Children's Home run by SWAAY Child & Adolescent Services Ltd in Bracknell Forest

Inspection report for children’s home: SC431806 1 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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SC431806 Registered provider: SWAAY Child & Adolescent Services Ltd

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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 is a privately owned children’s home, which is registered to provide care for up to 4 children.

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care for children up to the age of 18 with social and emotional difficulties. There were 3 children living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is experienced and suitably qualified.

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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: outstanding

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC431806 2 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/03/2025 Full Outstanding 20/02/2024 Full Outstanding 13/03/2023 Full Good 08/06/2021 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC431806 3 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children make exceptional, positive progress because of the stable, strong relationships they have with staff. Children want to spend time with staff and enjoy undertaking activities such as cooking, playing games and visiting places of interest with them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children receive nurturing and considerate care from staff, who prioritise children’s emotional wellbeing. For one child, this support has enabled them to build sufficient confidence to participate in social activities that were previously inconceivable. Another child has settled into school and is developing their capacity for self-care. The impact of these actions for the children concerned is profound and feedback from external professionals is unanimously positive.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The home has a family feel and children are comfortable in their surroundings. The addition of a games room provides opportunities for children to relax using the indoor cinema and gaming resources. Children’s bedrooms are personalised and reflect their interests. Photos of the children are displayed in communal spaces, contributing to their strong sense of belonging.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff know the children extremely well. Their practice is underpinned by bespoke training in the home’s preferred model of care. Staff understand children’s needs and provide excellent individualised care and support. One guardian said that ‘The home is doing an exceptional job. He is a different child through the support of the team… seeing him now, I am so happy as he is thriving.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The dedication and diversity of staff is a strength. Children benefit from a range of differing perspectives, and cultural activities are evident with opportunities for the children to learn about their heritage. As a result, children thrive and holistically develop a positive sense of self.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

All children are succeeding in education because staff provide purposeful, insightful and practical support. Managers and staff communicate effectively with education providers and advocate strongly for children. One education provider said: ‘Communication is clear and open… the children are secure with their professional who attends [meetings] and you wouldn’t know that they were not a member of their family.’ This support ensures that the children’s specific needs are met through continuous planning and that children are supported to maintain both their attendance and academic progression.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff use their knowledge of the children’s interests to encourage their participation in activities. Enriching experiences, such as holidays, going to Premier League football matches and attending community events organised by the provider, empower children to try new things and have experiences that they will remember. These are captured in memory boxes that children contribute to, providing them with a meaningful keepsake documenting their experiences. Inspection report for children’s home: SC431806 4 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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

Children flourish because of the emotional and practical support provided by staff. Children receive help and care to manage their behaviours and feelings safely by well- trained staff who have benefited from specialist training which has enhanced their practice. Staff are skilled at using de-escalation strategies that meet the needs of the children.

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

Children say that they feel safe. Staff consistently apply boundaries to support children and to help them learn from challenges they experience. Children value the care and support they receive from staff. Children can identify a trusted member of staff whom they can talk to about any concerns. Children say that staff listen to them, take their concerns seriously and respond appropriately.

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

Staff use proactive and creative safeguarding practice to ensure that risks to children are actively reducing. Risk assessments are child-centred and illustrated to support children’s understanding. Staff are positive about finding development opportunities for the children and therefore risk is managed in a way that also supports their journey in adolescence.

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

Regular therapeutic team meetings allow staff to discuss their observations and any arising risks, so that they can plan the most appropriate support strategy for each child. Consequently, there have been only a small number of incidents in the home during this inspection period.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Leaders and managers are inspiring and proactive; they know the children and staff well. They lead by example, showing warmth and care towards the children. Leaders seek to ensure the children feel prioritised and provide opportunities for them to thrive. Their commitment to the progress and outcomes of the children is self-evident. The manager role models a strong empathic approach to the children whom she cares for with an experienced deputy to support her. They are supported by a committed team of staff who support the home’s therapeutic model of care and shared vision that children can achieve well in life.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Regular team meetings and reviews enable staff to focus on what matters to the children. This creates a safe and positive space for children to flourish. The home has piloted further training on the home’s therapeutic approach, to ensure that children benefit from care provided by a well-trained, empathic and therapeutic workforce.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff say that they are well supported and have regular supervision, as well as opportunities to reflect on their practice. They say that managers take an active interest in their wellbeing and are complimentary about the support they receive from them. One Inspection report for children’s home: SC431806 5 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

member of staff said: ‘I truly feel like a valued member of the team as I am regularly involved in decision-making and my opinions and suggestions are always considered.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is now dually registered to manage another home within the organisation. This change has been well planned and fully supported by leaders. The manager continues to spend time in the home and is further supported by a very experienced deputy manager. Communication between the deputy manager and the registered manager is effective and frequent. The monitoring and quality assurance processes are effective; therefore, the leaders know the strengths of the home and areas for improvement.

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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: SC431806 6 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: SWAAY Child & Adolescent Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 591 London Road, Cheam, Sutton, Surrey SM3 9AG

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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Sasha Austria-Stevens

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Inspector

Maria Calway-Kennedy, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC431806 7 FOR PUBLIC RELEASE

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Inspector

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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