Children's Home run by Idem Living Limited in Devon

inspection

Action has been taken to address the compliance notice served at the previous inspection.

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Requires improvement

The children’s home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

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The children’s home provision requires improvement because:

 When a young person is missing from the home, staff have not always followed the protocols agreed with the local police. In addition, young people are not always receiving an independent return home interview when returning home from missing.  Staff are not always recording in detail the action they have taken when young people go missing and return home.  The registered manager has not ensured that the placement agreement contract is clear, and agreed in full, prior to admitting a young person to the home.  The registered manager has not always ensured that records relating to the use of restraint record the time and duration of the restraint.  Young people’s views and experiences of the use of restraint have not been recorded.

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The children’s home strengths

 The young person enjoys living at the home and is being supported by a staff team that places her needs at the centre of its practice. She enjoys taking part in a variety of activities, and the staff are providing her with new opportunities and experiences.  Staff have developed positive relationships with her and consult with her daily in order to obtain her views about the quality of care she is receiving.  Placement plans and risk assessments are comprehensive, and provide staff with clear guidance and support in how her needs are to be met.  Staff fully encourage and support the young person to attend school and assist her in her homework when needed. Staff have attended a parent’s evening at the school. She is doing well at school.  Staff speak well of the support they receive from the registered manager. They feel listened to and are involved in the review and updating of placement plans and risk assessments.

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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 protection of children standard, with respect to following missing from home protocols, the registered person must ensure that:

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Requirement Due date

12. (2) staff take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. In particular, follow the protocols as agreed by the local police. 17 June 2016

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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, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(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. In particular, that the responsible person continues to monitor the effectiveness of leadership and management of the home. 17 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. In particular, that placement agreement contracts are clear, and are agreed prior to admission 17 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records 17 June 2016 The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made time and duration of the restraint. (3) (a)(iii)(vi)

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that any child who has been restrained should be given the opportunity to express their feelings about their experience of the restraint as soon as is practicable, ideally within 24 hours of the restraint incident, taking the child and the circumstances of their restraint into account (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 49, paragraph 9.60).

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Recommendations

 Ensure that when a child returns from 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 (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30).

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Recommendations

 Ensure that staff are familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording (Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations including the quality standards, page 62, paragraph 14.4).

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company and provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who may display emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

12 February 2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

20 February 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Requires improvement

There are mixed outcomes for young people. Since the previous inspection, one young person has left the home. This was a planned move due to the home not being able to meet his needs. Despite the efforts of the staff team, he continued to put himself in high-risk situations that compromised his safety. He presented behaviours that the staff team were not able to manage. The home worked in collaboration with the placing authority to plan and implement a smooth transition.

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Requires improvement

The young person enjoys living at the home. She is very relaxed in the company of staff and has begun to develop positive relationships with them. She thoroughly enjoys playing card games, and garden games. She receives individualised care and support. She said, ‘It’s fun here, I like playing card games with the staff.’ She said, ‘I like the food. I plan the menus with staff.’ She is able to describe what a healthy diet is and said, ‘Staff give me lots of choices.’ Her social worker said ‘she is appropriately placed and there are no concerns about the quality of care being provided.’

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Requires improvement

Staff treat her with dignity and respect and place her at the centre of their practice. Staff consult with her daily and ask her to comment on the care and support she has received, and if anything can be better. She records her views in her daily records. She has recorded positive comments about her care, with a lot of ‘smiley faces’.

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Requires improvement

The young person enjoys going to school and is in full time education in a mainstream school, and is achieving well. She said, ‘Staff take me to school and pick me up.’ Staff encourage her to do her homework and actively support her with her homework if needed. In addition, staff attend parents’ evenings. A member of education staff said, ‘She seems to have had a good start in this placement.’

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Requires improvement

Young people enjoy access to a wide range of activities in the wider community. This includes visits to the local park, leisure centre, shops and local swimming pool. Young people’s health and well-being is promoted. The registered manager has reviewed the home’s smoking policy to demonstrate the support and the action that are provided to encourage young people not to smoke. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The responsible individual has taken robust action following the inappropriate use of a restraint during a high risk incident in the home. This matter was referred to the local area designated officer (LADO) and an internal investigation was undertaken. The responsible individual has taken robust action to address this, and the LADO is satisfied with the action that has been taken. As a result of this, all staff working in the home have received refresher training in the home’s preferred method of de-escalation and restraint.

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Requires improvement

The use of restraint is infrequent. However, records pertaining to the use of restraint do not always include the time and duration of the restraint. In addition, young people’s views about the use of restraint are not always recorded.

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Requires improvement

On one occasion when a young person went missing, staff did not follow the agreed protocol with the local police as they did not report the young person missing within the agreed period of time. In addition, staff do not always detail the action that they have taken when a young person goes missing. When young people return home, staff undertake a missing from home interview and record their discussions. However, one placing authority has not ensured that they have undertaken an independent return home interview following all episodes of missing. The local police missing person and safeguarding officer said, ‘There have previously been some high-end issues around child sexual exploitation. The home took robust action.’

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Requires improvement

The registered manager has developed a comprehensive behaviour support plan, and detailed risk assessments in respect of the young person currently living at the home. The plans clearly guide staff in how to manage her known behaviours, and to reduce risk. These are kept under regular review. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of her needs, are aware of the known risks. Her social worker confirmed that he is aware of the most recent behaviour support plan and risk assessments.

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Requires improvement

Staff clearly demonstrate that they are able to set clear boundaries and promote positive behaviour. This is supported by an appropriate rewards system that is clearly understood by the young person. She says that she feels safe and her social worker considers that she is safe.

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Requires improvement

Leaders and managers ensure that there is a robust selection and vetting of staff procedure in order to safeguard young people.

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Requires improvement

The home is very well maintained and promotes a safe environment. The registered manager ensures that there are regular safety checks undertaken on the home’s utility services. Judgement grade

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Requires improvement

The responsible individual has identified weaknesses in the leadership and management of the home. He has developed an action plan and taken actions to address these concerns. The action plan is under regular review by the responsible individual to monitor the registered manager’s performance, and to ensure that the home is managed effectively.

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Requires improvement

One young person has been admitted to the home since the previous inspection. The registered manager has ensured that a comprehensive assessment of her needs was undertaken. Her placement plan and risk assessments were obtained from the placing authority, and the registered manager obtained further information prior to her admission. However, at the time of the inspection it was noted that further clarity was needed in respect of the placement agreement contract between the placing authority and the home. This was addressed and rectified by the registered manager at this inspection.

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Requires improvement

The young person’s placement plan and risk assessments are comprehensive, and clearly guide staff in how to meet her needs. They are kept under regular review and amendments are made when needed. Staff demonstrate a good understanding of her needs and these are discussed and reviewed in detail at staff handover periods. This promotes continuity and consistency of her care.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager has been open and transparent in the shortfalls that have been identified in her leadership and management of the home, and is committed to address the shortfalls identified. She has the appropriate qualifications and experience, and has been in post since January 2014. Staff speak well of the support and guidance that they are receiving. Staff say that they feel listened to and consulted, and involved in the planning of the care and support in the home. One member of staff said, ‘We are listened to without question’ and another member of staff said, ‘There is a huge drive on communication and working together.’

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Requires improvement

Leaders and managers ensure that there is regular external scrutiny of the performance of the home and act upon recommendations that are made. The registered manager is aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home and has developed monitoring systems that inform her of the quality of care provided. For example, she has developed a management monitoring tool in respect of behaviour management. The home’s statement of purpose is regularly kept under review and reflects the services that are provided. The most recent review of this identifies that the home will provide care and accommodation for one child.

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Requires improvement

All staff working in the home have received a comprehensive induction and have received the required mandatory training. In addition, all staff have undertaken training in the safe handling of medicines, positive behaviour support, health and safety and attachment training. Some staff have received training in internet safety and food safety. The training and development plan identifies that further training is planned in the ‘Prevent’ duty, equality and diversity and self-harm. Three of the six care staff have the level three qualification and the remainder are undertaking the qualification.

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Requires improvement

The registered manager promotes good relationships between social workers, police, education provision and parents, and actively seeks feedback from them about the performance of the 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 children looked after is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, but 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

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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