Children's Home run by Educare Adolescent Services Limited in Shropshire

Unique reference number SC062288 Visit date 06/11/2014 Inspector Pete Hylton Monitoring report for a Children's Home Monitoring Report: SC062288, 06/11/2014 2 of 4

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Brief description of the service

This children's home is part of a large organisation operated by a private company. The home provides care for up to three young people of either gender who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or a learning disability.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The home was last inspected in August 2014 and was judged to be adequate. One requirement, relating to ensuring that all opened food is appropriately labelled, was made. In October 2014, Ofsted received concerns relating to the safety and welfare of young people at the home. These concerns were; unsafe staff working practices, poor risk assessments, lack of behaviour management plans, and young people engaging in risk taking behaviours.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The Registered Manager left the home and a new, acting manager, is in post. All necessary actions are being taken with regards to registering the new manager. The acting manager was informed of the concerns as part of this visit. Staff are appropriately trained and effectively managed. The inspector reviewed recent incident reports and found that, in the majority of cases, appropriate actions had been taken by the staff to promote the safety and welfare of young people. Where incidents had occurred as a result of staff failing to follow agreed procedures, appropriate actions have been taken by the organisation. All incidents are appropriately recorded and actions taken to ensure the immediate safety of young people. However, a notification was sent to Ofsted four weeks after the event. This did not lead to a negative impact on the outcomes for young people. A requirement has been made to ensure that this area of practice improves.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The inspector viewed risk assessments and found that the acting manager has improved how risks are managed in the home. Clear and comprehensive risk management plans ensure that all staff know how to provide consistent, and safe care to young people. This ensures that young people’s vulnerabilities are recognised and appropriately responded to. Behaviour management plans are similarly clear and ensure that appropriate boundaries are in place to promote positive behaviour. Where young people display risk taking behaviour, they are encouraged to discuss their reasons for this behaviour. This ensures that young people are able to discuss their worries or concerns. Furthermore, senior managers within the organisation have put into place clear boundaries for staff to follow and communicated high expectations to all young people in the home. As a result, incidents of challenging behaviour are now reducing.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

The acting manager, with support from senior managers within the organisation, has a robust plan for improving the home. Since the last inspection, there has been an increase in the number of different adults working at the home. This is because of staff turnover and changes in the home. The inspector was shown robust plans for recruiting new staff Monitoring Report: SC062288, 06/11/2014 4 of 4

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Outcome of monitoring visit

to the home and improvements are already evident. As a result, young people are forming relationships with a more consistent and stable staff team.

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Outcome of monitoring visit

As a result of this monitoring visit, one requirement has been made. This relates to ensuring that notifications are made, without delay, to the required parties. The provider remains registered with Ofsted.

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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 if, in relation to a children’s home, any of the events listed in column 1 of the table in Schedule 5 takes place, the registered person shall without delay notify the persons indicated in respect of the event in column 2 of the table. (Regulation 30 (1) ) 05/12/2014

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About this monitoring visit

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and progress made by the Children's Home following an Ofsted inspection.

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