–

Inadequate

There are serious failures that mean young people are not protected and their care and experiences are poor.

p.2

The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Leaders and managers have not protected young people from harm. Young people have gone missing from the home and been subject to child sexual exploitation. Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that young people always receive an independent return home interview when they have been missing. Consequently, important information about the young people’s experiences when they are missing is not obtained. As a result, staff, external safeguarding agencies and the local authority are not able to use this information to understand the significance of the concerns or reduce the risk of harm to the young people.  There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate that staff talk with young people about staying safe. Young people who have been subject to sexual exploitation and those who are in sexual relationships are not helped to understand about consent and healthy, safe relationships.  Leaders and managers have made decisions for young people to live

p.3

The children's home provision is inadequate because:

together at the home despite their behaviours being a risk to each other. Incidents of young people going missing from the home and being involved in sexual exploitation have taken place. Staff were unable to prevent these behaviours increasing and leaders and managers decided to terminate some young people’s placements immediately. This resulted in increased placement moves and is a poor outcome for these young people.  The manager does not effectively challenge other agencies who are not fulfilling their statutory responsibilities. For example, the manager does not obtain the necessary information from the placing authority in preparation for young people’s placements. Neither has she ensured that independent return home interviews are provided as required.  The manager has not ensured that the Children’s Home Regulations (2015) relating to restraints, sanctions, complaints, vetting of new staff and

p.3

The children's home provision is inadequate because:

notifications are met. In addition, records show that not all staff have received sufficient training to help them to care safely for the young people.  Some aspects of the environment are not helping to make the home look homely and welcoming throughout.  Neither the manager nor the independent visitor’s monitoring identified the weaknesses found at this inspection.

p.3

The children's home strengths

 Young people regularly attend school and take GCSE qualifications. They have good opportunities to develop their sporting interests, artistic talents and cooking skills.  Young people stay in touch with their family, friends and develop their independence skills.  Staff report that they feel well supported and that the team is stable for young people.  The manager identifies a weakness in the operation of the home, that is, accepting emergency placements can be problematic and not an ideal start to a young person’s placement.

p.4

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 ‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards#. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

p.5

Requirement Due date

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

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the engaging with the wider system standard, the registered person must— (a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority in the child’s care effectively, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. 30 September 2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard

p.5

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality of care standard, the registered person must ensure that children receive care from staff who— (1) (a) understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (b) ensure that staff— (ii) protect and promote each’s welfare; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child’s needs, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans, taking into account of the child’s background; and (c) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to— (i) meet the needs of each child. 30 September 2016

p.5

Requirement Due date

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; 30 September 2016 (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles.

p.5

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (ii) understand the child’s health and well-being needs and the options that are available in relation to the child’s health and well-being, in a way that is appropriate to the child’s age and understanding.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure— (1) that children are protected from harm and are enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person; and (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. (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. 30 September 2016

p.6

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard*

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must ensure— (1) that they enable, inspire and lead a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare.

p.6

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (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. (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and 31 August 2016 skills to meet the needs of each child.

p.6

Requirement Due date

In order to meet the care planning standard, children must— (1) (a) receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and (b) have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (b) that arrangements are in place to— (ii) manage and review the placement of each child in the home and (iii) plan for, and help, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with the child’s placing authority. 30 September 2016

p.7

Requirement Due date

(1) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(2) The registered person may only— (a) employ an individual to work at the children’s home; or (b) if an individual is employed by a person other than the registered person to work at the home in a position in which the individual may have regular contact with children, allow that individual to work at the home, if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3).

p.7

Requirement Due date

(3) The requirements are that— (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; (c) the individual is mentally and physically fit for the purposes of the work that the individual is to perform; and (d) full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in schedule 2.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who 30 September 2016 works in the home in a care role has the appropriate qualification if, by the relevant date, the individual has attained: (a) the level 3 diploma for residential childcare (England) (‘the level 3 diploma’) (b) a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the level 3 diploma.

p.7

Requirement Due date

(5) The relevant date is— (a) in the case of an individual who starts working in a care role in a home after 1 April 2014, the date which falls two years after the date on which the individual started working in a care role in a home; or (b) in the case of an individual who was working in a care role in a home on 1 April 2014, 1 April 2016.

p.8

Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records

p.8

Requirement Due date

(3) The registered person must ensure that— (b) within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’)— (i) has spoken to the user about the measure; and (c) within five days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. 30 September 2016

p.8

Requirement Due date

(3) The registered person must ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response, and the outcome of any investigation. 30 September 2016

p.8

Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if— (a) a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation; (b) an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious; or (e) there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. 30 September 2016

p.8

Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports 30 September 2016 (1) The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children’s home at least once each month.

p.8

Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notice.

p.9

Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate five young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The service is operated by a charitable organisation.

p.10

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.10

Recent inspection history

18 February 2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.10

Recent inspection history

15 January 2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

p.10

Inadequate

The experiences and progress of some young people since the previous inspection are poor. Four young people’s placements were terminated immediately by the provider because staff could not keep them safe. During their time living at the home, some young people have been the victims of sexual exploitation, caused damage to the property, used physical violence against each other and staff, misused drugs and been involved in criminal behaviour. Three young people’s placements lasted less than six months.

p.11

Inadequate

The manager has not challenged weaknesses in other agencies’ practice. She admitted two young people to the home without an up-to-date local authority care plan. As a result, staff are not provided with current information and guidelines about the local authority’s objectives for young people and how the staff are expected to achieve these objectives.

p.11

Inadequate

There is insufficient evidence to show that staff provide good support to young people about their personal health and relationships. Some young people have been sexually exploited, some are in sexual relationships and others misuse substances. Two staff spoken with during the inspection said that they had not completed any sexual health work with young people. Records detailing discussions that staff have with young people do not always show that they talk together about sexual health matters, consent and safe relationships. Staff do not provide direct guidance to young people who misuse drugs, although they do refer young people to an external support agency. In addition, they do not follow up with all young people after incidents, about their safety, such as the dangers of socialising with older males.

p.11

Inadequate

Staff do not provide a pleasant environment throughout for young people to live in. There are locks on some kitchen cupboards, a communal room is locked during the day, and there are numerous health and safety signs on display. Noticeboards are reminiscent of a school and information posters on the back of bedroom doors would not typically be found in a family home. Window restrictors in young people’s bedrooms contain large metal chains covered in plastic.

p.11

Inadequate

Young people regularly attend school and take GCSE qualifications. Some young people report that they enjoy living at the home and state that they get on well with staff. They all have good opportunities to see their families and remain in touch with their friends. Young people develop their sporting interests, artistic talents and cooking skills with the staff team’s support. They use public transport capably and one has a provisional place at college for September 2016. Young people have games in the garden, some of which they have chosen themselves. One also enjoys going on days out with staff.

p.11

Inadequate

Leaders and managers have not adequately protected young people from the risk of harm and actual harm. Since the full inspection in October 2015, six young people have gone missing from the home on 40 separate occasions. Only 17 independent return home interviews took place, and only with two of the six young people. The lack of return home interviews means staff and external agencies are unable to understand the young people’s experiences when they are missing and take action to reduce the future risk of harm. There is evidence that when some young people were missing, they were sexually exploited and were involved in criminal activity. One young person’s whereabouts when he is away from the home is not always known by staff and currently there are serious concerns about his potential involvement in gang-related crime.

p.12

Inadequate

The staff team’s follow up work with young people going missing is ineffective. Missing from care risk assessments are not updated with current procedures, some incident reports have not been completed despite incidents taking place, and some records lack important details about the young person’s return. The manager has not taken action to deal with these weaknesses and ensure practice is improved.

p.12

Inadequate

Not all staff have received training in understanding the risks of and preventing child sexual exploitation. Other staff have received this training, but have not adequately applied their learning to their direct care of young people.

p.12

Inadequate

The safeguarding against the severity of serious incidents at the home is inadequate. Young people have been aggressive to each other and staff; they have harmed themselves and caused damage to the home, as well as, brought drugs onto the premises. On occasions, staff have called the police to manage young people’s behaviour. As a result, one young person has been given a criminal conviction.

p.12

Inadequate

The staff team’s follow up to physical restraints is inadequate. Staff do not discuss with young people what happened and how they feel about the incident. As a result, the manager is missing the opportunity to help young people to express their feelings and for the staff team to learn from young people’s feedback. In addition, staff are not routinely engaged in reflective discussions about their involvement in the incident. This lack of opportunity does not help them to consider their work practice, ensure that the measure was appropriate and consider ways to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

p.12

Inadequate

Staff use sanctions in response to negative behaviour by young people. The measures used are not reviewed for their effectiveness. In addition, staff do not routinely obtain young people’s comments when they are given a sanction. Therefore, the sanctions have become repetitive and largely ineffective.

p.13

Inadequate

The manager has not thoroughly explored the recruitment details of the newest staff member. Questions about their dates of education and missing information from one reference have not been explored. Leaders and managers had not identified this weakness in the vetting process and, as a result, cannot be assured that all staff member’s details are satisfactorily scrutinised before they commence work with young people.

p.13

Inadequate

The manager works collaboratively with the local authority in response to identified safeguarding concerns. Staff also raise concerns with the local authority about the suitability of young people’s placements, following serious incidents of them going missing. This led to a strategy discussion with the local authority and actions agreed on how to help keep the young person safe. The young person left the home before these actions were implemented.

p.13

Inadequate

Staff receive regular support and guidance from a clinical psychologist aimed at helping them to understand the previous experiences of young people and how these experiences affect their present emotions. This gives staff a good opportunity to talk about challenging incidents and to discuss the emotional impact on them.

p.13

Inadequate

The impact and effectiveness of leaders and managers are inadequate as a result of the manager’s poor admission decisions for new young people. She does not sufficiently take into account compatibility with the existing residents’ needs and the staff team’s skill base. Impact risk assessments for new young people are ineffective. Leaders and managers have decided to place two young people together whom they knew had similar high risk needs. As a result, the young people went missing together and were sexually exploited. These behaviours increased and started to negatively affect other young people in the home. As a result of these concerns, leaders and managers ended two young people’s placements immediately.

p.13

Inadequate

The manager does not lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the ethos and expected outcomes that are set out in the home’s statement of purpose. The document states that staff will provide a ‘high quality and safe home’. The findings of this inspection confirm that this statement is not met. A compliance notice has been served to ensure that the registered person reviews the statement of purpose and young people’s admissions to ensure young people are protected.

p.13

Inadequate

Training records show that only half the team has had training in supporting young people who are at risk of sexual exploitation, despite this being a prevalent issue. The staff team is supporting a young person, who is described as having an attention deficit disorder, without having been trained to meet her needs. Staff are not trained to provide young people with guidance on sexual health and relationship advice, or on self-injurious behaviour. Six staff who have been employed for longer than two years have not achieved the necessary residential childcare qualification. This approach does not ensure that young people are supported by a competent staff team that has the skills to understand their specific needs.

p.14

Inadequate

The manager’s recording of complaints requires improvement. A young person raised a concern about the manner in which a staff member responded to him. A resolution meeting was held with the young person. However, the manager did not record the complaint or the outcome. This does not ensure that effective independent oversight of complaints take place.

p.14

Inadequate

The manager does not always notify Ofsted of significant events about the protection of young people. Serious incidents of young people going missing and occasions when the police have attended the home have not been notified as required. As a result, Ofsted is not fully informed of events impacting on the young people’s welfare and experience.

p.14

Inadequate

The manager does not have effective contingency plans in the event that the independent person is unable to attend the home every month to monitor the quality of care. As such, one visit has not taken place as required. The independent monitoring that has taken place is ineffective at reviewing the safeguarding arrangements for young people. The visitor has not identified weaknesses in the manager’s and staff team’s practice evident at this inspection.

p.14

Inadequate

Staff report that they feel well supported in their role and that there is a stable team in place for the young people. There has been no use of agency staff. Social workers for the current young people do not raise any significant concerns and feel that staff do the best that they can, sometimes in difficult circumstances.

p.14

Inadequate

The manager identifies that accepting emergency placements can be difficult, as young people do not have time to visit the home and the local authority does not always provide the necessary documentation and information.

p.14

Inadequate

The manager has been in post since December 2014 and has been registered with Ofsted since January 2016.

p.14

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. 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

p.16

What the inspection judgements mean

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 harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

p.16

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

p.17

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 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

p.17

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 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,

p.18

Information about this inspection

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

p.18

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.18

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.18