Children's home in Lambeth

Inadequate

There are serious and widespread failures that mean that children and young people are not protected, their welfare is not promoted or safeguarded and they are not making progress.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 The staff in the home mostly work alone. The lone-working policy and risk assessments do not demonstrate that this is safe for young people or staff. This shortfall has not been addressed, despite the fact that it was highlighted during the previous two inspections and is subject to a compliance order.  The care plans used by the home are not up to date. They do not identify the steps that young people need to take to make progress. They do not consistently identify the interventions and support in place to achieve positive outcomes for young people.  Practice in the home in relation to behaviour management and promoting positive behaviour is inconsistent.  Staff do not have a consistent response to young people who are absent or missing from care.  The home’s policies, behaviour management documents and risk assessments provide conflicting advice on the home’s approach to using physical restraint.

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The children's home provision is inadequate because:

 Young people do not receive the help and support that they need to develop skills for independence.  The registered manager is unable to access key management information. This means that there is no effective system in place that allows her to monitor the quality of care provided in the home.  The provider is unable to demonstrate that bank staff have undertaken training in key areas of child protection or behaviour management.  Young people do not make progress in engaging in education, training or employment.

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The children's home strengths

 The shortfalls highlighted at the last inspection in relation to the physical environment have been addressed. The young person’s bedroom has been newly decorated.  An example of good practice was noted by the inspector. Staff worked effectively with the police to address challenging behaviour, without subjecting the young person to criminal charges.  The young person in the home speaks highly of the support and care that he receives. He sees it as home and feels that he is making progress.  Members of the professional network consistently speak highly of the registered manager. She communicates well with them and has a positive relationship with the young person in the home.  Staff appreciate the support provided by the registered manager. They receive regular formal supervision. These sessions address staff well-being, strategies for supporting young people and staff learning and development.

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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.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard 12(2)(b) The registered manager must ensure 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 form harm. In particular, if staff are working alone, there must be a risk assessment in place to assess the nature, seriousness and likelihood of risk events. This must also identify risk management strategies that both reduce risk and that are realistic to implement. * *15 August

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure 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; (ii) help each child to understand how to keep safe; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (iv) manage relationships between children to prevent them from harming each other; (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered *15 August person; (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern

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Requirement Due date

about a child's welfare; and (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home's child protection policies; (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; This requirement is made with particular reference to making sure that all staff have undertaken relevant child protection training and that they take the necessary steps to safeguard young people who are absent or missing from care. *

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard In order to meet the care planning standard, the provider must ensure that care plans identify the support provided to young people and the progress that they make in relation to learning independence skills. 14(1) The care planning standard is that children receive well- planned care from the home and have a positive experience of admission and transition processes. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure (b) that arrangements are in place to (iii) plan for, and support, each child to prepare to leave the home or to move into adult care in a way that is consistent with arrangements agreed with his or her placing authority. 30 August

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (‘a quality of care review’) at least once every six months. (2) In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating (a) the quality of care provided for children; (b) the feedback and opinions of children about the children's home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and 30 August (c) any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (3) After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review (‘the quality of care review report’).

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Requirement Due date

(4) The registered person must (a) supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and (b) make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home. (5) The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45)

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet regulation 44, the provider must ensure that visits take place monthly and that the registered manager states clearly, within the timescales, how the service is taking note of the recommendations made by the independent visitor. 44(1) The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the children's home at least once each month. (5) The independent person's report may recommend actions that the registered person may take in relation to the home and timescales within which the registered person must consider whether or not to take those actions. (Regulation 44 (1)(5)) 30 August

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Requirement Due date

23: Medicines 23(1) The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safekeeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children's home. 30 August

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Requirement Due date

32: Fitness of workers 32(1) The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children's safety. (2) The registered person may only 30 December (a) employ an individual to work at the children's home if the individual satisfies the requirements in paragraph (3). (3) The requirements are that (a) the individual is of integrity and good character; and (b) the individual has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform; 4) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(b), an individual who 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’); or (b) a qualification which the registered person considers to be equivalent to the Level 3 Diploma.

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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 1st April 2014, the date which falls 2 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 1st April 2014, 1st April 2016.

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Requirement Due date

(6) The registered person may defer the relevant date if the individual (a) does not work, or has not worked, in a care role in a home for a prolonged period; or (b) works, or has worked, in a care role in a home on a part-time basis.

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Requirement Due date

35: Behaviour management policies and records 35(1) The registered person must prepare and implement a policy (‘the behaviour management policy’) which sets out (a) how appropriate behaviour is to be promoted in the children's home; and (b) the measures of control, discipline and restraint which may be 15 August used in relation to children in the home.

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Requirement Due date

6: The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that children receive care from staff who (a) understand the children's home's overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children; and (b) use this understanding to deliver care that meets children's needs and supports them to fulfil their potential. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to (a) understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; (b) ensure that staff (i) understand and apply the home's statement of purpose; (ii) protect and promote each child's welfare; (iii) treat each child with dignity and respect; (iv) provide personalised care that meets each child's needs, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, taking account of the child's background; (v) help each child to understand and manage the impact of any

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Requirement Due date

experience of abuse or neglect; (vi) help each child to develop resilience and skills that prepare the child to return home, to live in a new placement or to live independently as an adult. 30 August

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to statutory requirement notices.

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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

 The home's care plans should clearly identify how they are helping young people to make measurable progress to prepare them for success in education, training or employment ('Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards', page 26, paragraph 5.2).

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Information about this children's home

This home is privately operated. It provides care and accommodation for up to five young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14 January 2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Inadequate

The young person currently living in the home does not engage with education, training or employment. Care plans devised by the home are out of date and do not identify clear targets for him to achieve in order to make progress. Care plans do not describe in detail the interventions and support that staff provide to help the young person make progress. In one example, the care plan indicated an aim of helping him to develop healthy routines by going to bed and getting up at a reasonable time. Staff do not consistently record what time he goes to bed or gets up in the morning. They are not clear about what time he is actually expected to get up in the morning. One member of staff, when asked what time he is expected to get up said, ‘8.00am.’ Another said, ‘He gets up when he wants. We normally like him to up by 11.00 am.’ This means that neither the young person nor the staff are clear about what is expected of him. He does not receive a consistent

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Inadequate

response from staff and, as a result, does largely what he wants, rather than what is expected of him. A placing authority social worker feels that the young person does not receive the help that he needs in order to learn boundaries or to make progress. The lack of a sense of purpose and direction in respect of care planning and support is widespread. The young person’s daily activity planner does not provide any activities that are designed to help him to learn skills for independence. Daily records do not show how he is engaging in tasks that demonstrate that he is developing independence skills. Staff do not involve him in day-to-day tasks in the home that would help him to learn skills for independence. One member of staff reported that the young person never helps to do the food shopping. Thus, a valuable opportunity for him to learn budgeting skills is missed. Staff consult with experts in child and adolescent mental health in order to

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Inadequate

undertake assessments to help them to understand the needs of the young person. Unfortunately, they do not make use of this assessment to inform their interventions and support. The psychologist who undertook this assessment indicated that, in order to make progress, the young person needs clear boundaries and consistent responses from staff. This does not happen in practice. She indicated that the practice of lone working does not provide sufficient resources for staff to be able to maintain firm boundaries. Staff are persistent in offering support to the young person to attend health appointments. They make sure that he is prompted to take prescribed medications, but the provider does not keep a record of medications coming into the home or of whether they are disposed of. This means that the manager cannot easily monitor whether all medications are being dispensed and handled in accordance with safe

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Inadequate

practice. Staff support the young person to pursue his interests in music production. They provide a range of equipment for him to use in the home. He also has access to professional recording equipment. Staff offer a range of activities, but have limited success in getting the young person to engage in them. Apart from some appointments and two education sessions, the young person’s weekly planner almost entirely consists of making music. It does not provide a range of activities that are designed to help him to learn new skills or to develop the confidence to try new things. The young person is very positive about being in the home. He describes the registered manager as being ‘like a mother to me’. He feels that it is his home and that the staff are helping him to make progress. He feels that he is better at managing his anger and commented that staff genuinely care about him. The staff are genuinely committed to trying to help the young person. They are

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Inadequate

caring and demonstrate considerable skill and resilience when faced with challenging behaviour. This has some positive impact on the experience of the young person, but due to the lack of a cohesive and consistent strategy for intervention, it does not help him to make progress.

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Inadequate

Staff mostly work alone and this is unsafe. The young person has a history of violence and aggression towards staff and other young people. The risk assessment for lone working does not take account of a recent assessment undertaken by a psychologist, which assessed the risk of violence to be high. Staff responses in relation to managing risk when young people are absent or missing from care are inconsistent. When the young person was missing from care for an extended period, staff worked effectively in partnership with the police and professional network to locate him and to ensure his safe return. A police officer from the missing person’s team commented that staff were particularly good at sharing information and providing regular updates. Despite this, staff are not clear or consistent when asked to describe the actions that they take when the young person does not return at the agreed time. Daily records do not demonstrate that

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Inadequate

they always keep in touch with him or report him missing at the agreed time. This runs the risk that staff may miss opportunities to keep him safe when his whereabouts are unknown. The policies and behaviour management plans in the home provide contradictory guidance for staff on the use of physical intervention. In practice, physical intervention is not used, but guidance indicates that it may be used to protect people from harm. Other documents indicate that it should not be used. Due to lone working, it would not be safe to use physical intervention. This means that if a situation occurs in which physical intervention is required to prevent harm occurring, staff are unable to use it or are unsure whether they should use it. The manager is unable to provide training records for occasional bank staff. The provider cannot be sure that all staff have the skills and knowledge to keep themselves or young people safe.

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Inadequate

Staff have positive relationships with the young person and are sometimes able to manage challenging behaviour. The registered manager was unable to access the records in relation to the reward system used to encourage positive behaviour. She was not able to demonstrate clearly what behaviours are expected in order for the young person to earn rewards. He sometimes receives reward money when he has not attended education and when his behaviour has not been positive. The impact of this is that the young person is likely to see the reward as something that he receives unconditionally, rather than as something that he earns. Rewards are not clearly linked to measurable targets or behaviours and are unlikely, therefore, to be effective in promoting positive behaviours. Incidents occur such as threatening behaviour and damage to property, which necessitate the home calling the police. In a recent example, staff worked with the

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Inadequate

police to use a reparation order, rather than criminal proceedings. This is commendable and represents positive progress from previous practice, when young people sometimes spent time in custody and faced criminal charges as a result of incidents in the home. The young person has a good understanding of the complaints procedure and is able to raise concerns outside the home. Staff support him to make representations and generally respond well in meeting his wishes. He feels that staff listen to him and understand his needs.

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Inadequate

Most records are kept in electronic form and are entered onto a computerised recording system. Staff are not consistent in how or what they record and the registered manager is often unable to access crucial information. She often relies on the responsible individual to provide this information from a central database. He is not always able to provide this in a timely fashion, if at all. On one occasion, the registered manager was not able to access the young person’s daily records for a period exceeding 48 hours. This means that she is unable to monitor the quality of recording or use it to enable her to understand what has been happening over the weekend when she is not there. She was unable to access training records for bank staff and her own supervision notes. This demonstrates that the systems in place to monitor the quality of care in the home are ineffective. Her ability to have oversight of safeguarding practice is seriously undermined by poor management

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Inadequate

information systems. The quality of care review report provided by the registered manager does not contain sufficient data, analysis or evaluation to inform service improvement. The provider has consistently failed to address some shortfalls highlighted in previous inspections, even when these were subject to compliance notices. In relation to lone working, the responsible individual previously made representations to Ofsted that this practice was informed by a psychologist’s assessment in relation to the risk of violence. The inspector interviewed the psychologist who undertook this assessment. It was clear from this discussion that the risk assessment did not support the practice of lone working. This raises serious questions in relation to the provider’s integrity and willingness to work with the regulator in order to improve the quality of care provided to young people. The provider does not ensure that an independent visitor undertakes the monthly

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Inadequate

external quality of care review. This, coupled with the lack of effective management oversight, means that there is no robust scrutiny to determine whether the care practices in the home are effective in promoting the welfare and safety of young people. Not all staff who work in the home have completed the level 3 diploma in residential childcare. The registered manager is experienced in the role and is currently undertaking a level 5 diploma in leadership and management. She provides genuine love and nurturing care to the young person and, as mentioned earlier in this report, he describes her as ‘like a mother’. Feedback for the professional network is consistently positive in regards to her commitment to young people. They feel that she communicates effectively with them. She frequently works alone and often has to cover the duties of a residential support worker. This has an impact on the time she has to undertake her management duties. Being so close to practice and direct

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Inadequate

work also makes it difficult for her to create sufficient distance for her to be able to step back and to lead the team effectively. This is a difficult position from which to manage, and it is of concern that there is no evidence as to how she is supervised and supported in the role.

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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 that 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 whom 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

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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