence of the impact of these risks on other children in the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children move into the home after assessment has taken place, which also includes children being visited and having the opportunity to visit the home. However, for one child, essential documents supporting their placement were not available to staff, meaning that consent was not held for the child, including delegated authority. Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 4

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

Staff have a good understanding of the risks for children. Children have risk assessments that reflect the needs of the children and provide guidance on effective strategies to help manage concerns.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home, but when they do, this is managed well with procedures being adhered to. Staff follow children and try to encourage their return to the home.

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

Children rarely make allegations against staff. However, when they do, allegations are taken seriously and appropriately managed. Children are supported following an allegation being made, which helps them to feel heard and respected.

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

Children mostly have positive relationships with one another and are encouraged to take part in group activities, but also enjoy their own individual time. There is no evidence of bullying.

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

Children are rarely restrained, and careful consideration is given to the appropriateness of using restraint. De-escalation techniques are considered through risk-assessing situations. Consideration is given to whether restraint is safe to use when other risk factors are present. There is reflection and learning evident from managers about the use of restraint.

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

Staff do not always adequately safeguard children who display self-injurious behaviours, by removing objects that could be used to harm themselves. There is a lack of professional curiosity and learning to inform planning around future incidents. However, excellent relationship building has reduced self-harming behaviour for a child.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Since the last inspection, there have been several managers in post, with the current manager very recently having been appointed. The manager speaks passionately about ensuring that the children’s needs are met and has already gained an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. There is a consistent deputy manager who has provided unwavering support to the team during this time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff feel supported by the management team. Overall, supervisions are held routinely and are of good quality. Staff consistently state that the support they are provided with is a strength of the leaders and they feel listened to.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak highly of the adults working with the children. Staff are praised for their excellent communication, how well they get to know the children and their families and the effort they put into supporting the care plans for the children. Managers have shown some challenge when responses from other services are not effective. Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 5 Children’s views are gathered regularly, with adults seeking their opinions to inform their day-to-day routines. Children are encouraged to be reflective when they are spoken to following incidents.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Management oversight during periods without a manager in post has been variable. Some records have not been kept up to date, essential forms are not recorded on the system and, during a short period of crisis, there was a lack of management guidance and oversight that impacted staff’s ability to plan and manage risk.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The systems for monitoring and reviewing have not been effective due to inconsistent feedback added to documents by managers that does not evaluate or show professional curiosity to inform planning. Monitoring systems are not always used to their best potential. Independent oversight that was sought did not analyse effectively or consider significant information to provide additional oversight. Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 6

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm;

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Requirement Due date

take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(iii)(vi))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that children who display self-injurious behaviours are adequately safeguarded by removing objects that could be used to harm themselves, and ensure that professional curiosity is used to inform planning around future incidents. 19 December 2025

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Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— 19 December 2025 Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 7 use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b) (2)(h))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the manager should complete meaningful and effective monitoring that ensures recording is completed, and staff are provided with guidance to inform planning and management of risk.

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Requirement Due date

Also, the manager should ensure that their independent visitor provides oversight that considers regular feedback, is analytical and highlights areas of concern.

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

that each child’s relevant plans are followed. (Regulation 14(1) (2)(a)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that risks of all children are considered alongside each other when there is consideration of a new child moving into the home.

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Requirement Due date

Also, to ensure that any children accommodated under S20 of the Children’s Act 1989 has signed consent and delegated authority from the person with parental responsibility on file, so that it is clear within care planning what permissions have been provided for the child’s care. 19 December 2025

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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 Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 8 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: SC448997 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 4 Dane John Works, Gordon Road, Canterbury CT1 3PP

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Inspector

Faye McCarthy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC448997 10 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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