Children's Home run by Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd in Kent

Unique reference number SC469396 Inspector Paul Taylor Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Children's home

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Registered person Acorn Homes (UK) Ltd Registered person address Acorn Homes, Northdown House Northdown Park MARGATE Kent CT9 3TP Responsible individual David Laurie Knowles Registered manager Christopher Roland Holland Date of last inspection 16/10/2014 2 of 5 Inspection date 30/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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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 sustained effectiveness .

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This inspection

At the last inspection in October 2014 this home was judged to be good. Four requirements and four recommendations were made at that inspection. The requirements have been addressed with only one recommendation outstanding.

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This inspection

All stakeholders routinely have their views included when there are reviews of the operation of the home. This involves the views of the young people which are now included in the monthly reports written by the independent visitor. This means that all relevant parties, who have an interest in the operation of the home, now have their views sought and taken into account.

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This inspection

A requirement was made at the last inspection regarding timely submission of notifications related to significant events. This now occurs promptly and the home informs all relevant agencies of any significant incidents.

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This inspection

A requirement was made asking that complaints records include how each complaint has been resolved and addressed. While this information is now available, the organisation of the complaint file does not include all the information in one place. While complaints have been investigated and addressed, the information is often kept elsewhere, for example in key work sessions. A recommendation is made that the recording of this information is more consistently recorded and maintained.

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This inspection

Recruitment records now contain all the information required and any gaps in employment are suitably explored and recorded. The requirement relating to this has now been addressed.

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This inspection

At the last inspection a recommendation was made in relation to managing the amount of flies which were present in the home due to the home being adjacent to a working farm. The home now has electronic fly traps in place to reduce the 3 of 5 aggravation caused by them, particularly in the warmer weather.

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This inspection

A recommendation made at the last inspection relating to ensuring that care plans are kept up to date has been addressed. Care plans are now regularly audited by senior members of staff and this ensures that they are up to date with relevant information.

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This inspection

Medication records are now also kept up to date and these include records of medication administered or if a young person has not taken the medication, the reason for this. The recommendation made at the previous inspection in relation to this matter is now addressed.

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This inspection

While the home now has a central record of safeguarding incidents, similarly to the complaints log, this document does not contain all the required information in one place. Although this shortfall has not had an impact on young people's well-being or safety, it makes auditing of incidents to ensure that they have been suitably resolved difficult. This recommendation remains from the last inspection.

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This inspection

Young people continue to benefit from living at this home. Staff provide close supervision and support to the young people and this helps them to make significant progress. Effective support for young people who are at risk of going missing is in place. Clear strategies and protocols ensure that there has been a marked decrease in incidents where they have gone missing. This has promoted their stability, safety and opportunity to engage with members of staff and develop trusting relationships.

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This inspection

Shortfalls at this inspection have not had an impact on young peoples’ safety and the home continues to sustain the effectiveness of care and promotion of the well- being of the young people. 4 of 5

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned children's home provides care and accommodation for a maximum of four young people.

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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 records kept are well maintained and orderly; specifically the child protection and safeguarding records and the complaints record. (NMS 22) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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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