Children's home run by Roseberry Specialist Care Centres Ltd in Sunderland

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.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Young people’s risk assessments are not effectively evaluated.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Behaviour support plans are not routinely developed.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Young people’s care plans are not child friendly.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 The competency of staff to carry out healthcare tasks is unclear.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 There are gaps in recruitment practices.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Induction training for new staff is not demonstrated or evaluated.

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The children's home provision requires improvement because:

 Details relating to the manager’s absence were not shared with the regulator within the required time.

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The children's home strengths

 Some young people have made good progress with their emotional and social development.

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The children's home strengths

 Most young people receive good support from staff helping them to regularly see their families.

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The children's home strengths

 Some young people receive increased support because staff ask placing authorities to fund this when necessary.

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The children's home strengths

 Staff work well with professionals who say they receive regular updates about young people’s needs.

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The children's home strengths

 Concerns about staff conduct are taken seriously and investigated.

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The children's home strengths

 There is ongoing investment in the fabric and furnishings of the home.

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The children's home strengths

 Most young people have increased opportunities to take part in activities.

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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

7(1) In order to meet the children’s views, wishes and feelings standard with particular reference to ensuring that each child, their parents or carers are provided with written information about how to secure independent sources of support, staff must (a) develop positive relationships with them; (b) engage with them; and (c) take their views, wishes and feelings into account in relation to matters affecting the children’s care and welfare and their lives. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to (b) ensure that each child (iii) is given appropriate advocacy support. 26/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

11(1) In order to meet the positive relationships standard, with particular reference to ensuring that each child has a behaviour support plan outlining to staff the individual help that young people require, children must be 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; 26/09/2016 (ii) help each child to develop socially aware behaviour; (iii) encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; (iv) help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

(v) communicate to each child expectations about the child’s behaviour and ensure that the child understands those expectations in accordance with the child’s age and understanding.

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Requirement Due date

12(1) In order to meet the protection of children standard, with particular reference to ensuring that each young person has an easily understood risk assessment that is effectively evaluated and updated, children must be 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;

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Requirement Due date

(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. 26/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

14 In order to meet the care planning standard, with particular reference to ensuring that the home’s placement plans are written in a way that will be helpful to the child according to their age and understanding, (2) the registered person must ensure (f) that staff help each child to access and contribute to the records kept by the registered person in relation to the child. 26/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must make arrangements for the handling, recording, safe keeping, safe administration and disposal of medicines received into the children’s home. 26/09/2016 In particular, the registered person must ensure that – medicine which is prescribed for the child is administered as prescribed and to no other child (Regulation 23(1)(2)(b)) In particular, they should ensure that a policy and procedure is in place for staff guidance, regarding how their competency is assessed, and that it is reviewed by an appropriately designated and qualified health professional, who can deliver training to delegate healthcare tasks, including carrying out gastrostomy feeds, and that documentary evidence demonstrating this is retained.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must recruit staff using recruitment procedures that are designed to ensure children’s safety. The requirements are that - full and satisfactory information is available in relation to the individual in respect of each of the matters in Schedule 2. (Regulation 32(1)(3)(d)) In particular, if a person has previously worked in a position involving work with children or vulnerable adults, they must ensure verification so far as reasonably practicable of the reason why the employment or position ended, and a full employment history, together with a satisfactory explanation of any gaps in employment, in writing. 26/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that each employee completes an appropriate induction; The registered person must ensure that all employees – undertake appropriate continuing professional development. (Regulation 33(1)(a)(4)(a)) In particular, ensure induction is dated, evaluated and reflects current legislation and guidance, and that staff complete training about how to safeguard vulnerable adults. 26/09/2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that – within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made, which includes – 26/09/2016 a description of the measure and its duration; within 48 hours of the use of the measure, the registered person, or a person who is authorised by the registered person to do so (‘the authorised person’) has spoken to the user about the measure; and has signed the record to confirm it is accurate; and within 5 days of the use of the measure, the registered person or the authorised person adds to the record confirmation that they have spoken to the child about the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(iv)(b)(i)(ii)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review, the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children. (Regulation 45(2)(c)) In particular, they must make clear any actions and how these will be addressed over the next six months. 31/01/2017

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Requirement Due date

If the person who is in day-to-day charge of the children’s home proposes to be absent from the home for a continuous period of 28 days or more, the registered person must give notice in writing to HMCI of the proposed absence no later than one month before the proposed absence commences, or within such shorter period as may be agreed with HMCI. If the absence arises as a result of an emergency or is unforeseen, the registered person must give notice of the absence within one week of the beginning of the absence. (Regulation 48(1)(a)) In particular, they must ensure that this is undertaken by the registered person within the required time. 26/09/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  When the placing authority or another relevant person does not provide the input and services needed to meet a child's needs during their time in the home or in preparation for leaving the home, the home must challenge them to meet the child's needs. Staff should act as champions for their children, expecting nothing less than a good parent would. The registered person should consider the use of an independent advocate. In particular, they should ensure that procedural guidance makes clear when and how the manager or staff should escalate concerns with the director of children’s services when a local authority or a health authority fails to meet young people’s needs including transition planning. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 12, paragraph 2.8)

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Recommendations

 For children's homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.). However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. In particular, they should display framed photographs of young people with their consent, remove the suggestion box, re-evaluate the practice of locked ‘treat’ cupboards and ensure that any wall displays are in keeping with a domestic setting. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)  Staff should understand what they must do to prevent bullying of children by other children or adults. Staff should be able to recognise and address different types of abuse such as peer abuse, cyber-bullying and bullying in

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Recommendations

day-to-day relationships in the home. Registered persons must ensure that procedures for dealing with allegations of bullying are in place and that staff have the skills required to intervene, and to protect and address bullying behaviours effectively. In particular, they should make clear the outcome of any incidents of bullying in the log kept in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 39, paragraph 8.16)  A deprivation of liberty may occur when a child is both under continuous supervision and control and is not free to leave the home. A children's home cannot routinely deprive a child of their liberty without a court order, such as a section 25 order to place a child in a licensed, secure children's home, or, in the case of young people aged over 16 who lack mental capacity, a deprivation of liberty may be authorised by the court of protection following

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Recommendations

an application under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. In particular, they should ensure that procedural guidance makes clear how the law is applied regarding deprivation of liberty in a children’s home as opposed to a care home or hospital. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 50, paragraph 9.63).  The registered person should have a workforce plan. In particular, they should outline in the statement of purpose what is covered in the induction of new staff and how the effectiveness of this is to be evaluated, and ensure that this reflects current legislation including the children’s homes regulations 2015 and ‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.8)  Children's homes have a duty to provide access to a telephone that children

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Recommendations

can use privately. This can include the provision of a mobile phone, where appropriate and safe for the child, as long as an alternative is in place for the child to make telephone calls in private if their personal mobile phone is lost, out of credit or broken. In particular, they should ensure that young people have access to a phone so that they can use the helpline numbers provided by the home if they so wish. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 58, paragraph 11.7).

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered to accommodate up to six children with learning and/or physical disabilities. It is owned and operated by an independent provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

23/07/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Requires improvement

This inspection took place at a time of some changes that resulted in new staff appointments, and in the absence of some senior staff. This was evident as young people, parents and staff all raised some concerns in relation to this. These circumstances cause uncertainty and raise anxieties as it is unclear to those affected how these matters are to be resolved. For some young people, their complex health needs are the primary concern. In some instances, these override the young people’s educational needs, as their physical well-being and vulnerabilities require close supervision and support in the home. These young people are now benefiting from increased availability of staff who know them well and can respond to their needs as they arise. However, concerns about lack of care received by some young people have been raised by some parents and these are currently being addressed. A parent said, ‘We are

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Requires improvement

concerned that staff are reactive and not proactive.’ A previous recommendation to ensure that each young person has an individualised support plan remains outstanding. Lack of robust planning of this leads to inconsistent care practice. A senior member of staff said, ‘We have added a bit to the young person’s care plan.’ Gaps in planning for admission and transitions to and from the home compromise young people’s experiences of short stays and of living in the home. For example, there is uncertainty about the role that staff take in supporting young people with complex needs who become 18, in preparing them to move on. Also about staff’s competence to carry out healthcare tasks is not sufficiently demonstrated. This leads to misunderstanding about care practices, thus increasing young people’s vulnerabilities. Young people who are able to use a phone independently do not have access to one without having to ask staff. Lack of this provision can be a source of tension

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Requires improvement

and undermines young people’s rights and independence. This also hinders their access to sources of independent helplines as referred to in the young person’s guide. The overall experiences and progress of young people are mixed. Some young people are doing well with their emotional, social and educational development. This is underpinned by embedded school routines and established relationships between the majority of young people and staff. A teacher said, ‘The young person is on target and has made considerable progress.’ The majority of young people receive good support from staff, enabling them to stay in close contact with their families. For some young people, this has significantly improved, leading to an increased sense of belonging and confidence. A social worker said, ‘The young person is doing fantastic and the home have been fantastic.’ A young person said, ‘The best bit of my week is an unsupervised visit

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Requires improvement

with my family.’ Young people live in a well-maintained, clean, tidy and spacious setting. There is continued investment in the furnishings and fabric of the home. For example, the newly completed sensory room provides young people with a relaxing and stimulating space, promoting their emotional well-being. Young people are encouraged to grow vegetables and to make the most of the large garden area. A member of staff said, ‘Young people love the outdoor play equipment.’ However there is a lack of homely features, such as photographs of young people other than those within two large wall friezes. Information on display about disability is inaccessible by most young people. A large padlocked suggestion box, and the use of locked cupboards in which to store young people’s treats are also at odds with domestic living. These features and restrictions do not help to prepare young people for increased independence.

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Requires improvement

Young people are encouraged to take part in a meaningful range of activities, such as cycling, visits to the local cinema, leisure centres and areas of interest. Staff use a variety of means to communicate with young people reflecting their varying levels of need. This respects young people’s right to express their choices and to ask for what they want. A young person said, ‘I’d like the staff to buy a bike and then they could go out riding with me as well’, and, ‘If they bought a bike rack, then we could go out to other places by car and then go for bike rides.’ Young people’s cultural and religious needs are very well met. This respects young people’s individuality and promotes a sense of belonging and confidence in parents about staff care of their children. A parent said, ‘They provide Halal meals. They buy Halal meat. They said it was really good quality.’

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Requires improvement

A previous recommendation to evaluate the effectiveness of young people’s risk assessments is unmet. As a result, numerous risk assessments are in place, undermining a meaningful understanding about what works best to keep young people safe. Recruitment records are not sufficiently clear in helping those viewing the written documentation to understand the reasons why some newly recruited staff left their previous roles. Similarly, gaps in employment histories are unexplained. These omissions raise doubts about the robustness of recruitment practices and potential safety of young people. The duration of occasionally used sanctions for some young people is unclear. Young people’s behaviour is also managed sometimes by restraining them for their own and others’ safety, including using ‘time out’ in their own bedrooms for an unspecified amount of time. In addition, some measures are not monitored within the required time by an appropriate person. This means that any deficiencies or

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Requires improvement

concerns are not readily identified or addressed, failing to ensure that young people’s rights are preserved. A log about a young person’s experience of being bullied outside of the home setting does not make clear the outcome of any follow up regarding this by staff. This means that what happened to resolve any concerns is unclear. Concerns raised about staff conduct are treated seriously and investigated. This approach makes clear to staff that they are accountable and responsible for ensuring safe care practice, acting in the best interests of young people. A member of staff said, ‘We have whistleblowing procedures and I understand them.’ Young people do not go missing and no young person is currently assessed as being at risk of child sexual exploitation. At inspection, it was evident that young people receive good levels of supervision, promoting their welfare in and outside of the home. This includes staff following up any concerns about young people’s

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Requires improvement

experiences within school. Young people’s needs are carefully assessed prior to their admission. This results in a good understanding of their care and communication needs. About this, a social worker said, ‘It went really well. He’s taken to the placement. The young person really trusts the staff.’

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Requires improvement

The registered manager for the home is a suitably qualified and experienced individual who has been in post since March 2015. The regulator was not notified about this person’s absence by the registered provider within the time required by legislation. This means that the suitability of interim management arrangements could not be assessed by Ofsted. At the time of inspection, an acting deputy manager was in charge at the home. Additional support from two experienced senior managers was also in place to support this person during the manager’s absence. About this person’s leadership, a member of staff said, ‘I just want to say I think [Name] is doing a really good job at a very difficult time.’ Another member of staff said, ‘I want to say how well I think [Name] has done.’ Induction training for staff is not sufficiently demonstrated to have taken place nor are the timescales for completion or how this is evaluated clear. For example, an

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Requires improvement

undated induction proforma comprising a tick list with references to outdated guidance including national minimum standards is still in use. This raises doubts about how new staff members’ readiness to practise is assessed. Staff have not completed safeguarding training that is specific to and reflects the needs of a young adult living in the home. Lack of full awareness of guidance relating to this can lead to oversight, compromising staff responsibilities and young people’s best interests. A previous recommendation to improve the accessibility and individuality of young people’s care plans is not yet fully met. Some work towards this has been undertaken by outlining aspects of young people’s care needs in another document alongside the original care plan. As a result, the home’s current care plans do not enable young people’s increased understanding of their unique needs and what staff do to help meet them.

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Requires improvement

There is a lack of understanding by senior staff about legislation regarding depriving young people of their liberty in a children’s home. The home has followed direction from the placing authority to apply for authorisation to restrict the liberty of a young person. While it is clear that this has been done with the best of intentions, this deficit compromises the home’s ability to ensure that any actions taken by the placing authority are in the young person’s best interests. Systems to ensure that young people and, when necessary, their parents or carers are helped to secure independent support from an advocate are not embedded. This means that staff miss opportunities to ensure that young people’s rights are preserved and further understood. There is uncertainty from staff about when and how far to escalate shortfalls and delays relating to, transition planning and securing minutes following reviews, with

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Requires improvement

the placing authority. This means that the management are not holding placing authorities to account for any oversights that compromise outcomes for young people. However, the home has taken responsibility for recording actions and discussions in young people’s reviews, aiding understanding of their responsibilities. A senior member of staff said, ‘We always keep our own minutes of meetings.’ This helps to minimise any uncertainty relating to actions and agreements following the review meetings. Additional staff, including agency staff, are now in place alongside recently recruited staff. This development frees existing staff who know young people well to offer them further support. This also means that less experienced staff can support their colleagues by undertaking indirect care tasks. Reports by the registered manager now demonstrate the difference that the home makes to young people. However, actions aimed at continued improvement are not

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Requires improvement

identified. As a result, it is unclear what plans are in place for the next six months to further develop the home and advance outcomes for young people. Professionals experience staff as working well with them and in the best interests of young people. A social worker said, ‘I get weekly updates. The young person has two-to-one staffing now.’ Another comment was, ‘Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are working with staff to support the young person.’ Ofsted is notified appropriately regarding any matters affecting young people’s safety and well-being. This enables the regulator to determine any action necessary to safeguard young people. The updated statement of purpose now reflects what the home does to consult young people with communication difficulties. This meets a previous requirement to enable full understanding by those who use the home about what happens to ensure that young people influence the care that they receive.

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Requires improvement

Reports of visits carried out by an independent person are rigorous. These demonstrate a meaningful contribution to reviewing the quality of care that young people receive.

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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

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Information about this inspection

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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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