Children's home in Lambeth

The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

children and young people since the most recent full inspection. This home was judged inadequate at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, the home was 'not judged' . There have been no young people placed in the service since the last full inspection that took place on 17 December 2015. This inspection judged the home to be inadequate and made a significant number of requirements to comply with the Children’s Homes Regulations and Quality Standards (2015). The home does not have a registered manager and no staff are currently employed to work in the home. The quality of care provided by the home was not judged because it is not currently providing care to young people and has no staff. This means that it is not possible to evaluate the service in terms of the outcomes for young people or their experience of care. For this reason, the provider is unable to demonstrate that many of the requirements made at the previous inspection have been met. These

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

requirements are repeated in this report. The provider does not ensure that an independent visitor undertakes monthly visits to the home to monitor the quality of the service or its ‘readiness’ to provide safe care for young people. The physical environment is not yet suitable for young people as some of the young people’s bedrooms require decoration and the windows in one bedroom are unrestricted and present a hazard. The communal areas are well presented. The provider continues to ensure that the garden is well maintained. Safety checks in the home have been recently undertaken to ensure that electrical equipment is safe to use. The provider has recently updated the home’s statement of purpose, children’s guide and the location risk assessment. They have also made changes to improve the format for lone working risk assessments. These documents are not yet in use and, as such, it is not possible to assess if they will contribute to improving the

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The effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of

quality of care or the safety of young people. The home currently has a restriction of accommodation order in place. For the duration of this order, they are not permitted to admit any young people into the home.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to four children and young people who may have emotional and behavioural difficulties. A private company, Ebonycare Limited, owns and operates this home. Currently, no young people are placed.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

44: Independent person: visits and reports The registered person must ensure that an independent person visits the home at least once every month. The independent person must provide a copy of the independent person’s report to HMCI and the placing authorities of children. In particular, the registered manager should demonstrate how they are making use of these reports to make improvements to the quality of care. (Regulation 44 (1)(7)(a)(c)) 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

13. The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, with particular reference to ensuring that children experience consistency of care and that the manager understands the impact of the quality of care provided, (1) the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that— (a) helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and (b) promotes their welfare. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— (b) ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate; (c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; (d) ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; (e) ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; (f) understand the impact that the quality of care provided in the home is having on the progress and experiences of each child and

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to inform the development of the quality of care provided in the home; 28/10/2016 (g) demonstrate that practice in the home is informed and improved by taking into account and acting on— (i) research and developments in relation to the ways in which the needs of children are best met; and (ii) feedback on the experiences of children, including complaints received; and (h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home.

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to making sure that risks are assessed and that the resources to manage risks are in place. Staff should only work alone if it is safe to do so. (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 harm to the child; (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; (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. 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

45: Review of quality of care In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care for children; the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home and the quality of care they receive in it and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. Supply HMCI with a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. In particular, improve the quality of these reports to reflect the regulation, information systems must support effective monitoring and supply reports to HMCI. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(b) (4)(a) (5))

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Requirement Due date

28/10/2016 33: Employment of staff The registered person must ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development, receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience and have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(a)(b)(c)) 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

31: Staffing of children's homes The registered person must ensure that the employment of any person on a temporary basis at the children’s home does not prevent children from receiving such continuity of care as is reasonable to meet their needs. This refers to the need to reduce the number of different people providing care to young people and having a permanent, full-time core staff group. (Regulation 31 (1)) 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

8: The education standard In order to meet the education standard that children make measureable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. With particular reference to making sure that the home’s day-to-day care plans clearly identify the support and intervention in place for each child in order to help them to make progress in education (2) the registered provider must ensure— (a) that staff— (i) help each child to achieve the child’s education and training targets, as recorded in the child’s relevant plans; (iii) understand the barriers to learning that each child may face and take appropriate action to help the child to overcome any such barriers; (vi) maintain regular contact with each child’s education and training provider, including engaging with the provider and the placing authority to support the child’s education and to maximise the child’s achievement; (x) help each child to attend education or training in accordance

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Requirement Due date

with the expectations in the child’s relevant plans. 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

7. The children’s views, wishes and feelings standard In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard, with particular reference to involving young people and recording their views in care plans produced by the home, the registered provider must ensure that children receive care from 28/10/2016 staff who— (1)(a) develop positive relationships with them;(b) engage with them; and (c) take their views into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives.

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Requirement Due date

11: The positive relationships standard (1) The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on— (a) mutual respect and trust; (b) an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and (c) positive responses to other children and adults. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff— (i) meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans; (iv) help each child to develop and practice the skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone; (ix) understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children; (x) are provided with supervision and support to enable them to understand and manage their own feelings and responses to the

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Requirement Due date

behaviour and emotions of children, and to help children to do the same. In particular, the home needs to ensure that behaviour management plans are effective in reducing harmful or threatening behaviour. Staff need to be properly supervised and supported, especially when managing challenging behaviour. Children need to be supported to learn from incidents and reduce the number of incidents that endanger staff, themselves and others. 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

14: The care planning standard (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 28/10/2016 registered person to ensure— (c) that each child’s relevant plans are followed.

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Requirement Due date

10: The health and well-being standard In order to meet the health and well-being standard, with particular reference to making sure that young people have a healthy diet and are supported to prevent substance misuse. The provider must ensure that— (1)(a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and (c) children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (i) achieve the health and well-being outcomes that are recorded in the child’s relevant plans; (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; (iii) take part in activities, and attend any appointments, for the

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Requirement Due date

purpose of meeting the child’s health and well-being needs; and (iv) understand and develop skills to promote the child’s well- being. 28/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

9: The enjoyment and achievement standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the enjoyment and achievement standard, the provider must plan for and support young people to engage in activities that help them to have fun and spend positive time with staff. (1) The enjoyment and achievement standard is that children take part in and benefit from a variety of activities that meet their needs and develop and reflect their creative, cultural, intellectual, physical and social interests and skills. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure— (a) that staff help each child to— (i) develop the child’s interests and hobbies; 28/10/2016 (ii) participate in activities that the child enjoys and which meet and expand the child’s interests and preferences; and (iii) make a positive contribution to the home and the wider community; and (b) that each child has access to a range of activities that enable the child to pursue the child’s interests and hobbies.

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Requirement Due date

5: Engaging with the wider system to ensure children's needs are met In meeting the quality standards, with particular reference to developing constructive partnerships with the police and advocating on behalf of young people with the placing authority and the virtual school, the registered person must, and must ensure that staff— (a) seek to involve each child’s placing authority effectively in the child’s care, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; (b) seek to secure the input and services required to meet each child’s needs; (c) if the registered person considers, or staff consider, a placing authority’s or a relevant person’s performance or response to be inadequate in relation to their role, challenge the placing authority or the relevant person to seek to ensure that each child’s needs are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans; and (d) seek to develop and maintain effective professional

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Requirement Due date

relationships with such persons, bodies or organisations as the registered person considers appropriate having regard to the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the children’s home is to provide care and accommodation. 28/10/2016

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection’.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition, the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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