Children's home in Belfast

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has declined in effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there has been another change of manager. This has had a further impact on the quality of service that the children receive. The majority of requirements from the last inspection have not been met. The requirement to ensure that staff hold a relevant level 3 qualification remains. This lack of progress in addressing shortfalls is a significant concern that leaves children at risk of harm and does not safeguard their welfare.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One child has moved into the home since the last inspection and one has moved out. The child who moved into the home did so quickly. The staff describe the admission as an emergency, whereas the case records note that the move was planned but happened sooner than originally intended. Irrespective of definitions, the process for admission did not follow that outlined in the home’s statement of purpose. There was, for example, no visit to the home by the child in advance of the placement. As a result, the staff felt ill-equipped. In addition, the impact risk assessment that was completed did not give sufficient consideration to the potential impact of the child’s placement on the children already placed, individually or as a group. Furthermore, initial planning identified actions that needed to take place to ensure the appropriateness of the placement. Managers have failed to implement significant elements of this plan, for example the installation of CCTV,

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

despite the child being in placement for a month.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The child who left the home did so at short notice. This was due to concerns that the placing social worker had regarding the mix of children in the home. As a result, the staff were not able to support the child to prepare for the move.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following a period of relative stability, there has been a recent deterioration in the behaviour of the children in the home. This includes an increase in the number of times that children go missing. There are significant concerns regarding the harm that one child experiences when she goes missing. As a result, the management team has increased her staffing ratio and now recognises that this is not the right placement in the long term. Professionals have identified specific locations where the risk is greatest and the child should not go. However, this information is missing from her associated risk assessments. This is a substantial gap in record keeping. The omission does not contribute to effective safeguarding arrangements for the child.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the last inspection identifying the quality of risk assessments as an issue, they are still not good enough. The assessments are not up to date and do not reflect significant developments. For example, as already noted, the locations that a child should not visit, because of concerns about child sexual exploitation, are absent. There are inconsistencies in the range of risk assessments for the same child. The actions to monitor compliance with the expectations of the risk assessments are not effective. For example, one child’s risk assessment notes that they must hand in their lighter ‘without fail’. However, the service does not maintain a record of whether or not this occurs and the daily log provides no information regarding this. In addition, a significant proportion of the staff are not consistently signing the requisite form to say that they have read and understood the risk assessment. Internal management monitoring systems have not identified

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

these shortfalls. These shortcomings leave children at risk of harm.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The behaviour management plans lacks clarity. One document is contradictory about whether staff can use physical interventions with a child. This could lead to confusion for staff who are working with the child. In addition, there are staff who have not received training in managing challenging behaviour and physical interventions in line with the claims set out in the statement of purpose. This does not support staff to develop their skills and confidence when working with children, nor does it adequately safeguard the children themselves. Furthermore, the staff have not received appraisals within the past twelve months. This again does not assist staff to develop and respond to the challenges of their roles.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has been in post for less than two months, but the staff and external professionals speak positively about her, and are optimistic that she can make the necessary changes. However, internal managerial monitoring systems have not been effective. They have not identified issues or contributed to improvements within the service. The manager was unaware of a number of the concerns. Despite telephone access being a requirement at the last inspection, the manager was unaware that the children’s phone was currently broken until lifting the phone wire to discover the phone was not attached. As a result, the children have to ask the manager or staff for permission to use the office phone. The service completes internal monitoring reports, but these still do not include consultations with key stakeholders. This is despite this being an issue raised at the last two inspections.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of records needs to improve. The manager herself describes these as ‘shocking’. Significant records, such as records of allegations and disclosures, physical interventions and incidents of going missing are not consistently good enough. They do not consistently explain what has happened in such a way as to be of use to the children in the future, nor for staff to monitor and review. The quality of the records relating to medication is also an issue, as it was at the last inspection. The records are incomplete, and at times illogical. There are no entries to explain whether or not a child has had a prescribed medication, whereas there are records to show that a child is refusing ibuprofen daily. This does not provide a clear overview of what medication children are having or not having.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The building is in need of work to create a homely environment. The staff and children recognise this. There are stains on the ceilings and walls in some rooms. There are cracks in the plaster, damage to doors and chips to paintwork. The effect is gloomy. One room has damage to a door handle caused by a resident who left prior to the last inspection. This has yet to be repaired. This does not contribute to a homely and welcoming environment for children.

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Information about this children’s home

This privately owned home provides residential care and accommodation for up to eight children with emotional or behavioural difficulties. An on-site school room provides education for children.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 03/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness 02/12/2015 Full Good 17/02/2015 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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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

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 provider 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 so as to meet the needs of each child. 17/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard*

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered provider must ensure that staff:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) 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. This is in relation to comprehensive impact assessments, care plans and individual risk assessments. 17/10/2016*

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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 provider must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c) ensure that an individual who works in the home in a care role has the appropriate experience, qualification and skills for the work that the individual is to perform. This is with particular regard to ensuring that staff receive training on managing challenging behaviour in line with the statement of purpose. 17/10/2016

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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 provider must:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(h) use monitoring and review systems to make continuous 17/10/2016 improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. The registered person must ensure that children are provided at all reasonable times with access to a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private, which they may use without reference to persons working in the home. (Regulation 22 (3)(a)) 17/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed and a record is kept of the administration of medicine to each child. (Regulation 23 (2)(b)(c)) 17/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that staff have the appropriate qualifications for the work that the individual is to perform. (Regulation 32 (3)(b)) 30/11/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees have their performance and fitness to perform their roles appraised at least once every year. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 17/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child, are kept up to date, and are signed and dated by the author of each entry. This is with particular regard to ensuring the information recorded is accurate and of a sufficient quality. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b)(c)) 17/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating the quality of care provided for children and any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. The system must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (2)(a)(c)(5)) 17/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

* This requirements is subject to statutory requirement notice.

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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, 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

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

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

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