Children's home run by Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited in Thanet

Inspection report for children’s home: SC023736 1 SC023736 Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist 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

The home is owned by a private organisation. The home is registered to provide care for up to 3 children who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Three children were living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since March 2021.

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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

Date of last inspection: 2 December 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: SC023736 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/12/2024 Full Good 07/02/2024 Full Good 09/01/2023 Full Good 21/02/2022 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: SC023736 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are settled and enjoy living at the home. They have trusted and secure relationships with staff, who understand their individual needs and strengths. The positive relationships between children and staff help the children to feel emotionally safe and secure.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Moves into the home are carefully planned. Each child has a personalised display area outside their bedroom, reflecting family, interests and cultural identity. This helps the children to develop a sense of belonging and feel that this is their home, from the day that they arrive. One child still has a welcome banner on his bedroom door from his first day, 3 years ago. The home environment is warm and welcoming and is enhanced by the abundance of thoughtful photos of children, their families and staff. The manager uses these images to help to reflect and celebrate the children’s progress and journeys from their starting points.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support the children to engage in education and to make good progress. This has enabled children who have previously been out of education to re-engage. One child is at college, working towards gaining employment skills and aspiring to work with animals. One child is not in education or training and staff are now supporting the child to seek employment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children in the home have a number of different health needs. When appropriate to do so, children are supported to manage their medication independently, in preparation for their move to independence. Children are encouraged to build healthy lifestyles and are supported to engage in heathy habits. These include engaging in exercise and attending the gym. One child has lost a significant amount of weight since living in the home and has improved their health and mobility dramatically. They speak with great pride about the progress that they have made. The child credits staff in supporting them to achieve their goals and said, ‘I don’t know how I would be able to thank [member of staff] for everything he has done to help and support me.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of early childhood trauma and the impact that this can have on children. They understand the complex dynamics of children and their families, and children are supported well to spend regular time with family members. Staff work diligently to make sure that these arrangements go well, travelling with the children and supervising family time when needed.

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

Staff understand risk well and are alert to complex safeguarding concerns for children, including substance abuse, self-harm, sexualised activity and intimate relationships. Staff remain alert to contextual safeguarding concerns, such as county lines. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023736 4 Educational and informed one-to-one sessions and children’s meetings are used to explore areas of vulnerability with children. These sessions help the children to understand risks and how to keep themselves and others safe. Children’s positive relationships with staff are reflected in these sessions.

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

Children are able to speak openly with staff in relation to their substance use and sexual health. Staff seek support from external specialist provision to help to support children when they use drugs and alcohol. An additional layer of support is provided by the organisation’s health promotions worker, who meets with children regularly.

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

Levels of restraint in the home are low. When restraint is required, it is a reasonable and proportionate response to the behaviours displayed and the risks for children and staff. Managers take time to explore incidents with children and staff.

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

Children rarely go missing from the home. There have been two incidents, both of which were managed well. Staff know the correct process to follow and work with police, parents and social workers to locate and support the children’s return to the home. Children are supported to talk to independent people about their episodes of going missing from the home.

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

Managers take great care to ensure that the home provides a warm and welcoming environment for children. The space is well organised, offering areas for social interaction, as well as quiet time with staff or independently. Children show pride in their home and support new children to the home by explaining the expectations around respecting the home, staff and each other.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The home is led by an experienced and well-established manager whose practice is grounded in achieving the best outcomes for children. The registered manager was not available during the first day of inspection. Therefore, the senior residential support worker, supported by the area manager, stepped in seamlessly, evidencing how well leaders and managers work together.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers and staff have a detailed knowledge of the children’s individual histories and how these impact on their current experiences. Managers are insightful about what support children need and they are committed to providing high-quality care that will lead to the best possible outcomes. When there are difficulties in accessing the support that children need, there is evidence of strong advocacy and professional challenge, ensuring that children’s rights are upheld and that their entitlements are met.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Children benefit from a stable and consistent staff team. The meaningful relationships between children and staff are a strength of the home and contribute to the progress that children are making. Managers have high expectations of the staff, with the aim of continually improving practice and making a meaningful difference to children’s lives. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023736 5 Managers maintain highly effective working relationships with external professionals and partner agencies. Social workers are promptly informed of incidents, with relevant and appropriate information-sharing. Professionals speak highly of the managers and staff. One social worker said, ‘The support offered by [the home] to the young person that I am supporting has been exceptional.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Managers demonstrate an ongoing commitment to staff development, with continuous upskilling embedded in practice through effective supervision and creative team meetings. Staff feel valued and supported in their roles. Comprehensive training ensures that staff have a strong understanding of children’s individual needs, including specialist training in adrenaline auto-injectors and responding to self-harm, resulting in confident and highly skilled care. Inspection report for children’s home: SC023736 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 for children’s home: SC023736 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ethelbert Specialist Homes Limited, 17 Leigh Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT12 5EU

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Leslie Davenport

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Elizabeth Wynne-Franklin

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Inspector

Gemma Bullen, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC023736 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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