Children's Home run by Cove Care – Residential Limited in Worcestershire

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

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

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be run by a registered manager who has managed the home for several years. There have been changes in the senior staff team since the last inspection in November 2015. Recruitment is ongoing and the home is currently running on two vacancies. Young people have experienced a decline in the quality of care they have received since the last inspection. This has resulted in some young people not having their educational needs met or being adequately safeguarded. The same three young people have continued to live at the home since the last inspection. There have been no new admissions and one departure from the home. Young people are not having their educational needs met. For example, one young person has not attended school since October 2015. Although staff endeavour to work with him using work supplied by school this is inadequate as he is not receiving education from appropriately trained and qualified professionals. There

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

has been considerable delay in obtaining a new educational placement for him which has not been effectively challenged. Young people are not being adequately safeguarded as care plans and safety plans are not sufficient. Young people are at risk from sexual exploitation and violence while away from the home. For example, on three occasions one young person has returned to the home with injuries following unsupervised time away from the home. Management and staff do not have an adequate understanding of safeguarding procedures. The home is not following safeguarding procedures which has resulted in a delay in reporting these injuries to the appropriate authorities. The manager is also not notifying Ofsted of these incidents as required by regulation. The home’s monitoring systems have not been effective in identifying the areas where the service has not met regulation. For example, the home’s record which

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

evidences who has lived in the home is inadequately completed. This does not comply with regulation as it does not record young people’s placing authority or a complete address on leaving the home. Young people’s records are also unclear. Care plans are confusing and records of restraints to young people and episodes of young people going missing are unclear. For example, records do not clearly demonstrate whether young people are missing from the home or absent without authority. Records also to do not demonstrate whether young people are experiencing return home interviews from an independent person following going missing from the home. As a result, staff may not be able to put appropriate arrangements in place to safeguard them. There have been two complaints from one young person since the last inspection. These have been investigated and responded to appropriately. On a positive note, since the last inspection the organisation has recruited a further

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

therapist to work with young people. Young people have made some progress in their development and the manager and staff have worked well in partnership with others to support them. As a result, instances of physical intervention are minimal. There have been less instances of aggression and violence towards staff and young people have been engaging well with other professionals, such as, workers from youth offending service and therapists. The home environment is spacious and adequate for young people’s needs. Improvements to the decor has been made since the last inspection and the manager has a programme of further redecoration and development.

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Information about this children's home

This children's home is registered to provide care and accommodation for four young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or mental disorders. The home is operated by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

30/03/2015 CH - Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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 person must ensure that staff -

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance with the expectations in the child's relevant plans. 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that staff –

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare and (viii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies. 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

37: The registered person must ensure records in respect to children’s homes include:

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Requirement Due date

1. A record in the form of a register showing in respect of each child-

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Requirement Due date

(d) the child’s address on leaving the home; (e) the child’s placing authority. 30/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

40 (4): The registered person must notify HMCI and each relevant person without delay if-

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Requirement Due date

(a) a child is involved in, or suspected of being involved in or subject to sexual exploitation; (d) a child protection enquiry is instigated; (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 30/04/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure the each young person has an opportunity to have an independent return home interview in line with police and local authority protocols (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 Ensure young people’s records are clear and represent a significant contribution to their life. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 62 paragraph 14.5)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection 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

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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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