Children's home in Westmorland and Furness

Inadequate

There are serious and/or widespread failures that mean children and young people are not protected or their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded.

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This children’s home provision is inadequate because:

 The day-to-day care arrangements fail to monitor young people‟s safety and well-being. A young person was left for 17.5 hours without checking to see if he was safe and well.  Staff did not respond to a serious safeguarding concern in order to ascertain the safety, health and well-being of a young person.  Risk assessment and placement plans have not been adhered to by the staff to ensure young people‟s safety. In particular, in completing night-time welfare checks on young people.  Missing from home risk assessments fail to identify the individual risks and needs of young people to ensure their safety. Moreover, timescales for reporting young people missing from the home are not based on their individual needs or associated risks.  A young person‟s need for therapy, as outlined in care plans and assessment, has not been met and statutory medicals have not been completed.  Information on independent advocacy is not clear within the children‟s guide

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This children’s home provision is inadequate because:

and complaints procedure. The correct details for each placing authority‟s advocacy service are not provided to young people to ensure that they have effective means of redress outside of the organisation.  Recruitment and vetting records do not provide satisfactory information regarding the verification of references and checks from abroad, to ensure that only safe and suitable people are employed to work with young people.  The information contained in the notification of a serious incident to Ofsted is inaccurate.  Management arrangements are ineffective and fail to identify the weaknesses and gaps in staff practice, including poor daily record keeping. This lack of oversight of care practice undermines young people‟s safety and well-being.

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The children’s homes strengths

 Young people with a history of non-attendance within education now attend school regularly and make progress.  Young people have successfully moved on from the home to live independently. Transition arrangements are good and young people remain in contact with the home.  Activities are made available to young people and their interests are listened to and encouraged.  Young people report good relationships with staff and identify staff that they particularly like.  Social workers speak positively of the home and the progress that young people make.  Young people‟s previous risk-taking behaviours, such as going missing, have reduced significantly.

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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

*12: In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure— (2)(a) that staff— (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. In particular, missing from home incidents. (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child‟s welfare. 2 (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. 1 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

34: Policies for the protection of children (4) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (“the missing child policy”) setting out— (b) the procedures to be followed, and the roles and responsibilities of persons working at the home, in relation to a child who is, or has been, so absent. In particular, reporting children missing to the police and ensuring return interviews are completed. 1 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

10: In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered person must ensure that — (1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. 1 June 2016 7: In order to meet the children's views, wishes and feelings standard, the registered person must— (2)(d) ensure that an explanation is given to each child as soon as reasonably practicable after the child‟s arrival about— (ii) how to make a complaint or representations in relation to the home or the care the child receives and how any such complaint or representations will be dealt with; and (iii) what advocacy support or services are available to the child, how the child may access that support or those services and any entitlement the child may have to independent advocacy provision. 1 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

*13: In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home that — (1)(b) promotes their welfare. (2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. 1 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers (3)(d) ensure that full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. In particular, that verification of telephone references and checks abroad are made. 1 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

40: Notification of a serious event (5) A notification made under this regulation— (a) must include details of— (i)the matter; (iii) any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. 1 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a statutory requirement notice.

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered for up to nine young people.  The home is run by a private organisation.  The home offers care and accommodation for young people 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

27 March 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Inadequate

Inspectors were aware during this inspection that a serious incident that occurred at the home since the previous inspection is under investigation by the appropriate authorities. While Ofsted does not have the power to investigate incidents of this kind, actions taken by the staff in response to the incident were considered alongside the other evidence available at the time of the inspection to inform inspectors‟ judgements. The key judgement area of „how well children and young people are helped and protected‟ is inadequate, due to the serious shortfalls found at this inspection. Once this area is judged inadequate, then „the overall experiences and progress of children and young people‟ area will always be judged as inadequate. Widespread safeguarding concerns include poor risk assessment and management of young people going missing from the home, a serious safeguarding incident not being followed up to safeguard the young person concerned and safe and well

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Inadequate

checks of young people at night not being completed by the staff, despite risk assessments directing this. This, combined with the failures to provide robust management oversight of the home, undermines the safety and well-being of young people. Further concerns relate to a young person‟s assessed need for therapeutic intervention not being fully met. Moreover, this has not been followed up by the staff to ensure the best outcomes for this young person. All young people here are registered with health professionals and have access to in-house therapy services. They also have access to the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to meet their needs. For the majority of young people, these services are provided in line with their assessment of need. Arrangements are in place for the administration of medications. However, these are not robust, as the time that the medication is taken by the young person is not

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Inadequate

recorded within the home‟s documents to ensure their health, safety and well- being. Also, statutory medicals are not completed for some young people. All staff have a first aid qualification to promote safer caring. Young people attend meetings with the staff to voice their opinions and ideas about the running of the home, such as activities and menus that they would like. There is also a complaints process and children‟s guide that the young people have access to. Unfortunately, these do not contain the correct information in terms of the advocacy support on offer to them individually. For example, each placing authority has their own advocacy service that young people can access, but these contact details are not contained within the guide. Moreover, when young people complain they are not offered independent advocacy to ensure that their voice is championed independently of the organisation. There are examples of good progress for young people living here. All young

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Inadequate

people regularly attend the company schools or local college and achieve their targets. One young person is attending school regularly for the first time in a number of years. Furthermore, young people are getting involved in activities and hobbies of their choice, having new experiences and enjoying themselves. Social workers are very positive about the progress and care that the young people receive. In particular, a young person‟s past history of risky behaviour, such as going missing, has significantly reduced. One social worker commented, „He was missing from home almost every day, he was not in education at all, and there is a massive turn around.‟ The young person is also proud of his achievements and receives rewards from the home. Young people are developing skills and confidence that they need to manage their adult lives. Staff are fully supportive of this and help them with gaining part-time

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Inadequate

jobs volunteering and college courses. Staff also support young people with practical skills such as self-care, cooking and budgeting. Transition arrangements have been very well managed and a young person has successfully moved on to independent living. The staff support young people to stay in touch with their families and have a good understanding of their background history and relationships. Practical arrangements are in place and staff transport and accompany the young people. The staff work proactively with families and placing authorities to ensure that contact is safe and enjoyable.

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Inadequate

There are serious shortfalls in safeguarding practices, which can impact upon the welfare of young people. The day-to-day care arrangements for young people do not ensure that their welfare is promoted. In particular, they are left for long periods of time in their bedrooms at night, morning and afternoon without being monitored and checked on by staff. This is generally at weekends and school holidays. There are risk assessments and placement plans in place directing the staff to check young people at 10pm. These are not adhered to by the staff. Therefore, risk is not minimised and there is potential for further serious incidents at the home. There have been nine incidents of young people going missing from the home since the last inspection in December 2015. The current risk assessments do not take into account the individual needs and safety of young people. For example, the current set practice of reporting all young people as missing to the police after

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Inadequate

two hours, despite differing needs, leaves them at risk of potential harm. Additionally, return to home interviews are not routinely completed by an independent person, despite staff pursuing these with placing authorities. Safeguarding concerns are routinely referred to the local authority designated officer and placing authority social workers. But, following a serious safeguarding concern and potential harm to a young person, the staff and managers failed to take action to establish the safety, health and well-being of the young person concerned. This lack of robust action does not protect the young person. The inspectors were also concerned that the manager was unable to provide any clear explanation as to why this was not effectively addressed. Young people do say that they „feel safe‟ and that they „like the staff‟. They feel that the rules are fair and understand why restraints are used. One young person

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Inadequate

commented, „I was restrained especially when I was first placed, but staff know what they are doing and I felt safe.‟ Recordings of restraints are detailed and they are reviewed by the registered manager for their appropriateness. Restraints have increased since the last inspection, partly due to a newly placed young person who had initially struggled to settle. The staff are fully trained in a certified technique to safely hold young people. There are procedures in place for the recruitment and selection of the staff. These include checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and written reference checks that are all undertaken before any appointment is made. Although verification checks are made with referees, the content of this discussion is not recorded to demonstrate thorough scrutiny. Also, verification checks of time spent abroad are not routinely requested.

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Inadequate

The registered manager has been in post since April 2015 and subsequently registered with Ofsted in December 2015. She has the appropriate qualifications and experience to run the home. She is also supported by a deputy manager. They have begun to create a homely and nurturing environment for young people, which is evident. Furthermore, the registered manager has very good relationships with young people and the staff, who speak highly of her. Quality audit systems are in place with the aim of providing an overview of care practice and promoting improvements. These systems have failed to pick up weaknesses in various areas of practice, including poor recording of young people‟s daily information, risk assessments and care plans not being implemented and health services not being provided or followed up by the staff. It is difficult to establish the quality of care that young people are receiving due to the

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Inadequate

ineffectiveness of management monitoring processes. This lack of robust management oversight resulting in unsafe practice, undermines young people‟s safety. Regulatory notifications to Ofsted regarding serious incidents contain inaccurate and misleading information. This hampers Ofsted and other agencies in assessing and delivering their safeguarding duties in the protective network of professionals around young people. Again, these errors are not identified in the monitoring processes. There are positive reports from partner agencies and family members about the care, communication and engagement from the staff. A social worker said, „I am very supportive of the home, very happy with the young person‟s care. Staff have kept me up to date. I have found staff to be very helpful.‟ A parent commented, „Staff at the home past and present have been like an extended family for all of us over the past five years. I cannot fault the care and support they have given.‟ This

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Inadequate

demonstrates the good working relationships forged between the staff partner agencies and young people‟s families. The numbers of staff on duty are sufficient to meet the needs of young people. The staff feel supported by the managers and highlight team working as a strength of the home. They have regular supervision and training, which includes safeguarding and prevention of self-harm, to promote their competence and skills further. Recording of information relevant to young people is poor and it does not give an understanding of their daily life living here. For example, the meals that they have eaten or the time that they leave and return home is not recorded. Additionally, during inspection, the staff found it difficult to provide evidence of young people‟s health outcomes, such as statutory medicals, smoking cessation or any follow up regarding these. Dates on documents were also incorrect. This poor recording practice does not provide young people with the opportunity to

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Inadequate

look back on their information and time spent living here, if they wish to do so in the future. Nor does it provide the manager with sufficient information to assess the standards of care being provided to young people at the home, or to identify areas of poor practice that require improvement.

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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 that 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

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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