Children's home run by Kennet Care Limited

Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 1 Registered provider: Kennet Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is operated by a private provider. It offers care for up to 3 children between the ages of 8 and 17 who may experience social and emotional difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of this inspection, one child was living at the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered 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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

18/03/2025 Full Good 31/01/2024 Full Good 27/03/2023 Full Good 05/07/2021 Full Good Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional progress while living at the home. Staff provide natural, warm and nurturing relationships, which helps children flourish. The child currently living at the home says that he wants to stay until he is an adult and that he does not want to live anywhere else. The child who moved on from living at the home also expressed a desire to stay due to his progress and the relationships he has formed with the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child is helped to feel that he is part of a family in the home. The child and his needs are at the centre of the welcoming and homely environment. The child’s stuffed toys, jigsaws and other important belongings give a real sense that this is his home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child’s views are central to everything that happens in the home. Staff seek his views on planning the day, how he feels about different staff (and how they can support him with those he struggles with), what activities he would like to do, the food on the menu and how he would like to be settled at night, among other important topics. The child’s plans include his views throughout, and staff are skilled in advocating for the child in the wider professional group.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The child attends education and is making progress. When there have been barriers to his learning or ability to leave the home, staff have worked tirelessly with education providers to ensure that necessary adjustments are made. The excellent communication with education staff has helped reduce the child’s anxiety and help him to engage with greater consistency. The child also enjoys a range of activities, including trips to farms and theme parks, which would have been difficult for him previously.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff understand the importance of the child seeing his family and how this helps him understand his culture and identity. They work closely with those important to the child to ensure that family time is a rewarding experience for everyone present. Staff are skilled in helping the adults in the child’s family understand his needs to make sure that he does not become distressed when they get together. The child also enjoys online gaming sessions with some of his siblings, monitored by the staff.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff help the child understand his emotional wellbeing and physical health. They support him in understanding what his medications are for and the impact that they will have. The staff in the home link with the organisation’s therapist to provide therapeutic parenting sessions and to help the child explore and understand his life story and family history. Since living at the home, staff have helped the child overcome his anxieties around routine medical checks and procedures. He is continuing to learn about healthy lifestyles, including diet and exercise and what these mean for him. Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 4

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

The child’s actions and his comments to staff show that he feels safe with them. Staff understand the child’s vulnerabilities and his responses when he is upset and distressed, and they work tirelessly to help him feel safe and settled.

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

The ethos and approach in the home help staff understand that the child’s behaviours are a form of communication. Staff use agreed approaches to ensure that there is consistency in helping him calm but also in helping him reflect when he is no longer anxious or distressed. Monitoring and evaluation of incidents support staff in constantly developing their approaches, which has led to a reduction in the child’s behaviours of distress.

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

The staff are thoughtful and caring in their approach. They help the child feel safe and better able to express how he is feeling. Staff help the child understand troubling emotions, such as after the loss of his pet fish, through which he was supported with a ceremony and burial in the garden.

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

Staff work closely with the professional network. Consequently, any behaviours of concern or safeguarding issues are shared swiftly, and the child is protected.

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

Safer recruitment practices are followed, including robust checks of agency staff. This means that only staff members with suitable skills and qualities work at the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and management team are highly ambitious and aspirational for any child who lives at the home. They lead by example, supporting children and staff and making sure that the ethos of the home is continuously upheld.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff work cohesively as a team with a shared aim of providing highly effective care and safeguarding, helping children to make progress and positive memories during their time at the home. Staff receive regular supervision as well as ad hoc support from the members of the management team, whom they know they can approach at any time.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are constantly looking for ways to improve practice, consider new approaches and understand how to develop their skills and those of the staff, particularly from a therapeutic perspective.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Joint working with the team around the child is a particular strength. Regular meetings mean that the child’s needs are consistently reviewed and understood, and plans are made to ensure that he continues to succeed. The registered manager and wider management team champion the child’s rights and ensure that he is getting the services he deserves. They have formed strong professional working relationships with the child’s professional network. They have created a ‘no blame’ culture, while challenging decisions they feel are not in the child’s best interests. Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 5 When a child moved on from the home, staff were vociferous in ensuring that his views about his upcoming move were known. This included supporting him in raising complaints when required, liaising with an advocate and sharing his worries and concerns with the Children’s Commissioner.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

No requirements or recommendations were raised at this inspection. Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 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: 1185488 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kennet Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Goringe Accountants Waterside, 1650 Arlington Business Park, Theale, Berkshire RG7 4SA

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Dennis Austin-Visser

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Lauren Follett-Smith

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Inspector

Jennie Christopher, Social Care Regulatory Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: 1185488 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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