Children's home run by Positive Steps (Care Services) Limited in Peterborough

Requires improvement

The children's home is not yet delivering good help and care for children and young people. However, there are no serious or widespread failures that result in their welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

p.2

The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 The manager has not followed the provider’s safeguarding policy and procedures. Failure to make a prompt referral to relevant professionals about a safeguarding concern does not adequately protect vulnerable children.  The provider failed to notify Ofsted of a significant safeguarding concern. As a result, Ofsted could not monitor the provider’s response to this matter to ensure the safety of the children.  The manager has not analysed changes in the area in the location risk assessment. The risk assessment fails to inform staff and others of the impact of the changes on the children.  Training for staff regarding the management of allegations has not been updated. The provider has liaised with the designated officer for safeguarding in the locality to discuss this.  Staff do not always record low-level physical interventions. This does not allow them to monitor the impact of these interventions or to learn from the

p.3

The children's home strengths

 There are strong and positive relationships between the staff and the children. These relationships are built on a sound knowledge of the children’s needs.  Staff work hard to meet the complex needs of these children in a consistent way.  External agencies are satisfied with the quality of care provided in this home and have no concerns about safe-care of the children.  Children are making progress in their education and in developing skills for later in life.

p.3

Statutory requirements

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

p.4

Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular regard to risk of harm, the registered provider must ensure that staff (2)(a) (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 (iii) have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm (v) understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person (vi) take effective action whenever there is a serious concern about a child's welfare (vii) are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies 4 August 2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered provider must ensure (2)(c) that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. 4 August 2016

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must without delay notify HMCI if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(C)) 4 August 2016

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  Ensure that the behaviour management strategy is understood and applied at all times by staff, and that it is kept under review and revised when appropriate. This is with particular reference to staff intervening physically to manage a behaviour to prevent it from escalating into a restraint. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.34)  Ensure that the home is suitably located so that children are effectively safeguarded and can access services to meet needs identified in their relevant plans. Under regulation 46, the registered provider should review the appropriateness and suitability of the location and premises of the home at least once a year. The review should include the identification of any risks. In particular, it must analyse these risks and the strategies used for managing

p.5

Recommendations

them. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 64, paragraph 15.1)

p.5

Information about this children's home

A private organisation runs this children’s home. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who have learning disabilities.

p.6

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.6

Recent inspection history

29/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.6

Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.6

Requires improvement

Children in this home have learning disabilities and some have autistic spectrum disorders. Some of these very vulnerable children need help to verbalise their wishes, feelings, and views. Consequently, managers and staff need to be particularly alert to ensuring that safeguarding procedures are adhered to. The provider has failed to manage one specific safeguarding incident in accordance with local and organisational policies and procedures. This means that children were not effectively safeguarded. As a result, the service requires improvement. Staff recognise the physical signs that these children show, which helps staff to understand their needs. Staff are resilient and calm, and show a depth of knowledge about the children that enables them to care appropriately for them. The staff have not updated some care plans to include recent incidents. As a result, the staff do not have the most up-to-date information to inform their work

p.7

Requires improvement

with the children. Despite these shortfalls, children say that they are happy at this home. One child excitedly spoke of the plans that she has for a summer holiday at the beach. Staff had been out with her to purchase new clothing, which she was eagerly trying on. Staff were complimentary of her choices and of how smart and fashionable she looked. All external stakeholders consider that the children are safely cared for at this home. A teacher commented: ‘The children are well looked after.’ Children have maintained their education progress. One child has been engaged in home-school tuition. The tutor covers the curriculum using a range of bespoke sessions, which interest and excite the child. His level of working has improved because of this approach. Other children are supported at school and staff help with projects and attend consultation meetings with school. Communication is appropriate with the schools and school staff speak highly of the staff’s work with

p.7

Requires improvement

the children. A teacher commented: ‘The care the children receive is superb. Staff are really supportive and take their role as corporate parents very seriously.’ Staff support children with after-school clubs and activities. These are discussed in one-to-one meetings and at community meetings. As a result, children take part in drama groups, and youth clubs. One-to-one activities with staff include walking to a local park to fly kites, which is a particular interest of one child. These activities are interesting and encourage children to be active, and they support appropriate relationships with the staff. Staff support the older children to gain self-help skills to prepare them for their next move towards semi-independent living. Some children participate fully in completing their laundry and are developing skills in cooking. Staff support other children, who need more help, in these areas. Health professionals, who are working in partnership with the staff to manage

p.7

Requires improvement

medication, see these children regularly. The children see dentists and opticians in the community, when required. Staff encourage the children to eat the healthy home-cooked food prepared by the staff. As a result, children’s health is generally good and they access the services that can help them to maintain this. Staff facilitate contact for these children. Some children’s families and friends visit the home, where children delight in helping to prepare a meal and share activities. Because of this approach, contact is positive, and families are able to see the children’s progress at this home.

p.8

Requires improvement

The provider has safeguarding policies designed to protect children and to ensure that their care is of the highest standards. The provider has failed to follow the policies regarding allegations against staff. A specific allegation regarding the conduct of a member of staff on shift was reported to the manager and senior residential worker, neither of whom followed the safeguarding procedures. Specifically, they did not report the matter to the designated safeguarding officer in the local authority. As a result, children could have been at further risk. A senior manager in the organisation rectified the situation a few days after the reported incident, having recognised this error. However, the senior manager did not inform Ofsted of the allegation, as they are required to do. Because of this, Ofsted was unable to monitor the provider’s response to ensure that good safeguarding practices were in place.

p.8

Requires improvement

The senior management has since contacted the designated officer for the area, following the specific allegation. They have arranged for staff to have a briefing on how to manage allegations against staff. Staff intervene to prevent children from harming themselves or others. Specific training is provided to support staff in managing this. Staff have particular skills in de-escalating situations to prevent the need for restraints. However, they do not always record the low-level intervention and calming physical contact that is used by staff to reduce children’s anxiety. As a result, the staff are not able to reflect on this positive work to understand the antecedent behaviour or to learn how their intervention prevented the situation from developing. The staff continuously monitor the children. The children’s assessed needs are such that they require a high level of supervision. This ensures that they are safe

p.8

Requires improvement

and that they do not go missing from the home. Staff are acutely aware of the risks in the community for these children and understand the actions that they need to take in the event of a child going missing.

p.8

Requires improvement

The registered manager has been in post for six years and has completed a national vocational qualification in childcare at level 4. There has been a significant safeguarding incident. The manager failed to follow procedure regarding the allegation against a staff member. The manager is now receiving direct supervision from a senior manager from within the organisation. This includes a focus on the safeguarding practice in this home. Following this inspection and the allegation about the conduct of a staff member, the provider has started a review of the safeguarding training and the whistleblowing procedures. The manager has not analysed recent changes in the area in the locality risk assessment. Specifically, a new housing development in the street is close to completion. The manager has collated information regarding this but risk reduction strategies are not included. This shortfall means staff do not have the information

p.9

Requires improvement

they need to ensure that children are safe in the home and the locality. Staff record children’s progress on a daily basis. These records form the basis of monthly profiles that are sent to the placing authorities to identify the progress that children are making. However, some of these records have not included the impact of some recent incidents in their risk assessments. The provider has identified this and is reviewing the training that staff have received in how to manage recording. Robust handovers ensure that staff are aware of risk factors and changes in behaviour, which helps to lessen the impact of this shortfall. Children have been able to manage their behaviour without the need for restraint. Others have been able to vocalise their feelings better because of the support and help from staff. Their education has been supported and some children are looking at moving into a mainstream college for their sixth form. This means that they will

p.9

Requires improvement

have a friendship group outside the home. The staff have open and regular communication with external agencies, in particular with the schools that speak highly of the quality of work that takes place in the home. The manager has challenged a placing local authority with regard to ensuring that a child has a relevant education plan. Because of this, personal tuition is being provided, which has been beneficial for the child who has engaged with the curriculum.

p.9

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’.

p.10

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

p.10

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.

p.10

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

p.11

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 .

p.11

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,

p.12

Information about this inspection

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

p.12

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.12

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.12