Children's Home run by First 4 Care Limited in Doncaster

Inadequate

There are serious widespread failures that mean that young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted and their care and experiences are poor and they are not making progress.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Young people’s needs are not being met.  Young people are not making progress in their education. Their attendance at their education provision has declined over recent months.  The Responsible Individual’s perception of risks has resulted in young people’s access to peers and community facilities being restricted. The lack of understanding with regard to risk has impacted on young people’s wellbeing.  The lack of robust recruitment systems may expose young people to unsuitable adults.  The lack of a consistent experienced management team does not provide for an environment where young people can maximise their potential.

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The children's home strengths

 Young people enjoy good relationships with care staff. Some young people participate in a number of activities with staff. Other young people spend their time with their families and this has helped to progress a return to their family home.

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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 (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard (1) The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who- (ix) make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child's relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice; (3) The conditions are- (b) that the care meets the child's needs; 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard The positive relationship standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships - (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (b) that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard (1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure- (a) that staff- (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans; 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

5: In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff- (a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; 28/09/2015 The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). The requirements are that – the individual is of integrity and good character; full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each matters in Schedule 2. If a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, verification so far as reasonably practicable of the reason why the employment or position ended. A full employment history, together with a satisfactory

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Requirement Due date

explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (Regulation32 (1) (2)(a) (3)(a)(d) and Schedule 2. 4 and 6) 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children's home that- (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to- (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

A responsible individual must have the capacity, experience and skills to supervise the management of the home. (Regulation 26 (7)(b)) 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month. (Regulation 44(1)) 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person's report to HMCI. (Regulation 44 (7)) 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement (''the statement of purpose'') which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1)) 28/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must provide a copy of the statement of purpose to HMCI. (Regulation 16(2) 28/09/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The registered person should ensure that children are provided with nutritious meals suitable for each child's needs. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 15 3.8) In particular ensure there are adequate amounts of food available at all times.  The registered person should monitor and review the patterns and trends of turnover of staff, and be able to understand and where possible, address any negative trends. (The Guide to the quality Standards. page (54.10.19)

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Recommendations

 It is crucial that the home works in close partnership with all those who play a role in protecting and caring for the child, particularly the child's local authority and statutory social worker. (The Guide to the Quality Standards. page 11 2.3)

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Information about this children's home

This children’s home is operated by a private organisation and registered to provide care for three young people with emotional or behavioural difficulties between the age of 10 and 17 years.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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people living in the home are

Although both young people who live in this home have settled in and consider it, ‘Alright,’ the lack of progress, particularly in education impacts negatively on their future life opportunities.

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people living in the home are

A young person’s educational attendance has declined from 93.7% in January 2015, to 81.62% in July 2015. Their school reports state that when in education they do not attend a number of lessons. This has resulted in them only being on track for English and they are underachieving in other subjects. Although there has been some communication with the school this has not affected improvement. This decline significantly impacts on their life opportunities.

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people living in the home are

A major concern identified at this inspection relates to the lack of contact this young person has socially with peers, resulting in them having very low self- esteem. The young person recognises that they have difficulties in making friends. This is not made any easier by the imposition of a risk assessment which only takes into account historical events drawn up by the Responsible Individual. This has not been agreed by the local authority and restricts the young person’s access to community facilities. This was highlighted at the last inspection and a requirement raised. On the second day of this inspection the young person met up with a friend which resulted in a very excited young person who plans to do this again. However, this highlights the inconsistencies of care planning.

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people living in the home are

The social worker and independent reviewing officer do not consider that the home is meeting this young person’s needs and they are actively looking for a suitable alternative family placement.

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people living in the home are

Another young person is provided with education for six and a half hours per week with staff giving an additional six hours where they try to engage them in educational activities. However, this falls far below the expected minimum requirement of 25 hours per week. Despite staff’s best efforts to try and support the young person to engage them in a range of alternative provision they have had little success. This individual spends most of their free time away from the home with their family or friends returning at 21.00 hours when they have their meal. During the day, staff are not aware of what this young person actually eats. Therefore staff cannot satisfy themselves that the young person is getting a consistently healthy, nutritious diet. However, the social worker considers that they are safe during this time. Although there is little engagement with the staff of the home this young person went on holiday with staff earlier in the year, which they enjoyed. The social

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people living in the home are

worker considers that the plan for them to return to the care of their family is progressing well.

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people living in the home are

Young people’s daily routines are clearly set out. These are new documents and are written in conjunction with the young person. This gives the young person the opportunity to express their wishes and feelings which are incorporated into their daily routine plan.

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people living in the home are

Young people enjoy good relationships with the staff team, but they do not engage with each another. This exacerbates the isolation from peers for one of the young people. Although they participate in a range of activities with staff, from bike rides to ice-skating and the cinema. The only social interaction that they have with their peers is attending street dance one night per week during school terms. This lack of social interaction with peers does not promote normal social development.

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people living in the home are

Young people are encouraged to develop self-help skills; they help with meal preparation, maintain their personal space and undertake their own laundry. This helps them gain some practical skills that they will need in adulthood.

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people living in the home are

Young people are well supported with appropriate contact with the families. Staff facilitate contact for those young people whose families live away from the area.

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people are helped and protected

The lack of robust recruitment practices does not ensure that only suitable people are employed to care for vulnerable young people in the home. For example, gaps in employment have not been explored; there is no evidence that verification has not been obtained to confirm the reasons why people have left their previous employment. Disclosures have not been thoroughly verified even though the Responsible Individual was advised to contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) by a referee; this did not happen. Therefore it is not clear how applicant’s suitability is determined. This demonstrates a lack of regard to safeguard children. This is a further concern as this weakness was subject to a compliance notice last year.

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people are helped and protected

Risk assessments are confusing and therefore ineffective. For example, a risk assessment dated June 2015 contradicted a previous one which was undated that the Responsible Individual had drawn up. This risk assessment was not agreed by the local authority and was as a result of the Responsible Individual’s perceived risk that the young person presented. This lack of clarity does not ensure that staff have an understanding of the actual risks that young people present or are subject to.

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people are helped and protected

There has been an isolated incident in June 2015 of a young person climbing through a bathroom window onto the roof. In response the staff locked this bathroom rather than organising for window restrictors to be fitted. This does not create a homely environment.

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people are helped and protected

Young people and their social workers consider that young people are safe. They do not go missing and there is no known involvement in child sexual exploitation. They are generally well behaved in the house and there have not been any restraints.

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people are helped and protected

Staff have a clear understanding of their responsibility to challenge poor practice and will refer to the local authority designated officer if appropriate.

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leaders and managers

There has not been a Registered Manager at this home since July 2014. A new manager has been appointed in May 2015 and has submitted an application to register with Ofsted. She has worked in social care for 16 years, 12 of which were in a management role. It is too early to judge the impact of her appointment. Although social workers expressed their confidence in her skills.

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leaders and managers

Previous management arrangements have been poor. The manager of another home was overseeing some aspects of the home from September 2014 to March 2015 but this arrangement has ceased. Since July 2014 the Responsible Individual has had a close oversight of the home but her involvement in the day-to-day running of the home leads to the inconsistencies identified. For example, her perceived risk and her drawing up risk assessments. The Responsible Individual does not have the appropriate qualification to have management oversight of the home and lacks understanding of the local authority’s responsibility to case manage young people’s care plans. The Responsible Individual lacks insight of the weaknesses identified at this inspection and fails to take responsibility for any of the weaknesses identified. This does not promote young people’s safety or welfare. However, the newly appointed manager, in her eight weeks since her appointment

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leaders and managers

recognises the enormity of the task ahead.

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leaders and managers

Staff turnover is high. Four members of staff have left since the last inspection; two of whom commenced during this period and have since left. This does not provide stability or continuity of care for the young people.

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leaders and managers

The Statement of Purpose does not comply with regulation and contains misleading statements. For example, it states that they have staff who possess counselling qualifications. This refers to a casual member of staff on a zero hour’s contract. The Statement of Purpose also states that, ‘The primary aim is to maximise the potential in educational attainment.’ The home failed to take proactive steps in addressing the steady decline in attendance which has negatively impacted on young people’s attainment levels.

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leaders and managers

The home has not been visited by an independent person each month and reports have not been sent to Ofsted. This does not ensure that the regulatory body has good oversight of the home’s operation.

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leaders and managers

Ineffective relationships between the Responsible Individual and the placing authority do not serve young people’s best interests. For example, the conflict over the risk assessments; an independent reviewing officer considers that the home does not have an understanding of the young person’s needs.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This 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 Children's

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Information about this inspection

Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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