Children's Home run by Quality Protects Children Ltd in Sheffield

Unique reference number SC066010 Inspector Monica Hargreaves Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Quality Protects Children Ltd Registered person address Hill House Archway Road Huyton Liverpool L36 9XB Responsible individual Anthony Nolan Registered manager Lisa Marie Noye / POST VACANT Date of last inspection 05/06/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 30/09/2014

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Previous inspection adequate Enforcement action since last inspection There has been no enforcement action since the last inspection.

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This inspection

This home was judged adequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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This inspection

In order to improve the quality of care in the home, action has been taken to address shortfalls that were identified at the previous inspection. However, since the last inspection the home has declined in overall effectiveness.

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This inspection

Two of the three requirements that were made at the last inspection are met. Detailed plans have been obtained from placing authorities for all young people. This means that staff have the information they need to develop placement plans for young people. The organisation has taken steps to bring the home up to a good standard in terms of decoration and cleanliness. This means that young people now live in a well maintained environment.

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This inspection

Three of the four recommendations from the previous inspection have also been met. Young people's placement plans and risk assessments are up to date. They show how they are being looked after and reflect any progress they have made. Staff complete direct work sessions with young people. These are well-targeted, drawing on issues identified in placement plans and risk assessments. The newly appointed manager has ensured that all staff, including agency workers, have had supervision and future sessions are booked in. Regular supervision contributes to the manager's monitoring of the quality of care and enables staff to discuss their work with young people and their own training needs. Since the last inspection, staff have attended training to ensure that they maintain their knowledge and skills. For example, they have had training in self harm and countering bullying and have had refresher training in managing challenging behaviour. Further training on other

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This inspection

issues, such as gang culture, has been arranged for all staff.

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This inspection

One requirement from the last inspection is partly met. The new manager has taken action to try to ensure that all young people have a suitable education placement. 3 of 7 However, although some young people have appropriate arrangements in place for school or college, this is not the case for all young people. Consequently, some young people are not receiving a satisfactory standard of education. A recommendation that was made about monitoring arrangements is partly met. Since the last inspection, Ofsted has not received a copy of all monthly monitoring visits that take place at the home. An independent person has now been appointed to undertake this work. He has completed one visit and produced a report. This is detailed; it evaluates the quality of care and the progress young people make and clearly identifies areas for improvement. However, at the time of the inspection, the report had not been submitted to Ofsted. The manager took action to rectify this on

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This inspection

Some young people have made progress over the time they have lived in the home. They have been able to form positive relationships with staff that have enabled them to start to settle. However, the home has declined in overall effectiveness since the last inspection. This is due to the admission process which has not always been effective in ensuring that young people are appropriately placed together and that young people who have a high level of risk-taking behaviour can be adequately safeguarded. Some young people are at significant risk when they absent themselves from the home. This is acknowledged by the manager and has been identified by the independent visitor. The manager and staff have worked hard to engage young people. They have put in place strategies to try to reduce the incidents of young people going missing and therefore to lessen the risks. They have also worked very closely with police and other relevant agencies to try to ensure that

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This inspection

young people are returned to the home safely if they do go missing. However, these strategies have not been successful and young people's risk-taking behaviour has not reduced over time. Also, some young people's behaviour in the home is very challenging towards staff and at times to other young people. This has had a negative effect on other young people and has impacted on the progress they have been able to make.

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This inspection

The home does not currently have a manager who is registered with Ofsted. The organisation originally put forward one person as manager, but that individual did not proceed with their application. Consequently the home has been without a registered manager for 31 weeks. This is a breach of regulation. The organisation has recently appointed an individual to manage the home. She is suitably qualified in care and is working to gain a management qualification. She is experienced in working with young people in residential care, including as a deputy manager. The manager has only been in post for a few weeks. Within that short period of time, she has started to improve the systems that are in place in the home, such as the arrangements for staff supervision and for completing and recording direct work with young people. Care staff report that they feel that there have already been some improvements since the manager started work. The manager has completed

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This inspection

her application for registration with Ofsted and submitted it to the organisation. This has not yet been received by Ofsted. 4 of 7 Two requirements and two recommendations have been made as a result of this inspection. These relate to the suitability of placements, the management of the home, the arrangements for young people's education and management monitoring reports. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children's home provides care for up to four long-term placements for children.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2014 Full adequate 11/12/2013 Interim inadequate progress 12/06/2013 Full good 13/12/2012 Interim good progress

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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 conducted so as to promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated there. Specifically that the home only admits children whose assessed needs they can reasonably expect to meet and that there is an assessment of the likely impact of a new admission on the children already accommodated (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 13/10/2014

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Reg. Requirement Due date

7 (2001) Appoint an individual to manage the children's home (Regulation 7 (1)) 19/11/2014

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take 6 of 7 account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that children are supported and enabled to resume full time education (NMS 8.3)  ensure that copies of the written reports on the conduct of the home that are completed by the independent visitor are made available to Ofsted. ((Children Act 1989, Guidance and Regulations, Volume 5: Children’s Homes, paragraph 3.13) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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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