Children's home run by Shyne Together Limited in Rushcliffe

The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Education outcomes are poor. The registered manager has failed to challenge placing authorities or local education providers when young people are offered little or no education. Some young people have not attended school at all during their placement.  Young people are provided with inadequate guidance, support, and advice regarding their health. They do not lead a healthy lifestyle, do not have sufficient exercise, and eat a poor diet. One young person has started to smoke during their placement. This further contributes to poor health outcomes.  Managers and staff do not implement safeguarding procedures robustly. Risks to young people linked to going missing from care are not fully understood. A significant incident of potential self-harm was not managed appropriately. This leaves young people vulnerable.  Young people do not benefit from well planned admissions to the home. There is a lack of understanding of how the home will meet all young

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

people’s needs. There is also insufficient risk assessment. The home does not robustly evaluate the potential impact on existing residents.  Recruitment procedures are not followed rigorously to ensure young people’s safety. For example, the full employment history of a member of staff was not taken.  The registered manager has failed to ensure that the homes records are well kept. Consequently, information on young people’s files is poor.  The location assessment of the home is weak. No information has been sought from partner agencies and the assessment fails to take fully into account the specific risks in relation to young people placed at the home.

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The children's home strengths

 Staff report feeling well supported by the registered manager and leaders of the service. They receive regular supervision and the manager is available to them to provide guidance, reassurance and support.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must ensure― (2)(d) that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to― (i) meet the needs of each child. 31 August

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the education standard the registered person must ensure that― (1) The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. 31 August

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the health and well-being standard. (1) the health and well-being standard is that― (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met. 31 August

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Requirement Due date

*12: The protection of children standard

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Requirement Due date

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 31 August account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child.

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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 enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that― (b) promotes their welfare. 31 August

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children― (1)(a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (2)(b) that arrangements are in place to― (i) ensure the effective induction of each child into the home; (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home. 31 August

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Requirement Due date

Subject to paragraph (6), the registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Reg 16(5)) 31 August

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Requirement Due date

The requirements are that― full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in schedule 2. (Reg 32(3)(d)) 31 August

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that― within 48 hours of the use of a measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’), has spoken to the user about the measure. (Reg 35(b)(i)) 31 August The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which― include the information and documents listed in schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up-to-date; and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. (Reg 36(1)(a)(b)(c)) 31 August

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must review the appropriateness and suitability of the location of the premises used for the purpose of the children's home at least once in each calendar year, taking into account the requirement in regulation 12(2)(c) (the child protection standard). When conducting the review, the registered person must consult, and take into account the views of, each relevant person. (Reg 46 (1)(2) 31 August

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately operated home that can accommodate up to three young people. The home is registered to provide care to young people who may display emotional and behavioural difficulties and mental health problems. The home is registered with the Care Quality Commission.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

16 December 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26 August 2014 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Inadequate

Young people are not making progress in several crucial areas. Their overall experience is inadequate because managers and staff do not ensure young people receive the services that they require. The managers and staff have failed to ensure young people are safe and protected from harm.

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Inadequate

The registered manager has not ensured that young people have an appropriate level of education. One young person received only four hours per week of tuition while another young person had no educational provision for the duration of their placement. The registered manager has accepted the admission of new young people in the absence of any formal education planning. The registered manager has subsequently failed to advocate vociferously on behalf of the young people to secure the education that they need. Consequently, young people’s days are unstructured, they miss peer and social interaction, and they do not achieve their potential. As well as limiting their opportunities in later life, this is detrimental to young people’s self-esteem and confidence.

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Inadequate

Young people do not receive the advice, support and guidance that are crucial to develop healthy lifestyles. One young person, with significant existing health problems linked to poor diet and lack of exercise, has started smoking since moving to the home. Young people do not eat a healthy balanced diet. The registered manager and staff have been ineffective at promoting an active lifestyle. For example, they have not identified effective strategies to promote exercise in daily routines. This leads to a sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle for young people.

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Inadequate

The registered manager and staff have implemented plans to develop young people’s independence skills. Young people are provided with guidance on budgeting, shopping, food preparation and cooking to help them develop the skills they require to live independently. As they get older they are allowed to shop and cook for themselves. However, staff do not intervene when young people make poor choices. Without staff intervention, young people have used their budgets to buy confectionary, unhealthy meals, and tobacco. This further compounds health problems. The registered manager and staff have been ineffective in supporting and guiding young people to make better choices.

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Inadequate

Despite these shortfalls, young people do make some progress in relation to their emotional and mental health. They receive regular counselling. The registered manager and staff have good and effective relationships with the local child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), which helps to ensure good coordination of mental health services for young people.

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Inadequate

Admission processes are poor. New admissions do not receive a robust assessment of how their needs will be met. This is particularly apparent in relation to education needs. The registered manager has been ineffective in her matching of new young people to existing residents. During this inspection, there was a failed attempt to admit a new young person. The young person simply refused to enter the building. The registered manager had information available to predict there may be problems, including the refusal of the young person to visit his planned new home prior to the admission, but failed to act on this information. This lead to a difficult, potentially traumatic, incident for the young person.

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Inadequate

Young people’s relationships with staff are variable. The young people have access to an independent advocacy service. They know how to complain and have access to adults and professionals external to the service. The views of young people are captured through house meetings and through daily discussions with staff members and managers. As a result, young people receive encouragement by the manager and staff to give their views and opinions. However, at times they do not feel listened to. During the inspection, a difficult and volatile situation between a young person and the registered manager was observed. The registered manager eventually managed to contain and de-escalate the situation but the young person stated, ‘staff do not listen to me, and they think they know best. But they should really listen to me’.

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Inadequate

The registered manager and staff are not safeguarding young people effectively because they do not fully understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting young people. Their knowledge and understanding of child protection, especially the risks to young people of going missing and child sexual exploitation, is weak. Staff do not work in accordance with safeguarding procedures or correctly implement them. For example, one young person was prevented from self-harm by the actions of staff. However, they did not deem the incident as significant. As a result, there were inadequate levels of recording, no referral to specialist agencies, and the placing local authority was not informed. The young person was not subsequently spoken with about the incident. This was an inadequate response to a serious incident.

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Inadequate

Incidents of young people going missing from care have met with an insufficient response from the registered manager and staff. The precise details of exactly when young people go missing, together with the time and circumstances of their return, are not sought. Young people are not welcomed when they return home; any consideration to medical treatment is not recorded. Young people do not receive a consistent debrief by staff and have not challenged social workers when return interviews do not take place. Staff appear to make minimal efforts to locate young people and key information pertaining to specific risk factors is not provided to police. The registered manager and staff have not been alert to the risk that, or considered the potential that, when young people go missing they could be at risk of sexual exploitation or gang activity. One young person went missing and was found by police at a train station in a distressed state. The police recommended a

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Inadequate

mental health assessment for the young person, this assessment to be undertaken by medical staff assigned to police. Staff members collected the young person but no further contact was made with mental health professionals to review the recommendation, actions taken or outcome.

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Inadequate

Staff members rarely have to resort to the use of physical intervention to manage behaviour. Since the last inspection, there have been two such incidents. On both occasions, physical intervention was required to keep the young person and staff safe. Following any such intervention, the young person is debriefed and their views sought. However, staff members are not receiving debriefs following the use of physical intervention. This hampers the registered manager in obtaining a full understanding of what took place. The majority of staff have received training in the use of physical intervention. Training takes place annually and this means that, for new staff joining the home prior to training taking place, there is potentially a period of time when they have had no training in physical intervention.

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Inadequate

The physical environment is potentially unsafe. A damaged window restrictor in a young person’s bedroom renders it ineffective. The young person explained that staff place the restraint back daily and then she simply removes it. This window is on the second floor of the building and this raises concern for the safety of the young person concerned. The registered manager has not completed a rigorous location risk assessment. The registered manager sought the views of key partner agencies such as the police when completing this annual assessment but when these views were not provided by the police the registered manager did not pursue this information. Additionally, the location assessment is not tailored to the specific risks and needs of the young people living at the home.

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Inadequate

Recruitment practice is not robust. The registered manager failed to ensure that a new member of staff provided a full account of their employment history. The staff member in question had a gap of three years unaccounted for. The registered manager had not identified this gap through scrutiny of the application form. A lack of diligence in this regard has the potential to place young people at risk.

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Inadequate

When the behaviour of young people is not acceptable, the staff use appropriate sanctions and consequences. They discuss the reasons for any such measure with the young person. Good behaviour is rewarded and young people are praised. The staff group use negotiation, discussion, and compromise to prevent behaviour deteriorating. This means young people understand how to behave in a socially acceptable manner, which will prepare them for when they leave care.

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Inadequate

The registered manager has been in her position since August 2014. She is not qualified with the diploma in leadership and management level 5 but is undertaking this programme and due to complete in August 2016. The registered manager and a number of senior staff are qualified mental health nurses and are able to bring these skills to bear in caring for young people with emotional and mental health difficulties. Nevertheless, the impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers is inadequate because young people are not being appropriately protected from harm and their welfare needs are not being met. The registered manager has not ensured that the culture of the service is aspirational or focussed upon young people’s safety.

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Inadequate

The statement of purpose fails to clarify exactly what therapeutic services the home provides to young people. The statement is vague in its definition of the ‘therapeutic environment’ offered. It also does not differentiate between individual work with young people, counselling, and therapy. In addition, the statement of purpose does not detail sufficiently the qualifications and experience of staff undertaking specific work with young people. This lack of clarity can hamper social workers and commissioners in making the right placement choice for young people.

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Inadequate

Recording is poor. Written information lacks crucial details, is inexact, and at times illegible. Records are often difficult for the reader to understand and follow. The registered manager has not ensured that recording is carried out diligently and in a thorough manner. This hampers full understanding of what is occurring in this home.

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Inadequate

Staff members report feeling supported by managers. One member of staff stated, ‘I can’t praise this place enough, I have been supported from day one’. Staff feel supported through the provision of regular professional supervision. Supervision arrangements are enhanced through the staff team having regular consultation with a psychotherapist. However, although the team meetings take place monthly, there is poor attendance by staff. This means that some staff members can go some months before they join a formal team meeting. This hinders good communication systems in the home and team cohesion. The registered manager has recently reviewed and strengthened the quality assurance monitoring of the service. A new independent visitor has been appointed to carry out monthly monitoring visits. The registered manager is aware of the weaknesses in the service. She is resolute that she will drive improvements and a

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Inadequate

detailed action plan has been quickly put in place to address shortfalls identified during this inspection.

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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. 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 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 that 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

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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