Children's Home run by Shalamar Children Limited in Essex

This monitoring visit

On 3 August 2016, an inspector conducted a compliance visit following a significant event notification that was sent to Ofsted. A compliance notice and four requirements were set following that visit. The main areas of concern related to ensuring that the home receives, reviews and evaluates appropriate placement information, and ensures that a group dynamic risk assessment is completed for all admissions to the children’s home, and that individual children’s risk assessments are reviewed and amended to reflect changes in the behaviours of children accommodated at the home. The statutory requirements raised following that visit were with regard to ensuring that the home effectively involves the children’s placing authority in their care, making sure that the staff are healthy role models, and ensuring that there is always a qualified member of staff on shift and that the responsible individual records her presence in the home.

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This monitoring visit

On 31 August 2016, an inspector undertook a compliance monitoring visit. The purpose of this visit was to evaluate whether the provider had met the compliance notice and to review the action taken to address the three statutory requirements.

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This monitoring visit

The provider has made sufficient progress to meet the compliance notice. A group dynamic risk assessment had been completed in advance of the placement of a new resident. Appropriate paperwork was sought in advance of the child’s placement and further documentation is being gathered from the child’s last placement. Individual risk assessments have been completed for the children in the home. This enables staff to understand the risks and provides guidance to reduce them. This contributes to children’s safety.

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This monitoring visit

Contact with professionals has improved in relation to children’s admission to the home. The manager has liaised and continues to liaise with external professionals regarding the newly admitted child. In the absence of the child’s social worker at the time of the placement, the manager liaised with the social worker’s manager. Since then, the social worker has attended a meeting at the home. This helps to ensure that children benefit from an appropriate network of professional support.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has reinforced the message that staff need to be healthy role models for children. Where the staff have fallen short in this, managers have taken action.

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This monitoring visit

There has been one occasion since the investigation visit when no qualified staff were on shift. This was due to extenuating circumstances, and there has been a qualified staff member on all other shifts. This helps to ensure that children receive good-quality care from appropriately experienced staff.

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This monitoring visit

The rota now includes the responsible individual. However, when she works outside of the hours noted on the rota, the records are unclear. Entries in the signing in book and the log book provide insufficient overview of when she was on shift. In addition, the manager is not included on the rota. Therefore, the rota in its current form does not constitute a record of actual rosters worked, as regulation requires. This does not enable an accurate overview.

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This monitoring visit

This visit did not monitor compliance with the requirements made at the full inspection on 20 July 2016. Monitoring of these requirements will take place through future regulatory activity, such as an interim inspection. Those requirements are therefore restated.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. A private organisation owns and operates this setting.

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that 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.

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Requirement Due date

6. The quality and purpose of care standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

2(c)(i) ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished as to meet the needs of each child. 30/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

(2)(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.

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Requirement Due date

This is with specific regard to ensuring that there is clear accountability and definition of roles and responsibilities. 30/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it are complied with (Regulation 25(2)(b) 30/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4, in particular, a copy of the staff duty roster of persons working at the home, and a record of the actual rosters worked. (Regulation 37(2)(a) Schedule 4(3)) 30/09/2016

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection. This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. in 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 this guidance, please telephone 0300 123 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, work- based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for children looked after and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234 or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team,

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

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Information about this inspection

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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