Children's home run by R Place Limited

This monitoring visit

An interim inspection was carried out on 31 March 2016 and the home was judged to have declined effectiveness due to serious shortfalls surrounding unsafe staff recruitment practices. The home’s recruitment policy and procedures were not being consistently followed by the management team. There was a failure to carry out robust and detailed checks for each member of staff employed at the home, to ensure that young people are suitably protected from the adults working with them. Individual staff recruitment records did not show how the manager had satisfied herself that all staff employed are fit to work with young people, therefore compromising the safety of young people. As a result, we issued a compliance notice on 14 March 2016 allowing the provider time to make the necessary improvements surrounding safe recruitment.

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This monitoring visit

An unannounced monitoring visit took place on 18 April 2016 to monitor compliance with the notice. It was found that sufficient steps had not been taken by leaders and managers to complete satisfactory detailed checks for each staff member employed at the home. There is no evidence to demonstrate that concerns arising from the disclosure and barring service have been appraised, addressed and are satisfactory. There is no record of discussions with other relevant agencies and referees to verify an individual’s good character. This means that there is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that the registered individual has been rigorous in making a sound judgement of the suitability of individual members of staff to work with young people. These serious shortfalls mean that young people’s safety continues to be compromised. As a result of this monitoring visit, a further compliance notice has been served

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This monitoring visit

with regard to safe recruitment of staff. Further action is needed to ensure that pre-recruitment checks of staff members are robustly scrutinised, and that appropriate monitoring systems are in place to adequately safeguard young people and to promote their welfare.

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned and operated by a private provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people who experience emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to help each child to understand how the child’s privacy will be respected and the circumstances when it may have to be limited. This is in relation to room search records. (Regulation 7 (2)(v)) 02/05/2016

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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 (a) (b)) 02/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure that: The home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (2)(b)) 02/05/2016

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Requirement Due date

*Obtain references that are current relating to any previous work involving children and young people. (Regulation 32 (7)(a)) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

*Ensure that there is a clear audit trail of information on record to demonstrate the rationale and reasoning behind the decision to employ individuals deemed to be of integrity and good character, including details of any interviews with new employees, risk assessments and enquiries made with external agencies that informs the overall judgement about fitness. (Regulation 32 (3)(a)) 11/04/2016 *Exercise vigilance in taking all reasonable steps to obtain full information about each of the matters specified in schedule 2 in respect of any individual employed at the home, specifically exploring other avenues when making enquiries about fitness, integrity and good character as opposed to accepting information at face value. (Regulation 32 (7)(a) 11/04/2016

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a 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 its 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, work- based 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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