Children's home run by Swan Children’s Homes

Inspection report children's home: 2591822 1 Registered provider: Swan Children's Homes Limited

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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 owned and managed by a private organisation and provides care for up to four disabled children.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager with Ofsted in June 2023

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Date of last inspection: 17 December 2024

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children's home: 2591822 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/12/2024 Full Outstanding 22/08/2023 Full Good 08/06/2022 Full Good 23/11/2021 Full Good Inspection report children's home: 2591822 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

There were 4 children living at the home at the time of this inspection. The inspector saw all the children and spent time with 3 of them. Since the last inspection, 3 children have moved into the home, and the children have moved out in planned ways.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children have exceptionally well-planned transitions in and out of the home. Staff create bespoke plans to help children settle into the home and successfully move out of the home. This has greatly contributed to the success of children’s time at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Managers and staff fully understand the importance of routine and structure for children. As soon as children move to the home, staff actively seek education providers. This has provided them with suitable educational opportunities. Children’s educational attendance significantly increased when they came to live at the home. The staff take an interest in the children’s education. All children have made exceptional progress from their starting points, particularly with their education and social skills.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have responded swiftly to children’s requests. They have sought clubs and experiences that children enjoy. These include football club, scouts, parties and play dates with friends. For many of the children, these new experiences have helped develop their confidence and self-worth. Staff create memory books for children filled with reminders of special times and achievements at the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

For most of the children, this is their first time living in a children’s home. Staff understand children’s past experiences. They speak lovingly about the children. The staff take their roles in children’s lives very seriously. Staff are unquestionably committed to helping children achieve their potential.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children develop highly trusting relationships with staff. Caring relationships between staff and children provide children with a strong and secure foundation. Parents and professionals collectively said that the care children receive is excellent and that children have made significant progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff travel significant distances with children to ensure that they spend meaningful time with family, allowing them to maintain important family relationships.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff have created a warm and welcoming home that provides a family feel. Children enjoy a pleasant home with spacious communal rooms, sensory areas and highly personalised bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The specialist therapeutic team offers training to staff and carries out assessments with children to inform care planning. Children also benefit from one-to-one therapy sessions. This allows for more personalised care that suits children’s requirements and enables their progress. This informed approach is helping children to thrive. Inspection report children's home: 2591822 4

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

Children feel safe and supported. They are safer because of the care they receive. Staff have completed safeguarding training and have a strong understanding of safeguarding procedures and whistle-blowing. They know how to follow these procedures if necessary.

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

Professionals and parents are extremely positive about the safeguarding practices at the home. They spoke with enthusiasm about how well the staff know the children and understand their needs which, in turn, contributes to their safety.

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

Staff have a comprehensive understanding of working therapeutically with children. This has helped children to make positive changes to their daily routines and behaviours. Incidents are notably less frequent and less severe.

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

Allegations against staff are managed well. There have been no complaints or missing- from-home incidents since the last inspection.

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

The staff’s understanding and awareness of children have significantly contributed to there being no need for any physical interventions since the last inspection. Staff have training on appropriate restraint techniques. They are highly skilled in de-escalation strategies to respond to children’s anxieties.

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

Staff and managers support children to understand their behaviour through key-work sessions. The staff have an excellent approach to reinforcing positive behaviour. When incidents occur, staff use positive reinforcement rather than consequences to correct behaviour.

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

Staff are assisted by strong, detailed assessments and plans. These cover a range of topics, including children’s daily routines, managing behaviour and other key areas. They are highly effective and help staff to know the children well and to identify their triggers and vulnerabilities. Staff review the plans consistently and follow strategies that help to keep children safe. Staff understand the children’s vulnerabilities and their potential and allow them to take balanced risks.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is moving into the role of responsible individual of the home. A new manager has been appointed from within the organisation and has applied to register with Ofsted. The leadership team is exceptionally strong and knowledgeable. The new manager knows the children extremely well, she is experienced and is working towards her relevant level 5 qualification.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager leads by example. Leaders and managers motivate staff to strive for excellence. As a result, children benefit from the best care. Inspection report children's home: 2591822 5 The staff team has high aspirations and expectations to provide the best care possible for children. Leaders and managers have created an extremely reflective culture.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers have an excellent understanding of children’s journeys, along with the support that they need to achieve. As a result, staff feel confident and equipped to perform their roles exceptionally well. Staff speak highly of the management’s commitment and support. Staff benefit from regular purposeful supervision sessions and annual appraisals.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff build incredibly positive relationships with external agencies and parents. One parent said that they always feel welcome when they visited the home and they would not want their children to be anywhere else. One professional said communication is excellent.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers use highly effective systems for auditing and monitoring records. When shortfalls are identified, the manager uses this as an opportunity to implement improvements and shares these with the wider team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is innovative, creating opportunities for herself and staff to develop through regular team meetings and additional training. During some staff meetings, workshops take place. These workshops and additional training have developed the staff’s understanding and knowledge and enhances the care they provide to the children.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations have been raised following this inspection. Inspection report children's home: 2591822 6

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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 children's home: 2591822 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Swan Children's Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 27a Green Lane, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2PX

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Inspector

Anver Rose, Social Care Inspector Inspection report children's home: 2591822 8 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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