Children's home run by Gracewells Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 1 Registered provider: Gracewells Care 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 operated by a private provider and is registered to provide care for 2 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since May 2023.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, one child was living in the home. Due to the child being significantly unsettled during the inspection, part of the visit was conducted off site.

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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: 17 September 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: 2725367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

17/09/2024 Full Good 15/11/2023 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the last inspection, one child has remained living in the home, and another child has moved on to live independently. The child who moved out did so in a well-planned way. They received additional support on an outreach basis following their move. This supported their long-term attendance at a specialist college placement. The child continues to have strong links with staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The child currently living in the home has been supported in accessing alternative education provision after being out of education for a significant period. The manager and staff are working closely with teachers to ensure the child’s needs are met. The child is building their literacy and numeracy skills and has had opportunities to build new friendships. This has improved their confidence and self-esteem.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is warm and comfortable, with any repairs completed swiftly when required. Children can personalise their bedrooms.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s views are gathered on a weekly basis, including what activities they want to experience. As a result, children have enjoyed a variety of activities, such as going to the gym, ice skating and visiting museums. Children are encouraged to access sports clubs in the community. Images of children taking part in activities are recorded in personalised memory books.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s time with family and friends is prioritised. Children can go on holidays, and the manager has worked in partnership with social workers to help one child go abroad with a family member. This has supported children to enhance their life story.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s cultures are celebrated. For example, one child has been able to attend food festivals and access specialised hairdressers. Children are also supported to access places of worship, which helps them to maintain their identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children’s physical and emotional health needs are recognised, and they are encouraged to attend health appointments. The provider has commissioned a therapist to work with staff to empower them to use research-informed practice.

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

Staff safeguard children. They access detailed risk assessments that are updated regularly. These assessments are developed with involvement from children, placing authorities and partner agencies. This ensures that plans meet children’s needs effectively.

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

Physical intervention is a last resort. Children and staff receive support from managers after incidents to reflect on what has happened. Managers evaluate incidents and Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 4 update children’s behaviour support plans. This helps staff apply de-escalation techniques that are in line with children’s needs. This has supported a reduction in children needing to be held.

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

Children benefit from the use of restorative approaches to incidents. This allows children to repair relationships with staff and understand the reasons why rules and boundaries are in place.

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

Children contribute to their care plans and benefit from strength-based, child-centred key-work sessions. These sessions help children to discuss the challenges they face. In response to this, staff receive training specific to the needs of the children. This training includes adverse childhood experiences, bereavement and building safe and secure relationships.

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

Incidents of children going missing are rare and time-limited. When children go missing, staff respond promptly, only seeking police support where necessary.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is committed and experienced and leads by example. Staff feel supported and valued by the leadership team.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Professionals speak constructively about the manager’s communication. One social worker said that she had been appropriately challenged by the manager to ensure that a child’s move into independence was paused to support the child’s emotional wellbeing.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager oversees practice effectively. This includes regular audits, chronologies and feedback from the independent person. She actively seeks feedback and uses this to improve practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team benefits from a blend of gender, skills and experience. Agency staff have not been used, and staff are committed to supporting one another. As a result, children benefit from consistent care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

All staff have access to regular supervision, which is reflective. However, there have been isolated instances where minutes had not been fully recorded.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff also have access to regular appraisals that support their professional development. Staff are encouraged to develop individually, and they are helped to secure professional qualifications linked to their role. However, appraisals do not include feedback from children and professionals. The manager recognises this as an area of ongoing development. Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 5

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Recommendations

 All staff must have their performance and fitness to carry out their role formally appraised at least once annually. This appraisal should take into account, where reasonable and practical, the views of other professionals who have worked with the staff member over the year and children in the home’s care. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 61, paragraph 13.5)  A record of supervision should be kept for staff, including the manager. The record should provide evidence that supervision is being delivered in line with regulation 33. (‘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: 2725367 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Gracewells Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: The Stables, Blackburn Farm, Ribby Road, Wrea Green, Preston PR4 2PA

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Inspector

Jon Dutton, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 2725367 7 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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