Children's Home run by The Caldecott Foundation Limited in Nottinghamshire

Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 1 SC466284 Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is run by a charity. The home is registered to provide care for up to 7 children with emotional and social difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager is currently having a planned absence from the home. The inspection was supported by an acting manager.

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Information about this children’s home

At the time of the inspection there were 2 children living in the home.

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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: outstanding

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

09/07/2025 Full Outstanding 24/04/2024 Full Outstanding 05/09/2023 Full Outstanding 28/09/2022 Full Outstanding Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 3

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Summary of findings

Children receive good care from staff who know them well. Children are provided with a range of opportunities, and they have developed trusting relationships with staff. Staff keep children safe and they understand the children’s individual needs. The acting manager provides staff with good support and has effective oversight of the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff and managers have developed strong and trusting relationships with children. The staff know the children well and understand their needs, risks and vulnerabilities. The homely environment is comfortable and provides children a home they can be proud of and where they can have fun. One child said ‘I love it here’.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff speak to the children about a range of important topics and use key work sessions to good effect. Sessions focus on supporting children to address the key areas for their individual needs. This includes health, managing emotions and being safe in the community. Conversations have a positive impact for the children in their daily lives, however the recording of these sessions is inconsistent.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

When a child moved into the home at short notice, this was done in a child focused way with good co-ordination. Conversations with key professionals took place to ensure relevant information was known and that staff could provide the right care for the child. A meeting with the child and professionals took place and the child said they were happy when they moved into the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Children are well supported with their education. For one child, staff successfully advocated for them to move to a setting that better meets their needs. Staff worked closely with the new provision to ensure a smooth transition. As a result, the child has settled well and is making progress.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help children to maintain relationships with people who are important to them, and the child’s views are central to these arrangements. One child has been supported to write letters to their family, with staff carefully considering and promoting the child’s best interests throughout. These arrangements provide children with a sense of stability and reassurance, helping them to feel safe while preserving important relationships and promoting their identity.

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

Staff understand children’s risks and vulnerabilities and respond appropriately to keep children safe. Safety plans are detailed and cover known risks for children, underpinning staff practice. A child friendly version of the safety plan is completed with children and Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 4 plans are reviewed regularly by the manager and staff. Feedback from external safeguarding professionals was positive.

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

When children go missing, staff respond swiftly. The appropriate professionals are alerted and staff look for children. When children return home, they are well supported and able to talk to someone independent. For one child, the manager has worked well with external professionals to review their individual plans. This has led to a reduction in missing incidents.

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

Children receive good support for their emotional wellbeing and mental health. Staff encourage children to express their feelings safely and openly. If children harm themselves, staff respond with nurturing care, and managers maintain oversight of the support provided. Following any incidents, staff provide ongoing support to children and discuss events with children when they feel ready. Children are encouraged to develop alternative coping strategies, and staff benefit from guidance from a psychotherapist, which strengthens their practice.

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

When restrictive physical interventions take place, these are proportionate and necessary to keep children and others safe. There is clear recording of any incidents that lead to physical intervention. Managers review incidents and the child is always spoken with afterwards. Staff are also spoken with and encouraged to consider if a different approach could have been used. Although there has been an increase in incidents for one child, the manager has a clear understanding of factors contributing to this.

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

One safeguarding incident was not fully explored at the time it occurred. Staff and the manager responded appropriately. However the assessment, consideration and recording of the associated risks could have been more robust.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is currently absent from the home on an agreed period of leave. An acting manager is providing day to day oversight of the home. There has been some instability within the staff team. However, the manager and staff have worked hard to minimise the impact to children. Staff speak positively about working in the home, and morale remains high.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive the support they need in several ways, including regular supervision. Team meetings give staff the opportunity to discuss important topics. This includes talking about the care needs of children and day to day practice in the home. There is support in team meetings from a therapist who works with the organisation and contributes to staff discussion.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a comprehensive training programme. This includes both face-to- face and online learning. Training covers key areas, including safeguarding, as well as topics specific to the needs of children living in the home. The manager takes a proactive approach to monitoring training compliance and promptly identifies any gaps in Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 5 staff learning. For example, when a staff member had not completed physical intervention training, the manager implemented a risk assessment to ensure safe practice until the training was completed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is present in the home and observes staff care practice. The manager shares learning and resources with staff to help their own development. There are comprehensive quality assurance processes in place. The manager benefits from independent people in the organisation completing additional audits. These are comprehensive in their scope and set actions to help drive continual improvement. Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 6

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording ensuring records are complete related to decision making. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. (‘Guide to Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)  The registered person should ensure that staff have the required skills for safeguarding children and should include being able to identify signs that children may be at risk, and support children in strategies to manage and reduce any risks. This is linked to staff recognising risks when a child has access to a lighter. (‘Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations, including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.10)

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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: SC466284 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: The Caldecott Foundation Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Caldecott House, Hythe Road, Smeeth, Ashford, Kent TN25 6SP

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Inspector

John McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home: SC466284 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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