Children's Home run by Compass Children’s Homes Kent Limited in Kent

Unique reference number SC425071 Inspector David Putnam Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Ferndearle Child Care Services Limited Registered person address 77 Biggin Street DOVER Kent CT16 1BB

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Registered manager

Date of last inspection 16/07/2014 2 of 7 Inspection date 21/01/2015

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Registered manager

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

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

This inspection identifies concerns in relation to practices that impact upon the safety and well-being of children. Extreme behaviours of some children lead others to say that at times they feel scared. Some share that they are upset when other children say cruel and unkind things about them and members of their families. Children indicate that they have been physically hurt by others living in the home. As a result they say that they only feel safe ‘sometimes’. Children’s personal possessions and communal equipment are damaged by others whose challenging behaviour is not effectively managed. As a result of heightened tensions in the home most children struggle to express positives about their experiences.

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This inspection

Not all current staff have completed appropriate de-escalation and restraint training. There is no evidence to suggest that untrained staff have been involved in restraining children. However, all staff are required to manage challenging and difficult behaviours presented by children. This inspection identified that children are not always responded to in ways that appropriately seek to de-escalate a situation. Equally, as only a limited number of staff are able to restrain children these individuals are put under particular pressure. At times this leads to negative reactions from children who perceive the approach of individual staff as a personal response to them. Staff feel the impact of the demands placed upon them, describing themselves as ‘tired’.

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This inspection

Staff confirm that children do go missing. Invariably this occurs during the daytime when children absent themselves from the linked school situated on the same premises. While staff consistently adheres to procedures and follow children, they confirm that there are times when children evade their attempts to do so. Situations have occurred when children have been placed at risk while absent from the home. 3 of 7 During this inspection, two examples were observed that demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures are not followed when fire alarms are sounded. In the examples observed, some staff did evacuate the home, but no roll call or checks were undertaken to establish that everyone was safe. Meanwhile children in the school, situated in the basement of the same building were kept in by staff while the alarm sounded. Children confirmed that 'the staff locked us in because [another child] was kicking off outside'.

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This inspection

Insufficient progress has been made to address the areas for improvement identified at the last inspection. One of the two statutory requirements and two of the four recommendations made have not been addressed effectively.

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This inspection

External agencies and parents are invariably notified of significant events promptly. However, unacceptable delays continue to be experienced when notifications to Ofsted are required. On average notifications are received by Ofsted nearly eight days after an event. One significant event had occurred five days prior to this inspection, but no notification had been made. Consequently, practice continues to be contrary to the expectations set out in the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 and blocks Ofsted's ability to monitor the service.

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This inspection

Records of restraints do not effectively demonstrate efforts used to avoid the need to restrain children. Furthermore, changes made to the way records are now written and stored mean that they no longer meet regulatory requirements. Individually typed records are stored as loose papers in a lever-arch file. This allows for the possibility of records to be lost, removed or altered after the event. Details of conversations with children after restraints are extremely limited and do not promote exploration of the issues or identify different ways to reduce the need for restraints in the future.

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This inspection

Leaders and managers do now approach each placing authority to obtain copies of their Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocols. However, it continues to be the case that no analysis of these documents takes place to identify any subtle differences required in the responses for individual children.

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This inspection

In responding to other requirements and recommendations, reports from reviews of the quality of care are now submitted to Ofsted within agreed timescales by leaders and managers. While the frequency of restraint remains high, there has been a further overall reduction since the last inspection. Despite this, 52 restraints have taken place during the six months since the last inspection; this equates to two each week. However, for some children this demonstrates positive change when compared to their experience in previous placements. Consequently there is evidence that some children are being encouraged to take more responsibility for their actions. Consultations with staff following restraints are now recorded more comprehensively. This demonstrates that staff are more effectively supported to manage their own feelings. 4 of 7 Some children do make demonstrable improvements in important areas of their

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This inspection

lives. For example, health outcomes are significantly improved for some who take responsibility for improving their diet and exercise regimes. Their success in losing weight leads to a new found interest in food and its origins and helps children develop positive self-esteem. Children and young people who have moved out of the home since the last inspection have done so in planned ways. Positive involvement and consultation with those affected supports them to feel included in the process and able to express their preferences.

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This inspection

The previous Registered Manager left the post to begin maternity leave a few days prior to this inspection. Leaders and managers had ensured continuity by appointing a new manager to take over the role immediately. The new manager confirmed that their application for registration is being progressed. 5 of 7

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Information about this children’s home

This privately run children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to six children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Education is available on site. Therapy is available to young people if required.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/07/2014 Full good 15/01/2014 Interim good progress 31/07/2013 Full adequate 10/05/2013 Full inadequate

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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) promote and make proper provision for the safeguarding and welfare of children accommodated in the children's home (Regulation 11(1)(a)) 31/03/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that within 24 hours of the use of any measure of control, restraint or discipline in a children's home a written record is made in a volume kept for the purpose (Regulation 17B(3)) 31/03/2015

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Reg. Requirement Due date

17B (2001) ensure that any record made under this regulations shall include confirmation that the persons authorised by the registered provider to make the record has spoken to the child concerned about the use of the measure and details of any methods used to avoid the need to use that measure (Regulation 17B(3)(h) and (4)(b)) 31/03/2015 6 of 7 (2001) ensure that if 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 even tin column 2 of the table (Regulation 30(1)) 31/03/2015

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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

 ensure methods to de-escalate confrontations or potentially violent behaviour are used wherever appropriate to avoid the use of physical restraint, which is only used in exceptional circumstances (NMS 3.13)  ensure that staff are trained in the use of physical restraint techniques and only use the home's agreed techniques. Training is regularly refreshed (NMS 3.15)  ensure that where children placed from different authorities go missing, the Registered Manager of the home follows the local Runaway and Missing from Home and Care (RMFHC) protocol and also complies with any other processes required by the placing authority that are specified in the individual child's care plan. (NMS 5.7) 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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