Children's home run by London Borough of Tower Hamlets in Tower Hamlets

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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because:

 The Registered Manager has experienced pressure from the local authority to take inappropriate placements, which has had an impact on current residents.  The amalgamation of two children‟s homes, two staff teams and a restructure has had an impact on the leadership and management of this home.  The staff team are not yet consistently working well together or demonstrating the same interest.  Behaviour management and engagement of young people in the circumstances of inappropriate admissions has not been robust or consistent enough.  Staff have not always recognised potential risk and young people‟s vulnerability.  Some young people felt less safe because of recent inappropriate admissions; however, the current resident group is more stable.  Risk assessments including the suitability of the home‟s location are not yet robust or detailed enough to ensure appropriate risk management.  Some parts of the home environment feel institutionalised and lack a

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because:

homely atmosphere. Maintenance requires a more timely approach.  The fire system is not working but the Registered Manager has contingency plans in place, whilst awaiting an ordered part. Fire extinguishers are readily available in all areas except the downstairs office.  Use of restraint is minimal; however, when it has been used recordings of this are inconsistent and staff lack refresher training in this area.

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The children's home strengths

 The Registered Manager is established and experienced. She identifies why the service has declined from good and recognises the current weaknesses.  The experienced staff team has worked for the borough for a number of years.  Staff are supported well with good supervision and regular team meetings.  The garden, living and dining room are well cared for and comfortable spaces. Young people have space in this environment with a large games room also available.  Young people describe positive relationships with staff and feel that they are trying their best to help them make progress.  Some young people like living at this home, they feel supported and well cared for by staff.  Despite difficulties, some young people have made good progress from their starting points.  The home has a well-equipped kitchen, where a cook provides nutritious, healthy meals.  This home has good positive links with safeguarding partners and the

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The children's home strengths

Registered Manager sits on the child sexual exploitation panel that allows good information sharing to keep young people safe.  Good oversight of behaviour management and restraint was evident in supervision notes and case audits by the Registered Manager.

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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 protection of children standard with particular reference to recognising the risk and vulnerability of young people, the registered person must ensure−

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure−

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Requirement Due date

(iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home‟s child protection policies. 14/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard in particular reference to inappropriate referrals and matching, the registered person must ensure−

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure−

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Requirement Due date

(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home‟s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard with particular reference to the location of the premises, the registered person must ensure−

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Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure−

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Requirement Due date

(c) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are located so that children are effectively safeguarded. 30/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

35.(3)The registered person must ensure that−

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Requirement Due date

(a) within 24-hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes−

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Requirement Due date

iv. a description of the measure and its duration; v. the effectiveness and any consequences of the use of the measure; and

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Requirement Due date

(b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (“the authorised person”)−

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Requirement Due date

iv. has spoken to the user about the measure; and v. has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and

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Requirement Due date

(c) within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure.

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Requirement Due date

(Regulation 35(3)(a)(i-viii)(b)(i-ii)(c)) 14/09/2015

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Requirement Due date

25.(2) If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home−

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Requirement Due date

(b) the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in 31/08/2015 respect of the home. (Regulation 25(2)(b))

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  For children‟s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children‟s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food, hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than „institutional‟ impression. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Information about this children's home

The local authority runs this home. It provides care and accommodation for up to six young people, of either gender, with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/03/2015 Interim Sustained Effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

25/03/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

The home is not delivering good care for children and young people. This home has been undergoing an amalgamation with another children‟s home in recent months as well as a staff restructure. There has been associated disruption and deterioration to what has been historically a good service. This inspection finds a number of issues arise due to the amalgamation and restructure and pressure to accept young people being brought back into the borough by the local authority. Because of the home‟s history of providing a „good‟ service and capacity to improve in response to previous inspection findings, it is judged requires improvement.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Recently, the home‟s referral process, which should ensure proper matching of young people‟s needs, has not been robust enough. Not all emergency placements have taken into account the needs of current residents. This has led to inappropriate placements and young people leaving the home in an emergency. The impact of this has been a deterioration of behaviour in the last few weeks, with a higher level of incidents and damage caused. Responding to crisis has taken staff away from promoting positive progress for other young people.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Staff responded well when managing the crises that have arisen but are not reporting and learning enough from these situations. Staff identify that recording of incidents requires improvement.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Staff report that young people are not consistently engaging in meetings and are not fully engaging with their placements, for example, some young people are off the unit for long periods during the day, taking themselves off to friends or family.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Not all staff feel the team is responding consistently, taking responsibility or working as a team to manage difficult behaviours and challenge young people. For example, until recently, a minority of young people were going into each other‟s rooms at night. Some staff share the concern that inappropriate referrals to the unit has impacted on the support they have been able to give to young people.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Staff are trying to do a good job and follow procedures as much as possible but have reported this is a struggle when there are disruptions. Trying to manage difficult behaviour and support individual needs at the same time is hard, staff have reported that good work, and progress has not been as consistent as they would like. Young people have not consistently used their meetings to express their wishes and feelings. However, there is a feedback folder of their views and one young person makes good use of the children‟s rights officer.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Some young people have made some positive progress. Young people were on role in schools up until the summer holidays, but due to their age are now moving on to new education or training. One young person took four GCSEs this summer and describes receiving good support to complete an application to go onto further education. Another young person has attained a place in college with staff support, starting in September.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Healthy food is prepared at the home by a cook. Young people can make choices about menus and dietary needs. Support and promotion of cultural, individual and religious needs are respected, for example, the home keeps a separate oven for Halal meat. One young person recently completed some voluntary work through the local Mosque, which has given a great sense of inclusion and self-esteem.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Good support is offered to young people to learn self-care skills, for example tidying their own bedrooms and doing their laundry. This promotes a sense of independence and wellbeing.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

The home is not delivering good protection for young people. The impact of accepting referrals where young people‟s combined needs are high has increased negative behaviours and disruption. Risk assessments do not yet support staff to protect young people or give strategies to manage behaviours effectively, for example despite disruption at night no waking night staff were employed.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

There is limited evidence that applied sanctions are working. There has in recent weeks been an escalation in challenging behaviour and two young people‟s placements ended abruptly due to this. Some young people say that when there is an escalation in challenging behaviour, it has felt frightening but they do feel staff worked hard to resolve the conflicts and keep things as settled as possible. One young person says that now the two young people‟s placements have ended things are feeling more settled again.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Young people present complex needs and high vulnerability. There is concern that staff do not all fully recognise or understand some of the risks young people present and essential refresher training has not been kept up to date to help support staff with this, for example restraint training.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Young people say they generally have good relationships with the staff. One young person says, „I could talk to the staff if needed.‟ Another young person said despite being worried about moving into residential it was „pretty good‟ and, „Staff try their hardest to help you.‟

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Staff are aware of safeguarding and missing from care policies and the process they have to follow. There is an established network with safeguarding partners, such as the local authority, designated officer, the child sexual exploitation (CSE) lead and the police‟s missing persons team. The CSE lead says that the home is aware of and follows procedures, raising appropriate concerns. The Registered Manager sits on the CSE panel, which helps with information sharing and supports young people to keep safe in the local community.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Staff are appropriately checked which helps to safeguard vulnerable young people as far as possible and ensures applicants are safely vetted prior to working at this home. There is a visitor‟s book and visitors are required to sign-in which ensures a record of who has been in the home.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Restraint is not regularly used. However where it has been, recording and debrief is not yet consistent with regulations. Staff have not been helped by having refresher training in the use of restraint to help them with this process.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

Some parts of the home environment feel institutionalised. Some of the doors are kept locked, for example the visitors‟ room and the games room. This does not create a homely environment. Repairs are required in a number of areas, such as a broken window in the kitchen and a broken light in the games room. Despite recording in the maintenance log, repairs to address damage are slow. This does not provide young people with the safe and well looked after home they deserve. Other parts of the home are more homely and comfortable and offer a nice environment, for example the dining room which has a good selection of books and the spacious garden area where young people can sit outside.

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REQUIRES IMPROVEMENT

The fire alarm system was not working during the inspection and a part was ordered and due to be fitted the following day. Other safety equipment was in place, for example, fire extinguishers were available apart from in the downstairs office, emergency lighting and a fire blanket present in the kitchen. The Registered Manager has made satisfactory temporary arrangements to ensure safety while waiting for the alarm repair. Judgement grade

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Inadequate

There is a lack of consideration given to the admission and matching of young people being accepted. On one occasion, an admission was made against the recommendation from the Registered Manager. In addition, there was insufficient consideration to matching a second placement taking into account the risks that an existing placement posed.

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Inadequate

These admissions have been unsafe at times and have had an impact on the existing residents. In addition, two placements have broken down in an emergency since the last inspection, creating crisis and yet another placement move for vulnerable young people.

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Inadequate

The service is currently undergoing a restructure. At present, there is a large pool of staff going through restructure, choosing competitive interviews for posts or re- deployment. The permanent staff team will not be known until the process is complete. This has an impact on staff morale and working together as a team. This in turn affects young people as some staff say that not everyone is working with the same interest as before the amalgamation. However, it is positive that there has not been regular use of agency staff, which has ensured consistency of staff for young people.

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Inadequate

All staff are trained on the use of restraint; however, refresher training has not occurred. This has had a direct impact on the consistency of its use and records kept.

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Inadequate

Some staff do not yet fully understand the risks and vulnerabilities of some young people. For example, while staff record incidents of threatening behaviour between young people, risk assessments are always not present on file. This does not provide staff with strategies to deal with such incidents in the future.

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Inadequate

Staff say they are well supported and they have regular supervision and appraisals, which ensures that their progress and development is recorded and training needs are identified.

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Inadequate

The home has a Registered Manager who is appropriately experienced and is currently undertaking the required level 5 qualification in leadership and management. It is impressive that all the staff team hold level 3 qualifications in social care; however, essential update training has been overlooked. Policies and procedures have been updated to reflect the new framework and quality standards. The Registered Manager has good links and connections with the borough‟s LADO, safeguarding board and child sexual exploitation team to promote young people‟s safety.

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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

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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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