Children's Home run by Impact For Change Ltd in Devon

Inspection report for children's home: 2549629 1 Registered provider: Impact For Change Ltd

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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 provides care for up to 3 children.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection, 2 children were living in the home. They have lived in the home for almost 2 years. The inspector spent time with both children, and they shared their views to inform the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in September 2024.

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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children's home: 2549629 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

04/03/2025 Full Good 19/02/2024 Full Good 13/12/2022 Full Good 06/09/2022 Full Inadequate Inspection report for children's home: 2549629 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children benefit from a stable and supportive environment. Managers and staff support children’s relationships with their family members, which enables the children to develop a sense of belonging. Children’s family members described feeling supported and involved in their children’s lives. This approach helps children to have a say in their care and contributes to stability in their care arrangements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children develop trusted and positive relationships with key staff members. Children take part in activities with staff, including dance routines and water-based activities, which provide enjoyment and fun. Additionally, children are supported to participate in activities outside of the home, including go-karting and school clubs, which promote their confidence and social relationships. Their achievements are celebrated.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children have developed positive daily routines. Managers work collaboratively with education services, and challenge appropriately, to ensure that children’s learning needs are understood and met. There are plans in place to support a child to reintegrate back into school and to support another child to increase their time at an education provision. When children are not in school, staff promote children’s learning in their daily care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are supported to actively participate in decisions about their lives. Staff invest time speaking to children to understand their views. A child’s placing authority social worker highlighted advocacy for the child as a strength of the home. Managers and staff place children at the centre of their practice and they use language that shows them that they are valued and loved.

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

Children develop trusting relationships with staff. This enables them to talk about the issues that impact their lives, and any concerns about their care. Staff listen to children and take their views seriously. Managers respond effectively to any concerns.

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

Staff support children to manage their feelings and to develop positive behaviours. Staff use strategies to help children to calm when they feel overwhelmed, with varying degrees of success. Detailed support plans provide clear direction to staff about strategies to help children at times of increased distress. On a few occasions, restraint has been used appropriately for one child. All incidents are recorded, reviewed and monitored effectively by the registered manager.

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

Children are supported to learn how to keep themselves safe. A child described appropriate ways to keep themselves safe online. However, individual risk assessments do not effectively address all known vulnerabilities for each child. This reduces the opportunity to review risks and help children to move forward, including when there are restrictions in place in relation to kitchen knives and mobile phone use. Inspection report for children's home: 2549629 4 Investigations into allegations are completed promptly. Children are seen and heard, and the outcome is communicated to them. However, records of the actions taken are not always clear. The manager described learning from these events to strengthen responses in the future.

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

Recruitment procedures in place at the home reduce the likelihood of unsuitable people working in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is managed effectively by a suitably experienced and qualified registered manager who holds a level 5 diploma in leadership and management. Leaders and managers are committed to improving the outcomes for each child and a strong child- centred ethos is embedded across practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staffing arrangements in the home are stable. Staff described a positive and supportive environment. The registered manager promotes learning in the home and ensures staff achieve qualifications within the time frame set out in regulation. Staff benefit from training that supports them to develop their knowledge and skills to meet children’s specific needs.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Managers understand the quality of care provided to children and the positive impact that living in the home has for each child. However, strategies to help children to manage and reduce some specific areas of risk have not progressed. There is not sufficient review of these areas to understand any additional support that children may need to manage these risks and to safely reduce restrictions in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Feedback from children’s social workers is positive about the care provided to each child. Overall, children described living in the home as positive. The registered manager has worked hard to create and maintain a positive culture for children in the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home is spacious and well maintained and meets the needs of the children. Children can access all areas of the home. Their bedrooms are individualised and there are photos displayed in the home, including of people who are important to the children. Inspection report for children's home: 2549629 5

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff support children with strategies to manage and reduce any risks. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)  The registered person should ensure that actions taken in response to any allegation of harm or abuse are clearly recorded, in line with the home’s child protection policy. (‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 44, paragraph 9.17)

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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: 2549629 6

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Impact For Change Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Canns Down Press Ltd, Beaford, Winkleigh EX19 8LZ

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Nicholas Scribbins

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Inspector

Louise Bacon, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children's home: 2549629 7 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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