Children's Home run by McRae Residential Care Services Limited in Croydon

Unique reference number SC025813 Inspector Angus Mackay Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered manager Paul Stephen Rhys-Taylor Date of last inspection 19/02/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 26/06/2014

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Previous inspection not judged Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

This is the first inspection following registration. At this interim inspection the home was ‘not judged’ .

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This inspection

This home has been closed since October 2013. The registered provider has notified Ofsted that the home will be operational within three months and has commenced recruitment of a suitably qualified and experienced staff team. The registered provider has supervised a substantial refurbishment of the home. The provider has continued to monitor all health and safety matters ensuring a safe working environment during the refurbishment. There have been no structural alterations and no replacement of gas fittings or boilers. Consequently the home does not require planning permission or building regulations certification. The home is suitably insured during the refurbishment. The provider has continued to make improvements since the last inspection, but some work is incomplete.

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This inspection

The home has been redecorated throughout but some minor finishing is still required, including the refitting of switches and light fittings. The kitchen work tops and cupboards have been replaced but washing machines and refrigerators are still to be fitted. Most flooring throughout the home has been upgraded with either new carpets or laminate flooring. Some of the flooring is still to be finished, with a projected completion date of early July. Due to the refurbishment not all furniture is in place and some rooms have new blinds to be fitted, once all decoration is completed. The management have left the choice of some furniture, fittings and accessories to the young people to be accommodated. Included in this is the personalisation of bedrooms and communal areas to aid young people in developing a sense of ownership for the home. Managers are aware of all of the matters which must be addressed, to make the home fit for young people to be accommodated.

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This inspection

This inspection repeats the three requirements that relate to improvement to the premises, the general environment and safety.

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This inspection

The home's responsible individual is registered with Ofsted, and the Registered Manager is currently managing a nearby home run by the company. The provider 3 of 5 has commenced the redrafting of all policies and procedures prior to his planned opening of the home. This is to ensure compliance with regulations and the provision of a safe environment for young people and staff. The provider accepts that the premises do not currently meet the necessary standards, as outlined in the home's Statement of Purpose, national minimum standards and regulations relating to children's homes. The planned opening of the home is contingent on: the provider completing all refurbishment work; recruiting appointing and inducting a suitably qualified and experienced staff team; implementing all policies and procedures required for a children's home; applying to Ofsted to ratify the management arrangements for the two homes.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately-owned home is registered to care for up to six young people (boys) who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and learning disabilities.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

19/02/2014 Interim not judged 17/12/2013 Interim not judged 26/02/2013 Interim not judged 15/11/2012 Interim not judged

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Children's Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the children's home is suitably furnished with adequate living storage and communal space to meet the needs of the children accommodated; and achieve the aims and objectives set out in the Statement of Purpose (Regulation 31(4)(a)&(b)) 30/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that the premises is kept in good structural repair externally and internally. Also ensure that the home is kept clean and reasonably decorated and maintained (Regulation 31(2)(d)&(e)) 30/09/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that subject to paragraph (1A) the registered person shall consult with the fire and rescue authority as detailed in sections (a) to (e). (Regulation 32(1)(a-e)) 30/09/2014 Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Reg. Requirement Due date

This document may be reproduced in whole or in part for non-commercial educational purposes, provided that the information quoted is reproduced without adaptation and the source and date of publication are stated.

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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