Children's home run by Area Camden Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 1 Registered provider: Area Camden Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home registered with Ofsted in March 2019 and is privately run. It provides care for up to five children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2020 and is suitably qualified.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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 outstanding

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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: 2506101 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

07/05/2024 Full Good 22/08/2023 Full Good 28/02/2023 Full Good 16/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children settle well into the home. Staff understand children’s starting points and their individual needs and interests. They make and sustain meaningful relationships with children in the home that are warm and nurturing. As a result, children feel safe and well cared for.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to build positive relationships with each other. Children are supported to manage difficult life experiences and to develop coping strategies and build resilience, which enhances their growth and development.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have a strong voice at this home. Their views on and wishes about all aspects of their lives are heard. Children are actively encouraged to help prepare their care plans, as well as to set their goals and targets. Children choose their preferred activities and meals that they enjoy. Staff celebrate children’s individual successes, no matter how small.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff take effective action when children are not in school. They talk with education professionals and provide children with meaningful educational activities at home. Feedback from education professionals is positive about the support provided to children to help them return to formal education. The registered manager advocates strongly on the children’s behalf to ensure that they are given the same opportunities and support as other children. Staff understand children’s barriers to attending formal education and talk to children in an understanding manner about their worries and wishes. Some children now have plans to return to college, and they talk positively about what they want to do in the future.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s health needs are met well. Children attend all their routine health appointments. Specialists’ help and support are sought when necessary. Staff work closely with healthcare professionals to ensure that children receive appropriate support, including those with complex health needs. Staff manage children’s medication well and help children to understand their medication.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home’s physical environment is safe for children. It is homely, clean, tidy, well maintained and is currently being redecorated. Children’s bedrooms and communal spaces are well furnished, personalised and comfortable. There are no health and safety concerns.

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

Children said that they feel safe. They can identify a trusted person to talk to if they have concerns. The stable and consistent home environment, together with the warmth and confidence of the staff, helps children to feel safe and secure. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 4 Staff provide a well-coordinated response when children are missing from home. Staff understand the risks when children are missing and have a good understanding of the missing-from-home protocol. The manager and staff work effectively with other professionals when children are missing from home and ensure that children receive independent return home interviews from their placing authorities on return. Staff speak to children about risks when missing, and children engage well. Incidents of children going missing from the home have significantly decreased.

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

Staff understand and manage children’s risks well. Staff manage challenging situations or behaviour well and show appropriate understanding of children’s needs and triggers. Children receive appropriate help and support to manage their behaviour and feelings. Positive behaviour is encouraged through constructive reinforcement and praise, which children respond to appropriately. Children’s views are actively sought and explored, and safety plans are amended if needed. This has resulted in a reduction in incidents and provides children with positive experiences of care.

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

Children are helped to understand risks through individual key-work sessions. They engage well with staff and talk about what is happening in their lives. Key-work sessions take place regularly and focus on children’s individual needs, and these are in line with their plans. Children said that these sessions are beneficial to them.

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

Staff have a good understanding of whistle-blowing policies and procedures. They have completed relevant training, including on the safeguarding of vulnerable children. Allegations or suspicion of harm are dealt with immediately and shared with the relevant agencies. This enhances children’s safety in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led and managed by a committed and experienced registered manager. The manager and staff know the children very well and hold high aspirations for them. They understand the children’s backgrounds and respond well to promote positive outcomes for children, recognising their individual needs. Feedback from children, professionals and a parent about the effectiveness of leaders, managers and staff is overwhelmingly positive. The registered manager is dedicated, passionate and advocates endlessly to ensure that children lead positive and fulfilling lives.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The culture of the home is characterised by high expectations. Leaders and managers work proactively with other professionals and build positive relationships with children’s networks. Professionals receive regular updates on the progress and experiences of children. Leaders and managers make child-centred decisions about children coming to live at the home and the arrangements for their future. They request regular network meetings for individual children where concerns are raised about the stability of the placement to ensure that children do not move homes unnecessarily. Managers stand by children regardless of their complex needs, and this provides stability and consistency to children. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 5 Staff said that they feel well supported by leaders and managers. They are suitably qualified and receive regular relevant training and development opportunities. Staff

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

benefit from regular supervision. Supervision sessions are reflective, offer staff support and guidance, and consider the needs and progress of children. However, some supervision records for agency staff do not demonstrate that they receive the same quality of supervision.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff understand their roles and responsibilities. Team meetings demonstrate that staff are able to reflect on practice and the needs of children. Leaders and managers have embedded a trauma-based theory as a model of working with children. There is an external therapist who supports staff to understand children’s past trauma and how this impacts children’s behaviour. Research-informed practice is explored and discussed at team meetings to ensure that there is a strong and confident practice base within the staff team. Staff say that training has been beneficial to them and has helped them to understand children’s needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have effective monitoring systems in place to review the quality of care provided to children. They show an exceptional understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. There is meaningful management oversight of records, which are regularly reviewed. Internal and external monitoring systems are used to review the home’s progress, and managers respond well to feedback from others. Leaders and managers have a plan to ensure that vacancies are filled to reduce the use of agency staff.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 6

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that all staff supervision records provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33 (4)(b). This specifically relates to the quality of agency staff supervision. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.3)

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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: 2506101 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Area Camden Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Polaris, Malvern View, Hanbury Road, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 4AD

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Monet St. Rose-Johnson

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Inspectors

Dorothy Thompstone, Social Care Inspector Andrea Ulett, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2506101 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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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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Inspectors

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