Children's Home run by Platform Childcare Ltd in Staffordshire

This monitoring visit

The home was last inspected on 15 September 2015 and judged inadequate. 25 regulatory shortfalls and two recommendations were identified. There were significant, wide-ranging concerns relating to: the safety and well-being of young people, risk assessments, education, transitions, missing from care, behaviour management, access to support and services, record keeping and medication. Other concerns were highlighted in relation to management oversight, staff skills, joint working with other agencies, staff recruitment, the quality of the independent person’s report, and the statement of purpose. In order to evaluate the progress the home has made a monitoring visit was undertaken on 10 November 2015. Progress is mixed. The manager has failed to address seven of the shortfalls identified in the full inspection. Young people continue to make inadequate progress in their education. Support from staff is limited and, in the main, ineffective. This limits the progress young

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This monitoring visit

people make and restricts their academic attainment. The quality and effectiveness of young people’s risk assessments are inconsistent. Some have improved; others lack essential detail and fail to make satisfactory arrangements to reduce risk. As a result, young people continue to be poorly safeguarded at times, particularly when away from the home with friends or partners. Staff recruitment practices, in relation to the vetting of staff, continue to be poor. The manager has failed to take appropriate action to address this shortfall. This places young people at risk from potentially unsafe adults in their home. Shortfalls remain in relation to management oversight and monitoring. Monthly ‘audits’ completed by the manager are ineffective as they fail to address key issues. Some safeguarding incidents are omitted and young people’s progress in education is not adequately assessed. In addition, reports produced by the home’s

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This monitoring visit

independent visitor continue to be poor. They lack detail and analysis of key issues and do not provide a clear view as to whether young people are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes their welfare. Due to these shortfalls, weaknesses are not identified and progress is hindered. The home’s statement of purpose continues to lack clarity. Specifically in relation to the therapeutic support available to the home. This has the potential to mislead young people, their families, or professionals in relation to the services and support available to young people. Conversely, the manager has taken some action to improve the service. She has improved relationships with key professionals, including the police. Support to staff is more effective and all staff have received additional training in key areas including child sexual exploitation. This has improved the awareness of staff, their

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This monitoring visit

skills, and their ability to support young people. These improvements are in their infancy. Their impact is yet to be fully evident.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children/young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned and operated by a private provider.

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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

In order to meet the education standard the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans. 11/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to risk assessment, the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child's relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. 11/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard with particular reference to monitoring and review systems the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2) (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 11/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's 11/12/2015 home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. (Regulation 16 (1))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (5)) 11/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children's home if full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32 (3) (d)) * 11/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about a visit ("the independent person's report") which sets out, in particular, the independent person's opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded; and the conduct of the home promotes children's well-being. (Regulation 44 (4) (a) and (b)) 11/12/2015

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the home since their last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. 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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