Children's home SC367737

This monitoring visit

The home was judged as inadequate at the full inspection in April 2016. One compliance notice was issued in relation to Regulation 12: the protection of children standard, and there were six additional requirements. Following this inspection, the registered person provided Ofsted with regular information about young people’s activities outside of the home, and described the action the leaders and managers had taken to remedy the weaknesses. This information lacked evidence of the registered person’s evaluation of young people’s activities and his assessment of whether they were safe. Ofsted carried out a monitoring visit on 23 May 2016. The two inspectors spoke with the majority of young people living at the home, members of staff on duty, including the registered person and the deputy manager, and scrutinised records. Prior to the visit, the inspectors consulted with external agencies to obtain their

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This monitoring visit

views about whether young people are safeguarded. Positive feedback was received from the young people about their experiences, and, in particular, their views about how well they feel staff care for them, listen to them and keep them safe. Commissioners said that the responsible individual has done all that was asked of him, and has put measures in place as requested. The inspectors found that the registered person has taken steps to protect young people, but this work needs further improvement. Young people no longer leave the home late at night and their visits to an adult male’s home in the local area have ceased. Following the previous inspection, checks carried out on this adult male identified that he was not a suitable person for young people to interact with. Together with the local police team, staff spoke with the young people about the reasons for preventing them having further contact with this adult male. The young people have signed agreements to say

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This monitoring visit

that they will not visit the address again. In addition, discussions have taken place with young people and staff about the risks of grooming and exploitation. Further urgent action is required to ensure that the registered person and staff team have an accurate understanding of what young people do outside of the home and whether they are safe. Some young people have told staff that they are now visiting the local park to use the skating facilities and to socialise with friends. Records show that they can spend considerable time there during the day and evening. Staff have not assessed if there are any risks to young people by visiting this park, and have not checked that they are where they say they are. Staff remain too reliant on accepting what is told to them, and have not taken sufficient action to understand what young people are doing, and if they are safe. Despite some improvements, leadership and management of the home remains

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This monitoring visit

weak. Neither leaders, managers nor staff are using information known about young people effectively to ascertain any potential trends and patterns to their behaviour. Staff could not explain if there was a pattern to young people visiting the park. Written evidence of staff’s direct work with young people is of poor quality. Records of one-to-one key work meetings with young people do not confirm that staff are supporting young people with the needs identified in their care plans and risk assessments. All young people have current sexual health and relationship needs. Staff are too reliant on work in this area being the responsibility of the teachers in school rather than actively delivering it themselves. There is a lack of resources in the home directly available to young people to provide them with information about sexual health and relationships. Staff have been required by the registered person to read the local authority

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This monitoring visit

guidance on safeguarding young people and the risks of exploitation. The registered person and deputy manager have not tested staff’s understanding of this guidance. As a result, they are not assured that staff understand the risks to young people or that they will work within this guidance. The registered person and deputy manager have started to establish better links with external safeguarding agencies. They have met with the local area designated officer (LADO), police teams, including the local beat manager, and the intervention officer from the public protection team. The registered person, deputy manager and a member of staff were clear about reporting arrangements to the LADO and safeguarding agencies. Together with social workers and commissioners, the registered person and deputy manager have amended young people’s risk assessments. A written protocol describing the action that staff should take if young people leave the home late at

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This monitoring visit

night has been produced. Young people have also been involved in devising this protocol and, as a result, they understand what action staff will take. The registered person has not considered the wider risks of young people’s whereabouts being unknown by staff at other times. An agreement with the placing authority on checking adults who young people want to spend time with has been developed. This system has been used on two occasions since the previous inspection, and there is evidence of the registered person consulting social workers and the police about these arrangements. The registered person has sought additional training for staff on safeguarding children and the risks of exploitation. These sessions have not yet been completed. Young people remain positive about their experiences and the care they receive from staff. All young people have made good progress since living here. This is particularly evident in their successes at school and college. Young people who

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This monitoring visit

were previously involved in criminal activities before living here have reduced and/or stopped these behaviours. Young people told the inspectors that these achievements are as a result of feeling listened to by staff. A second full inspection will be carried out to ascertain the effectiveness of leaders and managers work.

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Information about this children’s home

A private company operates this home and provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who may display emotional and behavioural difficulties and/or learning 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

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

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Requirement Due date

5. In meeting the quality standard, the registered person must ensure that staff: (d) seek to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations 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.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, sharing information with the placing authority and police if there are concerns that young people may be placing themselves at risk of serious harm in the wider community. 1 May 2016

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Requirement Due date

11. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (a) that staff: (v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, setting boundaries and expectations when young people are socialising outside of the home. 1 May 2016 12: The protection of children standard

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Requirement Due date

(1) The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure: (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 (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. 18 May 2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to: (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. 31 May 2016

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Requirement Due date

25. (1) After consultation with the fire and rescue authority, the registered person must: (d) ensure, by means of fire drills and practices at suitable intervals, that people working at the home and, so far as reasonably practicable, children are aware of the procedures to be followed in case of a fire. 8 May 2016

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Requirement Due date

33. The registered person must ensure that all employees: (b) receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and relevant training. 5 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

44. (2) When the independent person is carrying out the visit, the 31 July 2016 registered person must help the independent person: (a) if they consent, to interview in private such of the children, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home as the independent person requires.

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that the children’s home is presented as a homely and welcoming environment and not to give an institutional impression. In particular, consider introducing soft furnishing, pictures and photographs, and encourage young people to personalise their bedrooms. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 their 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 children looked after 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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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