Children's home run by Capstone Care Provider Limited in Nottingham

The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 There have been significant safeguarding concerns. This specifically relates to the staff having limited skills and abilities in being able to prevent young people going missing. This is especially concerning as the registered individual accepted a placement of a young person, known to be at high risk of going missing and being sexually exploited.  The locally agreed Runaway and Missing from Home and Care protocols (RMFHC) have not been adhered to by the home‟s staff.  Staff have not followed what is set out in young people‟s care plans or risk management plans. This has led to poor practice and the failure to keep young people safe from potential harm.  The staff team do not have the relevant qualifications, or mandatory training to keep young people safe.  Recruitment and staff records do not demonstrate that staff have been recruited safely.  The home does not have sufficient staff, and records of staff rotas were

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

inaccurate.  The registered individual for the home undertook a physical intervention. He does not have up to date physical intervention training.  There has been a lack of support to enable a young person to reduce the risks associated with smoking.  There has been ineffective partnership work with external agencies, which has impacted on keeping children and young people safe.  Quality assurance systems have been ineffective in identifying shortfalls in the home.  The home is not operating in line with its statement of purpose. Significant alterations to either the operation of the home or the statement of purpose are required. This will enable those wanting to place young people at the home to have a better understanding of its function and purpose.

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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

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met

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Requirement Due date

In meeting the quality standards, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(d) seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organizations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children‟s home is to provide care and accommodation. With particular regard to ensuring attendance at statutory and child protection meetings and clear communication with the multi-disciplinary team. 21/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(1) (b) Children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being, with specific regard to ensuring proactive support in enabling children and young people to understand the risks of smoking and access smoking cessation programmes. 21/06/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to the protection of young people that may go missing from the home, the registered person must :

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) ensure that staff - 21/06/2016 (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; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (b) that the home‟s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm.

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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:

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Requirement Due date

(2) the registered person must ensure they:

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Requirement Due date

(a) lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes set out in the home‟s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. This is with particular reference to ensure all permanent, relief and agency staff have received training as stated within the statement of purpose and training and skills specific to children‟s individual specified needs.

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Requirement Due date

(d) ensure the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child;

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Requirement Due date

(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. 21/06/2016

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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. Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of 21/06/2016 purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5))

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. This includes obtaining information for all permanent, relief and agency staff used. (Regulation 32 (3) (d)) 21/06/2016

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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 and that 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 (1) (4) (a) (b)) 21/06/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care sets out the steps local authorities and their partners should take to prevent children from going missing and to protect them when they do go missing. Children‟s homes should have regard to the relevant aspects of this guidance. With particular reference to ensuring local protocols followed in regards to attempts to locate young people. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.25)

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home that provides care and accommodation for one young person 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

06/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

08/07/2014 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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inadequate

Two social care regulatory inspectors conducted this inspection over a one day period. At the time of the inspection there were no young people resident. Since the last inspection, two young people have resided in the home and both have since left. One young person had a planned discharge and the other had an emergency discharge. This inspection used evidence about these placements to understand the experiences and progress of young people.

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inadequate

The experience and progress of young people is inadequate because a number of safeguarding shortfalls have been identified. Unsafe care practices have meant young people have been at risk of potential harm.

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inadequate

The most recent young person resided in the home for a period of 28 days. The purpose of the young person‟s placement was explicit, to prevent her from being missing from the home and from being sexually exploited. During the period of care, the young person was missing from the home for significant periods of time. The social worker said: „The instances where she was in the home were rare. There was no opportunity for them to work in activities, education or independence skills.‟ The young person moved from the home due to the registered individual identifying that staff could not keep her safe. The quality of individual care was poor and failed to promote her safety, well-being or progress.

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inadequate

During her period in the home, the young person did not access primary health care services. Staff attempted to support the young person to attend health care appointments, however the young person was often missing or refusing to attend appointments. The young person had a well-documented addiction to smoking cigarettes. Records show that the young person would scour the streets, followed by staff, looking for discarded cigarette ends to smoke. Despite the young person‟s addiction and strong motivation to seek out cigarettes, staff did not offer or provide the young person with smoking cessation support. This failed to ensure she was educated and protected from smoking related health risks.

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inadequate

One young person lived in the home for a period of eight weeks. During this time he regularly attended school and overall his progression was satisfactory. His self- care skills improved during his stay and he enjoyed taking part in his chosen activities. However, the social worker stated that staff failed to follow instructions in regards to contact arrangements with family members. This placed him at potential risk of emotional harm. The quality of relationships between young people with the staff group was overall very poor. A social care professional said: „The home is not an attractive enough proposition to encourage a young person to remain. For example lack of structure, inconsistent staff teams and agency staffing.‟ All professionals cite that the registered manager has been the backbone of the provision and has been the primary member of staff to provide support to young people.

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inadequate

Young people admitted to this home had known risk-taking behaviours. An independent reviewing officer stated: „Managers and staff were aware of the young person‟s behaviours on commencement of the placement and took the placement on the premise that they could manage these behaviours.‟ Despite these known risks, staff were ineffective in implementing risk management plans. They failed to anticipate issues of concern and were reactionary to each subsequent safeguarding incident. The social worker said: „We are very disappointed with the response of caring for the young person. The staff response to incidents felt like chaos!‟ This lack of proactive work failed to keep young people safe or protected from harm.

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inadequate

Staff did not pay full regard for the Runaway and Missing from Home and Care protocols (RMFHC). When young people had been missing from the home staff did not follow up with the placing local authority and ensure that young people received „return interviews‟. This meant vital information from young people who placed themselves at risk was not captured. Consequently, staff were unable to put in place preventative measures to protect and support young people from leaving the home.

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inadequate

Additionally, limitations on access to a designated car, meant the day-to-day operation of the home inhibited the staff from fully implementing missing from care protocols. Staff were not always able to proactively seek and locate children and young people who were missing from care. On occasions, the provider has been solely reliant on staff using their own cars. This restricts the capacity of the staff to respond to potential emergencies and to meet young people‟s wider needs.

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inadequate

Strategies to enable young people to talk about their needs and behaviours include regular one-to-one sessions with staff. Records show that despite incidents where a young person may have been at risk of being sexually exploited, direct work with the young person was infrequent. As a result, young people were not fully supported to understand the risks which may occur as a result of their behaviours.

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inadequate

Physical interventions have not been a regular feature of behaviour management in this home. However, on one occasion, the registered individual undertook a physical intervention on a young person who was exhibiting challenging behaviour. This person does not have up to date training in physical intervention. This is unsafe practice and contravenes the homes policy and statement of purpose.

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inadequate

The manager for this home registered with Ofsted in March 2015. She is currently studying the Level 5 Diploma in Leadership in Health and Social Care. This qualification will ensure compliance with children‟s homes regulations.

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inadequate

The home does not have a stable or clear staff structure, as outlined in the statement of purpose. Staff rosters demonstrate considerable movement of staff between the provider‟s three children‟s homes. Analysis of staff rosters show that staff who were still in their probationary period had been left in charge of shifts and on sleep-in shifts, prior to receiving safeguarding and restraint training. Records show that on one occasion, a staff member was lone working. This is unsafe practice which fails to provide consistency of staffing for children and young people.

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inadequate

Arrangements for ensuring that the home has a well-trained workforce are poor. At the time of the inspection, the manager could not provide any clear evidence to demonstrate how many staff had had the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, or equivalent qualification. Training records are unclear and fail to provide an accurate account of staff training or training needs. The statement of purpose outlines that: „Mandatory training includes child protection, first aid, fire awareness, health and safety, risk assessments and physical intervention training.‟ Analysis of records highlight that not all staff have relevant mandatory training. Additionally the registered individual accepted a placement of a young person who had specific needs relating to being at risk of sexual exploitation. The registered manager confirmed that no staff members have received child sexual exploitation training. The lack of training and qualifications fails to ensure that staff have

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inadequate

relevant skills and knowledge to effectively safeguard and promote the welfare of young people.

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inadequate

The statement of purpose provides a guide to parents and placing authorities about the aims and objectives of the home and care provided. However, the home has not operated in line with this guide. For example, the description of the home and its location are: „The home in itself is therapeutic in its settings.‟ This is not the case. The home is a terrace house in an inner city. It is not a therapeutic environment, staff do not have therapeutic training and the home does not have access to any specialist therapeutic advice, guidance or consultation. The statement of purpose describes the physical environment of the home as: „Its individual character provides a warm, homely, comfortable, caring and safe environment for young people. The home is decorated to a high modern standard‟. This is also not the case. The home is in poor condition. A social care professional described the home as: „Shabby, not welcoming and disorganised.‟ This

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inadequate

environment does not provide a nurturing and comfortable home which would encourage a young person to remain within.

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inadequate

The registered manager has no systems to monitor the quality of care or outcomes for young people. This means that she cannot monitor the progress and achievement of children and young people or demonstrate the impact that living in the home has on young people. Consequently, the manager cannot identify the obstacles to progression, which limits her ability to review and amend care practice.

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inadequate

Monthly independent quality assurance visits are undertaken and reports sent to Ofsted. These reports fail to evaluate the effectiveness of managers and staff to safeguard and promote the well-being of children and young people. This does not demonstrate robust scrutiny of the home and fails to direct the registered individual and the regulator to safeguarding concerns.

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inadequate

Partnership working with social care professionals has been poor on occasions. A social worker said: „Miscommunication has put young people at risk.‟ Furthermore, managers and staff did not attend an initial and crucial safeguarding meeting. This lack of engagement with the multi-disciplinary partners failed to promote the safeguarding needs of young people.

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inadequate

At the interim inspection on 6 January 2016, there were two requirements set as a result of identified shortfalls. One related to the protection of children and young people with self-harming behaviours. The registered manager has improved staff practice in relation to dealing with children and young people who self-harm. She has ensured the staff team received appropriate ligature training and ligature cutters were purchased. Additionally, improved risk assessments provided staff with a clear and accurate understanding of the risks associated with a young person‟s self-harming behaviour. The registered manager and young person‟s social worker confirmed that there were no incidents of self-harming behaviours.

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inadequate

Potential hazards within the home, identified at the interim inspection, are now safe. Specifically an upstairs window which was not sufficiently secure and access to the home‟s loft space. The registered manager has since secured both of these areas.

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inadequate

The requirement to provide accurate staff records have not been met. The registered provider cannot demonstrate that agency staff are appropriately skilled, experienced and knowledgeable to be able to offer good care for young people. The registered individual and registered manager understand the areas of concern identified in this inspection. They have agreed to ensure that shortfalls receive their full and immediate attention and that no further young people will be admitted to the home until such time as these are addressed. Ofsted will continue to monitor the progress of this home.

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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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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