Children's Home run by The Serendipity Centre Limited in Hampshire

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

On this visit, the inspector looked at staffing levels, recruitment practice, staff training, complaints, the effectiveness of leaders and managers and how the home safeguards children and young people and promotes their well-being. Interviews were held with each young person resident in the home, members of staff, the acting house manager, the responsible individual and the head of care. Staffing levels The roster was viewed, and it was found that sufficient numbers of staff worked every shift. There were two omissions in the records, but cross-referencing the home’s register showed that staff were in the home at the time and were working. Staff from sister homes are used to cover on an occasional basis, but the great majority of shifts are worked by those primarily employed to work at the home. Agency workers are not routinely employed and none has worked at the home in the last five months. Children and young people reported that there are always sufficient staff available

p.2

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

and that if a member of the team at the home is off sick someone is brought in from another home in the organisation. Children and young people generally already know these workers. One young person was asked about the night when a non-care member of staff had undertaken a waking night shift. She said that she has been told he would be coming in beforehand and that she knew him from his visits to the home to do maintenance. She stated, ‘It did not bother me he was in the house.’ Members of staff spoken to consider the home to be well managed and rosters organised satisfactorily. They reported that this was particularly the case since the current acting manager came into role. One staff member said that she had only undertaken shifts in another home twice in the last two months. A member of staff who is employed to undertake maintenance undertook a waking night shift. This was to ensure that a safeguarding concern that had arisen that

p.2

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

day was appropriately managed until the investigation was completed. Risks were considered although no written risk assessment was made. It has taken into consideration that there was no member of the care team available, the staff member had an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure, had undertaken fire marshal, first aid and safeguarding training and was well known to the young people. In addition, a sleeping-in member of staff was available in the event of any incident. The alternative was to bring in an agency worker who was unknown to the young people and unused to the ethos and methods of working of the home. Given heightened tensions due to the allegation that had been made, and that closed-circuit television (CCTV) recording of communal areas of the home was an additional safeguard, the acting manager and responsible individual considered that the arrangements made were preferable. This was a sound

p.2

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

judgement. Staff Recruitment and Training Examination of personnel files and training records demonstrated that the staff member doing the waking night shift had undertaken the training stated and an enhanced disclosure, including a barring list check, had been obtained. However, in looking at other recruitment records it was found in two cases that there is no evidence that gaps in employment history have been thoroughly checked and that for the latest recruit a telephone check of a reference had not been made. It was explained that unsuccessful attempts had been made to contact the referee but these had not been recorded. Induction and continuing training were found to be satisfactory. The home is compliant with regulation 32, which requires all staff to have or obtain a level 3 diploma for residential childcare or equivalent. Appropriate training to meet any shortfalls has been sourced. It was found that one member of staff has been

p.3

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

employed for 18 months without this check having been made, leaving only six months to attain this and remain compliant. Complaints No complaint has been recorded since the last inspection took place. The report of the interim inspection that took place on 31 May 2016 evidences that practice is very strong in this area. The effectiveness of leaders and managers Regular meetings between residential, therapy and education staff, as well as senior managers ensure that progress of each young person is considered across the range of provision. It allows for a very consistent approach to care. The responsible individual was until September the registered manager for all three homes in the group and they retain a close involvement, for example, conferring in the decision made in this home regarding the non-care member of staff undertaking a waking night shift. This is partly due to the home not having a registered manager in post, a situation that has existed for nine months due to an

p.3

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

acting manager withdrawing his application. The current acting manager has been in role since March this year and is in the process of completing an application. The staff spoken to were complimentary about the house manager’s impact on the organisation of the home, saying that communication had improved since she came into post, and that she is supportive and approachable. One commented, ‘She has it so under control. The home is now a well-oiled machine.’ A new head of care has a history of improving safeguarding practice in other organisations and has identified areas to strengthen in the provision of care by this provider. The statement of purpose is regularly reviewed, but new versions are not sent to HMCI (Ofsted) as required by regulation. How the home safeguards children and young people and promotes their well- being Relationships between the young people and staff (including the manager) are very good. Young people say that staff are interested in them and their welfare.

p.3

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

They were all clear that they could speak to a member of staff if they have concerns and can trust that the matter will be handled appropriately. There was an exception to this for one young person in regard to a particular member of staff. Managers are aware of the issues and are taking steps to address them. Physical interventions are relatively infrequent. Those that do occur are well written up, monitored and include the young person’s view. The format for sanctions recording does not demonstrate that regulatory timescales are adhered to or allow for a young person’s view to be recorded. There are many more rewards given than sanctions, and young people who have specific reward schemes are responding positively to them. A range of activities are available for young people to participate in, both inside the home and in the community. A room newly designated for craft activities has increased the possibilities for this, and there is a lot of evidence of projects being

p.4

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

undertaken. CCTV cameras, without sound, operate in communal areas of the home. Consent to their use is obtained from young people, those with parental responsibility and placing authorities on admission, and there is a policy in place covering their use. They are judged to be a useful safeguard for young people and have been beneficial in the investigation of recent concerns. Conclusion  Staffing levels are sufficient for the needs of the number of young people in the home. Agency staff are very rarely used and when additional cover is required, workers are brought in from another home in the organisation. However, the vast majority of shifts are worked by the staff who are mainly employed to work at the home.  No young person or member of staff expressed concern about having workers in the home who did not know them.  The rostering of a non-care member of staff to undertake a waking night shift is an unusual step to take and, for that reason, likely to raise a level of

p.4

This monitoring visit was undertaken following an anonymous compliant

concern. However, it was a decision that took into consideration the training that the staff member had received and that the young people knew him. The evidence taken into consideration demonstrates that, of the options available, it was in the young people’s best interests, and there is no indication that there was any detrimental impact on any of them.  There are gaps in recording, including of the investigation of gaps in employment history and the roster as worked. The latter could be evidenced from other documentation, but closer attention is required to ensure that records are comprehensive.  The voice of young people is sought and acted on, with the exception of when sanctions are given as a measure of discipline. Recording practice needs to be reviewed to address this issue.

p.4

Information about this children's home

The home is privately owned, and is registered to care for up to four children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The organisation which owns the home also has sister homes in the local area and a therapeutic education setting. The home specialises in caring for girls who have experienced physical and/or emotional trauma in their past, while providing access to therapeutic services.

p.6

Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that must be taken so that the registered persons meet 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 persons must comply within the given timescales.

p.6

Requirement Due date

7. In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, the registered person must ensure that each child:

p.6

Requirement Due date

(2)(b)(i) is enabled to provide feedback to, and raise issues with, a relevant person about the support and services that the child receives. This is in particular regard to the imposition of a measure of discipline. 01/09/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(3)(b)) 14/08/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person may only employ an individual to work at the children’s home if the individual satisfies the requirement of full and satisfactory information being available in relation to each of the matters in Schedule 2. This is in particular regard to a full employment history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. (Regulation 32 (2)(a) and (3)(d) 01/09/2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that a record is made within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint; and that within 48 hours that the user has been spoken to about the measure; and signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and that within five days an addition is made to the record to confirm that the child has been spoken to about the measure. In particular, records must show that these timescales 01/09/2016 have been adhered to. (Regulation 35(3)(a-c))

p.6

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4. This is in particular regard to an accurate copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. (Regulation 37(2)(a) 01/09/2016

p.7

Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to investigate information received that suggests that there may be a breach of regulations. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.8

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,

p.9

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.9

Information about this inspection

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

p.9

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

p.9